SEATTLE — The cost of commuting in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area goes far beyond filling up the gas tank.
A new study from Consumer Affairs ranks the Seattle region as the fifth most expensive metro area in the country for commuting, estimating the average worker spends $10,018 per year getting to and from work.
According to the report, Seattle-area commuters spend an average of 58 minutes traveling each day, totaling more than 244 hours annually, or roughly 10 full days spent commuting.
Researchers combined average commute times, local wages, gas prices, typical driving distances and vehicle fuel economy to estimate the true cost of commuting.
“Depending on housing trends and where people are feeling that they can most afford to live and how much of a commute they’re willing to deal with in response to that, that could push these time costs to be either similar or higher,” said Ella Gomes, a spokesperson for ConsumerAffairs.
The findings highlight a challenge facing many workers in the Seattle area, where housing affordability often pushes people farther from job centers, leading to longer commute times.
ConsumerAffairs estimated that the value of time Seattle workers spend commuting amounts to about $8,500 annually. Fuel costs add another $1,400 or more, bringing the total estimated yearly commuting cost above $10,000.
Gomes said workers who cannot work remotely often feel the burden the most, but there are ways to reduce some of those costs.
“There are practical ways to reduce the burden,” Gomes said. “Depending on your situation, that could mean taking advantage of remote or hybrid work when you can, but also things like carpooling or incorporating public transportation when you can. If it makes sense for your commute, those can shave off some of that time or cost.”
Fuel prices are adding additional pressure for Washington drivers.
According to AAA, Washington’s average gas price stands at $5.57 per gallon, while diesel recently reached a record $7.31 per gallon.
“That fuel cost was among the highest in the country,” Gomes said. “It’s the third most expensive. California and Hawaii are the only states with higher fuel costs than Washington. So Seattle commuters were definitely getting hit from both sides.”
ConsumerAffairs says metro size, traffic congestion and transportation options all contribute to commute times and costs.
The report found the most expensive metropolitan areas for commuting are the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, D.C., and New York City, with Seattle ranking fifth.