How much does it cost to commute in Boston?
In the Boston metro area, households spend about 41.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 13.0% of income — about $14,441 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Boston range from $1.50 to $24.95, with a median single-trip fare of $2.40 across 3 agencies and 459 priced origin-destination fare pairs in the data. Bike-share is available via Bluebikes starting at $3.00.
Driving downtown means paying about $32.84 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). The region has 7 priced toll facilities, with rates from $1.00 to $7.45. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is taking transit at about $4.80 per day.
Cost by mode in Boston
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Public transitCheapest | $4.80 | 2 x median transit fare ($2.40) |
| Drive (park + toll) | $34.84 | downtown parking $32.84/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($1.00) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority | 397 | $2.40 | $1.70–$24.95 |
| Brockton Area Transit Authority | 96 | $1.75 | $1.50–$2.25 |
| DATTCO | 26 | $11.00 | $6.00–$16.00 |
Bike-share
A typical 20-minute ride costs about $3.00.
Toll roads near Boston
7 priced toll facilities, rates from $1.00 to $7.45.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike I-90 | MassDOT | $7.45 |
| Tobin Memorial Bridge | MassDOT | $2.00 |
| Sumner Tunnel | MassDOT | $2.00 |
| Ted Williams Tunnel | MassDOT | $2.00 |
| New Hampshire Turnpike | NH DOT | $2.00 |
| F.E. Everett Turnpike | NH Department of Transportation | $1.50 |
| Spaulding Turnpike (NH 16) | NH Department of Transportation | $1.00 |
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 15,397 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 Boston?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Boston area is $2.40, ranging from $1.50 to $24.95 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $4.80.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Boston?
Taking transit costs about $4.80 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $34.84 per day (parking $32.84 plus tolls from $1.00). Transit is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Boston?
Downtown Boston parking costs about $32.84 per day, or $437.75 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Boston and what do they cost?
The Boston region has 7 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is Massachusetts Turnpike I-90 (MassDOT) at $7.45. Rates across the region run from $1.00 to $7.45.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Boston?
In the Boston metro, a typical household spends about 41.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 13.0% on transportation alone — roughly $14,441 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.