Time is a separate resource
Two options can cost the same amount but require very different amounts of time. A commute, a DIY project or a slow travel route can change the shape of a decision even when the cash difference is small. Showing time separately prevents that trade-off from disappearing.
You do not have to price every hour
It is tempting to multiply every hour by your salary, but that can be misleading. Leisure time, waiting time and working time do not always have the same value. If assigning money to time does not make sense for your decision, set the monetary value of time to zero and compare hours as their own result.
When monetizing time helps
A money value can be useful when saved time can realistically be converted into paid work, reduced staffing cost or a known business opportunity. It can also help compare travel options when the same person is deciding between a higher fare and a shorter journey. The value should be an explicit input, never a hidden default.
Separate active and passive time
An hour driving is not the same as an hour sitting on a train if you can work, read or rest. A professional comparison can track total time while also noting how usable that time is. Convenience remains partly qualitative and should not be disguised as exact science.
Test the decision both ways
Run the result with time valued at zero, then with a reasonable personal value. If the conclusion is unchanged, the decision is not very sensitive to time. If it flips, you have learned that time—not price—is the central trade-off.
Use this method in a real comparison
Open a reviewed calculator, replace the example inputs with values that fit your situation, then change the assumptions that are most uncertain. A useful result should remain understandable even when the conclusion changes.