Transport costs in Australia feel like a constant uphill battle. From fuel and tolls to car rego, insurance and public transport fees, the costs just keep piling up. But here’s the good news: after almost two years of rising transport costs, the figures finally dropped in the last quarter of 2024. Curious to see which capital cities have the most and least affordable transport in Australia? Buckle up and read on.
New data from the Australian Automobile Association’s (AAA) quarterly Affordability Index reveals that the average Aussie household spent a hefty 16.1 per cent of its income on transport in the last quarter of 2024. To measure the affordability in each capital city, the AAA ranked each city’s cost-to-income ratio – and the results might surprise you.
Brisbane took the lead as the most affordable capital in Australia for transport, with the typical household spending $443.71 or 14.8 per cent of its income on commuting. This is largely thanks to the Queensland Government’s decision to make 50 cent public transport fares permanent (originally set to end in February 2025), and a 20 per cent reduction in car registration fees to help ease cost-of-living pressures. This is a major turnaround for Brisbane, which ranked as the second least affordable city for public transport in quarter one of 2024. The Queensland capital dethroned Canberra, which previously held the title as the most affordable city for transport in Australia.
In the final quarter of 2024, transport affordability either improved or remained steady for typical households in all capital cities, except Canberra and Melbourne. Despite this, our nation’s capital still ranked as the second most affordable for transport in Australia. Its fall to second place was mainly due to the end of a fare-free public transport period (from April 2023 to January 2024), with commuters now spending $470.10 or 14.8 per cent on transport.
On the flip side, Hobart ranked as the least affordable city for transport, with the average household spending $420.55 or 18.9 per cent of its income on commuting. While Brisbane households typically pay more for transport than those in the Tasmanian capital, the income disparity between the two cities meant Brisbane still came out on top as the most affordable. You can see how your city fares below.
Here are the most affordable cities for public transport in Australia:
- Brisbane
- Canberra
- Adelaide
- Perth
- Darwin
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Hobart