[guide]
AI Subscription ROI Guide
An AI subscription is worth expensing when the value of saved work time is higher than the monthly subscription cost. This guide explains the simple break-even calculation used by the AI ROI calculator.
Core formula
Monthly AI cost in KRW = subscription price in USD times exchange rate. Break-even saved hours = monthly AI cost divided by hourly labor cost.
Useful inputs
Use fully loaded labor cost when possible, not only base salary. Include realistic monthly working hours and the actual hours the tool saves in repeatable work.
Decision rule
If saved hours are above break-even hours, the subscription has a cost case. If saved hours are below break-even, treat it as a personal productivity benefit or look for a cheaper plan.
Limit
This is not accounting, tax, or procurement advice. Confirm internal expense rules before reimbursing or purchasing subscriptions.
Worked example
Suppose an AI plan costs $200 per month, the exchange rate is 1,380 KRW per USD, annual labor cost is
81,000,000 KRW, and monthly working time is 174 hours. The subscription costs 276,000 KRW per month.
Hourly labor cost is about 38,793 KRW, so the subscription breaks even after roughly 7.1 saved hours.
If the tool saves eight hours, the estimated labor value is about 310,345 KRW. Subtracting the subscription
leaves about 34,345 KRW of monthly value, or a 12.4% return on the subscription cost. This is a narrow cost
comparison: it does not assign value to better quality, faster delivery, reduced mistakes, or new work that
would not otherwise be possible.
How to make the estimate useful
Measure repeatable savings
Track time before and after using the tool on the same type of work. One unusually fast task is weaker evidence than several weeks of repeated use.
Use the right labor cost
For a company purchase, salary alone may understate cost. Add employer taxes, benefits, equipment, and overhead when those amounts are available.
Account for review time
Include time spent checking generated output, correcting errors, and rewriting prompts. Gross time saved is not the same as verified time saved.
Recheck after the trial
Compare the forecast with actual usage before renewing an annual plan. A subscription that clears break-even for one month may still be unnecessary if usage falls later.
Open the AI subscription ROI calculator