20 US Cities Where People Pay the Biggest Percentage of Their Salary To Commute

Commuting in the U.S. is, for most, an essential cost-of-living expense.

According to an analysis from the Chamber of Commerce, Americans pay an average of nearly $5,750 per year for commuting. 

How much you’ll spend on this daily grind of getting to and from work varies depending on where you live. Buycycle, an online marketplace for buying and selling used bikes, determined the 20 cities where people pay the biggest percentage of their salary on commuting, whether driving or taking public transit.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the most expensive cities for commuters.

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,843.93
• Gas cost rankings: 20 
• Average commute in miles: 14.06
• Price of gasoline: $5.03
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.42%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.30%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,579.0
• Gas cost rankings: 19
• Average commute in miles: 17.04
• Price of gasoline: $3.94
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.35%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.31%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,595.32
• Gas cost rankings: 18
• Average commute in miles: 19.21
• Price of gasoline: $3.52
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.31%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.32%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,595.32
• Gas cost rankings: 17
• Average commute in miles: 16.85
• Price of gasoline: $3.44
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.53%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.33%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,171.95
• Gas cost rankings: 16
• Average commute in miles: 13.68
• Price of gasoline: $4.19
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.5%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.34%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,171.95
• Gas cost rankings: 15
• Average commute in miles: 17.38
• Price of gasoline: $3.0
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.18%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.40%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $3,831.62
• Gas cost rankings: 14
• Average commute in miles: 17.13
• Price of gasoline: $3.41
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.7%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.40%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,164.32
• Gas cost rankings: 13
• Average commute in miles: 16.90
• Price of gasoline: $3.5
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.85%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.42%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $5,855.08
• Gas cost rankings: 12
• Average commute in miles: 16.26
• Price of gasoline: $5.13
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.23%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.43%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $3,490.13
• Gas cost rankings: 11
• Average commute in miles: 17.38
• Price of gasoline: $3.1
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.43%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.43%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,612.27
• Gas cost rankings: 10
• Average commute in miles: 19.13
• Price of gasoline: $3.47
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.08%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.45%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,180.45
• Gas cost rankings: 9
• Average commute in miles: 13.83
• Price of gasoline: $4.77
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.12%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.49%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $3,993.59
• Gas cost rankings: 8
• Average commute in miles: 18.78
• Price of gasoline: $3.44
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.8%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.55%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,839.35
• Gas cost rankings: 7
• Average commute in miles: 18.56
• Price of gasoline: $4.15
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.65%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.72%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $3,811.11
• Gas cost rankings: 6
• Average commute in miles: 12.94
• Price of gasoline: $4.85
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 2.1%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 2.81%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $4,189.75
• Gas cost rankings: 5
• Average commute in miles: 23.46
• Price of gasoline: $3.48
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.58%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 3.07%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $3,974.6
• Gas cost rankings: 4
• Average commute in miles: 19.67
• Price of gasoline: $3.83
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 2.42%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 3.23%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $3,789.98
• Gas cost rankings: 3
• Average commute in miles: 16.98
• Price of gasoline: $4.85
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.19%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 3.42%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $5,107.90
• Gas cost rankings: 2
• Average commute in miles: 36.03
• Price of gasoline: $5.34
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.57%
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 6.43%

• Average monthly salary (after taxes): $7,711.20
• Gas cost rankings: 1
• Average commute in miles: 38.45
• Price of gasoline: $5.17
• Percentage of public transportation per monthly salary: 1.2% 
• Percentage of gas per monthly salary: 6.95%