How much does it cost to commute in Richmond?
In the Richmond metro area, households spend about 43.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 19.0% of income — about $15,034 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Driving downtown means paying about $16.74 a day to park (median of 12 sampled garages). The region has 9 priced toll facilities, with rates from $1.67 to $16.00. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is driving and parking at about $20.08 per day.
Cost by mode in Richmond
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Drive (park + toll)Cheapest | $20.08 | downtown parking $16.74/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($1.67) |
Toll roads near Richmond
9 priced toll facilities, rates from $1.67 to $16.00.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel | CBBT District | $16.00 |
| I-66 Inside Beltway Express Lanes | VDOT / Transurban | $12.00 |
| I-495/I-95 Express Lanes | Transurban | $10.00 |
| Dulles Greenway | Dulles Greenway | $5.40 |
| Dulles Toll Road | MWAA | $3.25 |
| Chesapeake Expressway (VA 168) | City of Chesapeake | $2.00 |
| Elizabeth River Tunnels | Elizabeth River Crossings | $1.67 |
| I-66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway | Transurban/VDOT | — |
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 18,442 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 is daily parking in downtown Richmond?
Downtown Richmond parking costs about $16.74 per day, or $103.00 per month for a reserved spot, based on 12 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Richmond and what do they cost?
The Richmond region has 9 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT District) at $16.00. Rates across the region run from $1.67 to $16.00.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Richmond?
In the Richmond metro, a typical household spends about 43.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 19.0% on transportation alone — roughly $15,034 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.