How much does it cost to commute in St. Louis?
In the St. Louis metro area, households spend about 43.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 20.0% of income — about $14,827 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Driving downtown means paying about $12.99 a day to park (median of 20 sampled garages). The region has 6 priced toll facilities, with rates from $2.10 to $15.55. On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is driving and parking at about $17.19 per day.
Cost by mode in St. Louis
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Drive (park + toll)Cheapest | $17.19 | downtown parking $12.99/day + 2 x lowest priced toll ($2.10) |
Toll roads near St. Louis
6 priced toll facilities, rates from $2.10 to $15.55.
| Facility | Operator | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Tollway I-294 (Tri-State) | Illinois State Toll Highway Authority | $15.55 |
| Illinois Tollway I-90 (Jane Addams) | Illinois State Toll Highway Authority | $14.30 |
| Illinois Tollway I-88 (Reagan) | Illinois State Toll Highway Authority | $10.95 |
| Illinois Tollway I-355 (Veterans) | Illinois State Toll Highway Authority | $10.10 |
| Chicago Skyway (I-90) | Skyway Concession Company | $6.15 |
| Illinois Tollway I-390 | Illinois State Toll Highway Authority | $2.10 |
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 17,836 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 St. Louis?
Downtown St. Louis parking costs about $12.99 per day, or $108.15 per month for a reserved spot, based on 20 sampled garages.
What are the toll roads near St. Louis and what do they cost?
The St. Louis region has 6 priced toll facilities. The highest-rate facility is Illinois Tollway I-294 (Tri-State) (Illinois State Toll Highway Authority) at $15.55. Rates across the region run from $2.10 to $15.55.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in St. Louis?
In the St. Louis metro, a typical household spends about 43.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 20.0% on transportation alone — roughly $14,827 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.