NYC Households Spend Nearly $13K Annually On Transportation Costs

NEW YORK CITY — The average New York City household pays nearly $13,000 each year on transportation costs — the second-largest cost for New Yorkers, behind housing, according to a new state comptroller report.

New York City transportation costs increased by about 56 percent between 2012-13 and 2022-23 less than in the Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco metropolitan areas.

The report showed that New York City transportation costs were below the national average of 17 percent.

"City residents are fortunate to have a public transit system that operates around the clock to help keep some costs relatively low," DiNapoli said. "City and state officials need to keep a close eye on transportation costs to ensure they remain affordable and help to offset higher costs of other household essentials," Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a statement.

Vehicle purchases, leases, insurance, gasoline and other public transportation services remain "a substantial expense for many New Yorkers," according to DiNapoli.

New York City's average transportation costs between 2022 and 2023—at $12,836— were below six cities including Seattle, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The city finished above Philadelphia, Chicago and Dallas, according to the report.

In addition, the report found 48 percent of households relied on public transit, compared to the four percent national average.

While the average household’s public transportation costs in the New York City metropolitan area fell during the pandemic, costs are about 105 percent higher than in 2012-2013, according to the report.

The price of a subway ride increased about 29 percent within the last ten years, from $2.25 in 2013 to $2.90 last year.

The MTA will increase the price of fares in 2025 by four percent.

"This will likely impact lower-income households in New York City," according to the report.