I'm interviewing for a job which would be a significant pay increase, however it would also involve travel by train which is expensive.
The pay increase would be approx. £1,300/month but I'm intending to put most (if not all) of that towards a mortgage for my first home. If I need to travel by train, it would be an additional £500/month for a season ticket. I can't afford to sacrifice any of the rest of the salary.
Is it reasonable for me to ask a potential employer if they would be willing to contribute towards travel expenses on top of the salary? They suggested travelling by train before and during the first interview. If they pay the travel expenses directly themselves then it might not be so bad (in my mind at least), but it also seems a bit unreasonable considering they're already offering a good salary and it's not their problem if I'm trying to buy a house. If it's reasonable to ask then I would do so at the point of being offered the job (if that happens) so everything is sorted out/negotiated up front.
Or would it be better to ask for a slightly higher starting salary to cover it?
Even if this is not reasonable to expect then it's not the end of the world, as I can still drive. It's the difference between a 45 minute train or a 1.5-2.5 hour drive each way (depending on traffic). The costs for driving instead work out at about £140/month but it's the time spent driving that concerns me.
And, obviously, this is all academic if I don't get the job. But I'm interested in the answer anyway as it might be useful in the future.
This question is related and the answers are possibly applicable, but the amounts here are more and I'm in the UK so not sure if that makes a difference.
UPDATE; I GOT THE JOB! They wouldn't increase the starting salary but they do include a bonus which should cover the costs and they also offer season ticket loans where they will pay commuting costs up front (for a season ticket) and you can repay from your salary monthly. I won't be using that though, and have taken onboard all the feedback and suggestions from the answers and comments. Thanks!