How much does it cost to commute in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
In the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, households spend about 39.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 16.0% of income — about $15,266 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Minneapolis-St. Paul 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. Bike-share is available via Hourcar, priced at about $0.33 per minute.
Driving downtown means paying about $14.07 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). The region has 2 priced toll facilities, with rates from $4.00 to $5.00. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is using bike-share at about $13.20 per day.
Cost by mode in Minneapolis-St. Paul
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Bike-shareCheapest | $13.20 | Hourcar: 2 x (unlock $0.00 + 20 min @ $0.33/min) |
| Drive (park + toll) | $22.07 | downtown parking $14.07/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($4.00) |
| 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 |
Bike-share
A typical 20-minute ride costs about $6.60.
Toll roads near Minneapolis-St. Paul
2 priced toll facilities, rates from $4.00 to $5.00.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| MNPass I-35W (Minneapolis) | Minnesota Department of Transportation | $5.00 |
| MNPass I-394 (Minneapolis) | Minnesota Department of Transportation | $4.00 |
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 16,999 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Minneapolis-St. Paul 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul?
Taking transit costs about $88.00 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $22.07 per day (parking $14.07 plus tolls from $4.00). Driving is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Minneapolis-St. Paul?
Downtown Minneapolis-St. Paul parking costs about $14.07 per day, or $144.20 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Minneapolis-St. Paul and what do they cost?
The Minneapolis-St. Paul region has 2 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is MNPass I-35W (Minneapolis) (Minnesota Department of Transportation) at $5.00. Rates across the region run from $4.00 to $5.00.
How much does bike-share cost in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
Hourcar bike-share in Minneapolis-St. Paul costs $0.33 per minute. A 20-minute ride costs about $6.60.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
In the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro, a typical household spends about 39.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 16.0% on transportation alone — roughly $15,266 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.