Chicago's the 9th priciest U.S. commuting city
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If you needed another reason to take public transportation or a bike to work downtown, how about saving thousands of dollars in gas and parking?
Zoom in: The ranking is based on gas prices and downtown parking costs for a 13.4-mile commute each way over 250 workdays, according to an analysis by vettory.org, which offers data on veterans' assistance programs.
Between the lines: We actually think ninth place is impressive based on our relatively large size and the awesomeness of living here.
Yes, but: The ranking doesn't account for traffic. Chicago overtook New York as the nation's most congested city last year, with drivers losing 112 hours to traffic in 2025 at an estimated cost of $2,063 each.
- Vettory, which operates veterans' assistance programs, says those congestion costs are not included in the $3,620 annual commuting total.