> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.glidepathcpm.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Task Cost and Budget

> Entering budgeted and actual costs, tracking earned value, and analyzing cost variance

# Task Cost and Budget

GlidePath tracks both planned (budgeted) and actual costs at the task level. These values roll up to the project dashboard and feed the earned value metrics that appear in the Project Summary widget.

## Feature Spec Reference

**Module 2.6 -- Task Fields (Budgeted Cost, Actual Cost)**

## Cost Fields on a Task

Access cost fields through the Task Detail Panel (double-click any task row):

| Field                | Description                                                   |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Budget (\$)**      | The planned cost for this task when the project was baselined |
| **Actual Cost (\$)** | Money spent on this task to date                              |
| **Cost Rate**        | \$/hour rate used to calculate resource costs automatically   |

### Entering Budget

1. Double-click the task row to open the Task Detail Panel
2. Scroll to the **Budget (\$)** field
3. Enter the planned cost in your project currency
4. Click **Save**

### Entering Actual Cost

1. Open the Task Detail Panel for the task
2. Find the **Actual Cost (\$)** field
3. Enter the cost incurred to date
4. Click **Save**

Actual Cost can be updated multiple times as the project progresses.

## Resource-Driven Costs

If you assign resources with cost rates to a task, GlidePath calculates cost automatically:

```
Resource Cost = Work (hours) x Cost Rate ($/hour)
Task Budget   = Sum of all resource costs
```

You can override the auto-calculated budget by entering a value directly in the Budget field. Once overridden manually, GlidePath no longer auto-updates it when resource assignments change.

## Earned Value Metrics

GlidePath calculates two standard earned value metrics and displays them in the Dashboard's Project Summary widget:

### Cost Performance Index (CPI)

```
CPI = Earned Value / Actual Cost
    = (Budget x % Complete) / Actual Cost
```

* **CPI > 1.0:** Under budget (spending less than planned for work done)
* **CPI = 1.0:** On budget
* **CPI \< 1.0:** Over budget (spending more than planned for work done)

### Schedule Performance Index (SPI)

```
SPI = Earned Value / Planned Value
    = (Budget x % Complete) / (Budget x % Planned Complete)
```

* **SPI > 1.0:** Ahead of schedule
* **SPI = 1.0:** On schedule
* **SPI \< 1.0:** Behind schedule

### Viewing Metrics

Earned value metrics appear in the **Project Summary** widget on the Dashboard. They update automatically when you save changes to task costs or progress percentages.

## Cost Variance

Cost Variance (CV) shows whether spending is aligned with work accomplished:

```
Cost Variance = Earned Value - Actual Cost
```

A positive CV means you have accomplished more work than you have spent on. A negative CV means you have overspent relative to accomplishment.

GlidePath displays cost variance at the task level in the Task Detail Panel and at the project level in the Dashboard.

## Currency

All cost values are displayed in the project currency set in Project Settings. To change the currency:

1. Open **Project Settings** (Project menu)
2. Find the **Currency** dropdown
3. Select your currency (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, etc.)

Note: Changing the currency label does not convert existing values -- it only changes the symbol displayed.

## Screenshot

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/glide-path/assets/screenshots/05-02-task-detail-panel-cost.png" alt="Task Detail Panel -- Cost Fields" />

*Task Detail Panel open on the Details tab showing Budget and Actual Cost fields.*

***

## Next Steps

* [Task Notes and Attachments](/task-advanced/03-task-notes-attachments)
* [Resources and Assignment](/task-advanced/01-resources-assignment)
* [Dashboard Overview](/views/02-dashboard-overview)