How much does it cost to commute in Detroit?
In the Detroit metro area, households spend about 44.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 20.0% of income — about $14,390 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Detroit range from $8.00 to $34.00, with a median single-trip fare of $16.00 (priced fares in the data cover Detroit Ann Arbor Express) and 24 priced origin-destination fare pairs in the data. Bike-share is available via kitchen, priced at $1.00 to unlock plus $0.25 per minute.
Driving downtown means paying about $16.28 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). The region has 3 priced toll facilities, with rates from $4.00 to $4.50. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is using bike-share at about $12.00 per day.
Cost by mode in Detroit
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Bike-shareCheapest | $12.00 | kitchen: 2 x (unlock $1.00 + 20 min @ $0.25/min) |
| Drive (park + toll) | $24.28 | downtown parking $16.28/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($4.00) |
| Public transit | $32.00 | 2 x median transit fare ($16.00) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Ann Arbor Express | 28 | $16.00 | $8.00–$34.00 |
Bike-share
A typical 20-minute ride costs about $6.00.
Toll roads near Detroit
3 priced toll facilities, rates from $4.00 to $4.50.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Water Bridge | Federal Bridge Corp/MDOT | $4.50 |
| Mackinac Bridge | Mackinac Bridge Authority | $4.00 |
| Gordie Howe International Bridge | Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority | — |
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 16,526 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 Detroit?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Detroit area is $16.00, ranging from $8.00 to $34.00 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $32.00.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Detroit?
Taking transit costs about $32.00 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $24.28 per day (parking $16.28 plus tolls from $4.00). Driving is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Detroit?
Downtown Detroit parking costs about $16.28 per day, or $180.25 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Detroit and what do they cost?
The Detroit region has 3 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is Blue Water Bridge (Federal Bridge Corp/MDOT) at $4.50. Rates across the region run from $4.00 to $4.50.
How much does bike-share cost in Detroit?
kitchen bike-share in Detroit costs $1.00 to unlock plus $0.25 per minute. A 20-minute ride costs about $6.00.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Detroit?
In the Detroit metro, a typical household spends about 44.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 20.0% on transportation alone — roughly $14,390 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.