Atlanta Most Expensive City For Driving
The 10 most expensive places to drive
advertisement
California might have the most expensive gas, but cities in the South rate as the priciest places to drive, thanks to high commute costs brought on by suburban sprawl.
By Sperling's Best Places
With the price of gasoline coasting just below record highs, a trip to the pump can now set you back $50 or more, and industry analysts say that even higher prices are due this summer.
The hit you take in your pocketbook depends at least in part on where you live -- not only because gas prices range widely, but because commuting conditions do, too. So while California's gas prices are typically the highest in the nation, Southern cities top the list of most expensive places to drive.
Experts at Sperling’s Best Places looked at 84 major cities, factoring in not only the cost of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline, but also the number of miles driven by daily commuters and the effect of rush-hour congestion.
Southern sprawl takes its toll
The "winner?" Atlanta, where commuters can spend nearly $4,600 annually on gas for a family that includes two daily drivers, earning it the title of the most expensive city for driving.
Most expensive cities for driving
Metro AreaAnnual costGas price
1.Atlanta $4,573 $2.200
2.Birmingham, Ala.$4,448 $2.192
3.Nashville-Davidson, Tenn.$4,418 $2.205
4.Orlando, Fla.$4,382 $2.270
5.Jacksonville, Fla.$4,202 $2.281
6.Pensacola. Fla.-Ala.$4,181 $2.281
7.Indianapolis, Ind.$4,151 $2.335
8.San Francisco-Oakland $4,149 $2.699
9.Raleigh-Durham, N.C.$4,117 $2.252
10.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana $4,091 $2.610
(Based on a family of two daily commuters, gas prices 4/11/05.)
“The large cities of the South and Midwest landed in the top 10 due to their sprawling development,” said Bert Sperling, president of Sperling’s Best Places, a Portland, Ore., research firm that specializes in studies about city livability. That sprawl means the typical commuter puts in a 60-mile round trip each day, he says. Start investing with $100.
Explore our
new ETF center.
In Los Angeles and San Francisco, the average daily commute is only about 45 miles, but some of the nation’s highest gas prices pushed them into the top 10.
Shorter commutes mark cheapest cities
The least expensive cities for driving all have one thing in common: The average commute was much shorter than the most expensive cities -- about 30 miles per day.
Least expensive cities for driving
Metro AreaAnnual costGas price
1.Brownsville, Texas$1,853 $2.172
2.New Orleans, La.$1,882 $2.187
3.Anchorage, Alaska$1,928 $2.205
4.Allentown-Bethlehem, Pa.-N.J.$2,060 $2.206
5.Boulder, Colo.$2,131 $2.242
6.Cleveland$2,177 $2.296
7.Salem, Ore.$2,199 $2.365
8.El Paso, Texas-N.M.$2,358 $2.161
9.Eugene, Ore.$2,402 $2.410
10.Honolulu$2,411 $2.401
(Based on a family of two daily commuters, gas prices 4/11/05.)
During the last year, the average price for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline has risen more than 40 cents, or nearly 25%. Opinions on the cause vary, with some experts citing an increasing global demand for oil, led by the booming economies of China and India, and others pointing to a decrease in supply due to limited refinery capacity and the possibility of speculation on crude oil futures. Whatever the reason, there is agreement that prices are likely to continue to rise in the near future.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/...0.asp?GT1=6583
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Ruiner
