How much does it cost to commute in Seattle?
In the Seattle metro area, households spend about 41.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 15.0% of income — about $15,877 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Public-transit fares near downtown Seattle range from $1.00 to $10.00, with a median single-trip fare of $2.00 across 5 agencies and 420 priced origin-destination fare pairs in the data.
Driving downtown means paying about $15.99 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 taking transit at about $4.00 per day.
Cost by mode in Seattle
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Public transitCheapest | $4.00 | 2 x median transit fare ($2.00) |
| Drive (park + toll) | $21.69 | downtown parking $15.99/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($2.85) |
Public transit fares
| Agency | Fares | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Transit | 421 | $2.00 | $2.00–$7.00 |
| Sound Transit | 177 | $4.00 | $1.00–$5.75 |
| Pierce Transit | 43 | $2.00 | $2.00–$3.75 |
| Clallam Transit System | 2 | $5.50 | $1.00–$10.00 |
| Snoqualmie Valley Transportation | 2 | $1.00 | $1.00–$1.00 |
Toll roads near Seattle
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 16,908 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 Seattle?
The median single-trip transit fare in the Seattle area is $2.00, ranging from $1.00 to $10.00 depending on the agency and trip distance. A daily round trip costs roughly $4.00.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit in Seattle?
Taking transit costs about $4.00 for a daily round trip, while driving and parking downtown costs about $21.69 per day (parking $15.99 plus tolls from $2.85). Transit is the cheaper option on a daily basis.
How much is daily parking in downtown Seattle?
Downtown Seattle parking costs about $15.99 per day, or $314.15 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near Seattle and what do they cost?
The Seattle 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.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Seattle?
In the Seattle metro, a typical household spends about 41.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 15.0% on transportation alone — roughly $15,877 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.