How much does it cost to commute in Los Angeles?
In the Los Angeles metro area, households spend about 50.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 17.0% of income — about $15,414 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Los Angeles range from $1.00 to $27.50, with a median single-trip fare of $12.25 across 2 agencies and 3,892 priced origin-destination fare pairs in the data.
Driving downtown means paying about $14.62 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). The region has 17 priced toll facilities, with rates from $2.75 to $8.75. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is driving and parking at about $20.12 per day.
Cost by mode in Los Angeles
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Drive (park + toll)Cheapest | $20.12 | downtown parking $14.62/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($2.75) |
| Public transit | $24.50 | 2 x median transit fare ($12.25) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metrolink Trains | 3,894 | $12.25 | $1.25–$27.50 |
| Big Blue Bus | 34 | $1.25 | $1.00–$1.25 |
Toll roads near Los Angeles
17 priced toll facilities, rates from $2.75 to $8.75.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate Bridge | Golden Gate Bridge District | $8.75 |
| SR-73 San Joaquin Hills Toll Road | TCA | $7.50 |
| Bay Area Toll Bridges (7) | BATA | $7.00 |
| I-405 Express Lanes (Orange County) | Orange County Transportation Authority | $6.00 |
| SR-241 Foothill/Eastern Toll Road | TCA | $6.00 |
| I-680 SMART Carpool Lanes (Sunol) | Sunol Smart Corridor JPA | $5.00 |
| I-10 Express Lanes (LA Metro ExpressLanes) | LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | $4.50 |
| I-580 Express Lanes (Alameda) | Alameda County Transportation Commission | $4.50 |
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 14,549 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 Los Angeles?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Los Angeles area is $12.25, ranging from $1.00 to $27.50 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $24.50.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Los Angeles?
Taking transit costs about $24.50 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $20.12 per day (parking $14.62 plus tolls from $2.75). Driving is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Los Angeles?
Downtown Los Angeles parking costs about $14.62 per day, or $200.33 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Los Angeles and what do they cost?
The Los Angeles region has 17 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is Golden Gate Bridge (Golden Gate Bridge District) at $8.75. Rates across the region run from $2.75 to $8.75.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Los Angeles?
In the Los Angeles metro, a typical household spends about 50.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 17.0% on transportation alone — roughly $15,414 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.