Melbourne's transport system has historically been lauded for many aspects – after all, our city has the largest tram network in the world. But in recent years, there has been more debate on whether our public transport is up to scratch. Melburnians can't tap on with bank cards until next year, the Airport Rail Link is still at least five years away from completion, and now a new study has revealed that Melbourne is one of the least affordable capital cities in the country. Oh dear.
The cost of transport often feels like a constant uphill battle. From fuel and tolls to car rego, insurance and public transport fees, the costs just keep piling up. 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 calculated the percentage of the average income spent on transport expenses.
Melbourne ranked as the second least affordable city in the country, with an average weekly transport cost of $526.33 per household, which equates to 16.9 per cent of the average income. Our city is the second most expensive for tolls, which increased by $126 in annual costs. Melbourne is also the most expensive city in the country for public transport, with the typical Melburnian household spending $53 per week. The total annual average transport cost is $27,369 per household.
So which cities are the most affordable to get around? 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 equates to $23,073 annual average spend per household. This affordability 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. The Queensland capital dethroned Canberra, which previously held the title as the most affordable city for transport in Australia.
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
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