How much does it cost to commute in Austin?
In the Austin metro area, households spend about 42.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 16.0% of income — about $15,181 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Austin range from $1.25 to $3.50, with a median single-trip fare of $1.25 (priced fares in the data cover Capital Metro).
Driving downtown means paying about $15.74 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). The region has 19 priced toll facilities, with rates from $1.26 to $11.44. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is taking transit at about $2.50 per day.
Cost by mode in Austin
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Public transitCheapest | $2.50 | 2 x median transit fare ($1.25) |
| Drive (park + toll) | $18.26 | downtown parking $15.74/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($1.26) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Metro | 72 | $1.25 | $1.25–$3.50 |
Toll roads near Austin
19 priced toll facilities, rates from $1.26 to $11.44.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| President George Bush Turnpike | NTTA | $11.44 |
| Grand Parkway (SH-99) | TxDOT | $11.00 |
| Dallas North Tollway | NTTA | $7.26 |
| Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8) | HCTRA | $7.00 |
| Chisholm Trail Parkway | NTTA | $6.07 |
| Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH 121) | NTTA | $5.72 |
| Fort Bend Westpark Tollway | FBCTRA/HCTRA | $5.50 |
| 183A Toll | CTRMA | $5.10 |
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 17,865 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 Austin?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Austin area is $1.25, ranging from $1.25 to $3.50 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $2.50.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Austin?
Taking transit costs about $2.50 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $18.26 per day (parking $15.74 plus tolls from $1.26). Transit is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Austin?
Downtown Austin parking costs about $15.74 per day, or $226.60 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Austin and what do they cost?
The Austin region has 19 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is President George Bush Turnpike (NTTA) at $11.44. Rates across the region run from $1.26 to $11.44.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Austin?
In the Austin metro, a typical household spends about 42.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 16.0% on transportation alone — roughly $15,181 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.