How much does it cost to commute in Portland?
In the Portland metro area, households spend about 44.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 17.0% of income — about $15,343 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Portland range from $1.00 to $86.00, with a median single-trip fare of $22.00 across 11 agencies and 1,050 priced origin-destination fare pairs in the data. Bike-share is available via Biketown, priced at $1.00 to unlock plus $0.35 per minute.
Driving downtown means paying about $11.87 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). The region has 5 priced toll facilities, with rates from $2.85 to $10.00. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is using bike-share at about $16.00 per day.
Cost by mode in Portland
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Bike-shareCheapest | $16.00 | Biketown: 2 x (unlock $1.00 + 20 min @ $0.35/min) |
| Drive (park + toll) | $17.57 | downtown parking $11.87/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($2.85) |
| Public transit | $44.00 | 2 x median transit fare ($22.00) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon POINT | 598 | $21.00 | $3.50–$52.00 |
| Pacific Crest Bus Lines | 165 | $22.00 | $2.00–$60.00 |
| Groome Transportation | 144 | $44.00 | $19.00–$86.00 |
| Caravan Airport Transportation | 58 | $62.00 | $57.00–$83.00 |
| Cascades POINT | 52 | $16.50 | $4.50–$29.00 |
| Tillamook County Transportation District | 32 | $3.00 | $1.00–$15.00 |
Bike-share
A typical 20-minute ride costs about $8.00.
Toll roads near Portland
5 priced toll facilities, rates from $2.85 to $10.00.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 405 Express Toll Lanes (Bellevue-Lynnwood) | Washington State Department of Transportation | $10.00 |
| Tacoma Narrows Bridge | Washington State Department of Transportation | $7.00 |
| SR 520 Bridge (Seattle) | Washington State Department of Transportation | $4.30 |
| SR 99 Tunnel (Seattle Alaskan Way) | Washington State Department of Transportation | $2.85 |
| SR-167 Express Toll Lanes (HOT) | WSDOT | — |
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 16,140 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 Portland?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Portland area is $22.00, ranging from $1.00 to $86.00 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $44.00.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Portland?
Taking transit costs about $44.00 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $17.57 per day (parking $11.87 plus tolls from $2.85). Driving is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Portland?
Downtown Portland parking costs about $11.87 per day, or $231.75 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Portland and what do they cost?
The Portland region has 5 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is 405 Express Toll Lanes (Bellevue-Lynnwood) (Washington State Department of Transportation) at $10.00. Rates across the region run from $2.85 to $10.00.
How much does bike-share cost in Portland?
Biketown bike-share in Portland costs $1.00 to unlock plus $0.35 per minute. A 20-minute ride costs about $8.00.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Portland?
In the Portland metro, a typical household spends about 44.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 17.0% on transportation alone — roughly $15,343 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.