How much does it cost to commute in Atlanta?
In the Atlanta metro area, households spend about 44.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 19.0% of income — about $16,014 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Atlanta range from $19.00 to $86.00, with a median single-trip fare of $44.00 (priced fares in the data cover Groome Transportation) and 124 priced origin-destination fare pairs in the data.
Driving downtown means paying about $36.17 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). The region has 4 priced toll facilities, with rates from $5.00 to $5.00. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is driving and parking at about $46.17 per day.
Cost by mode in Atlanta
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Drive (park + toll)Cheapest | $46.17 | downtown parking $36.17/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($5.00) |
| Public transit | $88.00 | 2 x median transit fare ($44.00) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groome Transportation | 134 | $44.00 | $19.00–$86.00 |
Toll roads near Atlanta
4 priced toll facilities, rates from $5.00 to $5.00.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| I-85 Express Lanes (Atlanta) | SRTA | $5.00 |
| I-75 South Metro Express Lanes | SRTA | — |
| Northwest Corridor Express Lanes (I-75/I-575) | SRTA | — |
| I-85 Express Lanes Extension (Gwinnett) | SRTA | — |
Downtown parking
Housing + Transportation affordability
The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for housing + transportation combined. Source: CNT H+T Index (AMI household). Typical household drives 18,910 miles/yr.
The numbers above are metro-wide medians. Enter your real origin and destination to compare drive, transit, park-and-ride, bike, and Uber by actual dollars — gas, tolls, parking, and fares included.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to commute by transit in Atlanta?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Atlanta area is $44.00, ranging from $19.00 to $86.00 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $88.00.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Atlanta?
Taking transit costs about $88.00 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $46.17 per day (parking $36.17 plus tolls from $5.00). Driving is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Atlanta?
Downtown Atlanta parking costs about $36.17 per day, or $133.90 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Atlanta and what do they cost?
The Atlanta region has 4 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is I-85 Express Lanes (Atlanta) (SRTA) at $5.00. Rates across the region run from $5.00 to $5.00.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Atlanta?
In the Atlanta metro, a typical household spends about 44.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 19.0% on transportation alone — roughly $16,014 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.