U.S. Cities Where Switching To Public Transport Saves Commuters The Most Money

An April 2026 report on commuting costs across the US found that Los Angeles residents waste the most money by driving to work instead of using public transport. With gas prices reaching $4 per gallon following the war in Iran, a new study by the digital business card provider Wave Connect reveals where switching to buses can save people the most money.

• LA drivers waste $740 monthly by choosing cars over public transport, spending more on commuting than anyone in the US.

• Driving to work costs more in California than in any other state, with San Francisco, San Diego, and San Jose also among the top 5 most expensive cities for commuters.

• People in Chicago can save nearly $300 monthly on parking alone by switching to buses and trains instead of driving.

  
  

Wave Connect is a leading digital business card platform designed for networking, allowing individuals and teams to create, share, and manage contact information via QR codes, NFC tags, or virtual wallets without needing a physical app.

It offers CRM integration (HubSpot, Salesforce) for automatic lead capturing, real-time analytics, and team-wide brand management

The research examined 45 major American cities to find where driving costs workers the most compared to public transport. The study tracked monthly gas expenses based on average commute distances and state fuel prices, then added insurance and downtown parking fees. These driving costs were compared against monthly unlimited transit passes for each city’s bus or rail system. Cities were ranked by how much money workers save each month by choosing public transport over driving, showing where cars are the biggest waste of money.

Los Angeles is the worst city in America for driving to work. The average commute in LA spans 18 miles, and that can take nearly $200 in gas alone every month. Plus, there are insurance and parking costs, and all this can add up to over $840 monthly expenses. Yet an unlimited Metro pass covering buses and rail costs just $100. That means LA drivers are spending more than 8 times as much as they need to just to get to work.

2. San Francisco, California

San Francisco drivers throw away $640+ per month by choosing to drive instead of using Muni, the local public transit system. People here spend over $140 on fuel and another $300 on parking. The insurance rates are also high, so the monthly driving bill often reaches $740. All this while a Muni pass costs under $100. To put this into perspective, San Francisco workers could save over $7,700 annually just by switching to transit.

3. San Diego, California

People in San Diego waste nearly $600 each month by sticking with their cars. The typical commute here is 15.5 miles, burning through $160+ in gas, given California’s high fuel prices. Insurance runs $300 per month, the same as in San Francisco, but parking is cheaper at $200. Still, that brings the total driving bill to $660+. Meanwhile, an MTS transit pass costs just $72, making it one of the cheapest unlimited ride options in any major city.

4. San Jose, California

San Jose ranks fourth, where car commuters lose $580 per month compared to those who take the bus. Driving here costs $680+ in total, with insurance rates often exceeding $300. As in other California cities, gas is expensive, costing residents over $150 per month. Overall, that’s nearly $7,000 annually going to car expenses instead of savings. But workers can avoid all this by getting a VTA monthly pass for just $100, which covers unlimited rides on both buses and light rail.

5. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago rounds out the top five cities where people overspend by driving instead of using public transport. The city charges one of the highest rates for parking permits, at $280 monthly. Plus, there are gas and insurance expenses, which typically cost about $300. Given these rates, people in Chicago end up spending nearly $600 on driving every month. That’s why the $85 CTA monthly pass makes so much sense he

re: it covers both bus and train rides, and those who use it can save $6,000 annually.

George El-Hage, Founder & CEO of Wave Connect, commented on the study: “We know public transport in America isn’t as reliable as in Europe. Many smaller cities have few bus routes that serve commuters, and in those places, driving really is the only option. But we’re talking about major metros here, and all of them have decent transit systems that can get you to work. The real issue is that most people don’t realize how much driving actually costs. Especially when it comes to parking, which is one of the biggest hidden expenses. We think about gas prices when calculating commuting costs, but downtown parking fees are often double what fuel costs.”

You can access the complete research findings here.