How much does it cost to commute in Phoenix?
In the Phoenix metro area, households spend about 44.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 19.0% of income — about $15,268 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Phoenix range from $24.00 to $55.00, with a median single-trip fare of $43.00 (priced fares in the data cover Groome Transportation) and 18 priced origin-destination fare pairs in the data.
Driving downtown means paying about $14.74 a day to park (median of 35 sampled garages). On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is driving and parking at about $14.74 per day.
Cost by mode in Phoenix
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Drive (park + toll)Cheapest | $14.74 | downtown parking $14.74/day |
| Public transit | $86.00 | 2 x median transit fare ($43.00) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groome Transportation | 19 | $43.00 | $24.00–$55.00 |
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 17,225 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 Phoenix?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Phoenix area is $43.00, ranging from $24.00 to $55.00 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $86.00.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Phoenix?
Taking transit costs about $86.00 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $14.74 per day (parking $14.74). Driving is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Phoenix?
Downtown Phoenix parking costs about $14.74 per day, or $90.12 per month for a reserved spot, based on 35 sampled garages.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Phoenix?
In the Phoenix metro, a typical household spends about 44.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 19.0% on transportation alone — roughly $15,268 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.