How much does it cost to commute in Philadelphia?
In the Philadelphia 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 $13,639 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Philadelphia range from $1.40 to $3.00, with a median single-trip fare of $1.60 across 2 agencies and 33 priced origin-destination fare pairs in the data.
Driving downtown means paying about $34.98 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). The region has 16 priced toll facilities, with rates from $1.25 to $56.40. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is taking transit at about $3.20 per day.
Cost by mode in Philadelphia
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Public transitCheapest | $3.20 | 2 x median transit fare ($1.60) |
| Drive (park + toll) | $37.48 | downtown parking $34.98/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($1.25) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Authority Transit Corporation | 33 | $1.60 | $1.40–$3.00 |
| SEPTA | 2 | $2.90 | $2.90–$2.90 |
Toll roads near Philadelphia
16 priced toll facilities, rates from $1.25 to $56.40.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike (Full Length) | Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission | $56.40 |
| NJ Turnpike (Full Length Exit 1-18W) | New Jersey Turnpike Authority | $16.41 |
| PA Turnpike Northeast Extension | Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission | $14.60 |
| Garden State Parkway (Full Length) | New Jersey Turnpike Authority | $8.30 |
| Atlantic City Expressway (Full Length) | South Jersey Transportation Authority | $6.30 |
| NJ Turnpike (Exit 7A to 14) | New Jersey Turnpike Authority | $5.85 |
| Delaware Turnpike (I-95) | DelDOT | $5.00 |
| NJ Turnpike (Exit 9 to 14) | New Jersey Turnpike Authority | $3.70 |
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 14,746 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 Philadelphia?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Philadelphia area is $1.60, ranging from $1.40 to $3.00 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $3.20.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Philadelphia?
Taking transit costs about $3.20 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $37.48 per day (parking $34.98 plus tolls from $1.25). Transit is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Philadelphia?
Downtown Philadelphia parking costs about $34.98 per day, or $324.45 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Philadelphia and what do they cost?
The Philadelphia region has 16 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is Pennsylvania Turnpike (Full Length) (Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission) at $56.40. Rates across the region run from $1.25 to $56.40.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Philadelphia?
In the Philadelphia metro, a typical household spends about 42.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 16.0% on transportation alone — roughly $13,639 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.