The Real Cost of Commuting

By Madison De Silva

February, 2023

Driving is something which is as routine to Canadians as eating breakfast. Most Canadians don’t go a day without it, even if it is just a short distance. Have you taken the time to calculate the cost of this habit? Although there are financial costs, which are a well-loved source of small talk among Canadians; “have you seen the recent gas prices?”. There are also lesser-known time, skill and environmental costs for Canadians when they make the decision to drive. Before you get behind the wheel, make sure you are aware of all the costs that you are enduring.

Many people avoid public transport as it may be confusing for first-timers. Luckily, in the upcoming months, our posts will be on the topics of purchasing a Presto card, safety tips, how to navigate and more.

Although the cost of fuel often takes precedence in our minds, it is only 15% of the annual cost of owning a car. According to Finder, monthly the amount spent on owning and driving a car is $988. That cost can be broken down as follows: financing at 29%, insurance at 28%, maintenance at 18%, fuel at 15%, depreciation at 9%, and license and registration at 1%. Yearly the total is $11,856.

Presto cards allow you to use public transportation in Greater Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa. A Presto card costs $6 plus an additional $3.25 per ride or $13.50 for the entire day (on the TTC). For closer distances in good conditions, you may choose to bike which is free besides the initial cost of purchasing your bike.

In addition to the financial cost of driving, you also miss out on developing valuable skills. You have the opportunity to fine-tune your bike riding skills or your navigational skills if you use public transit. If you choose to take public transit, you will not be focused on driving which grants you free time to practice a skill you would not have time to learn otherwise such as sketching or practicing another language.

By the end of our lives, the estimated time spent in traffic amounts to about one year in total. This is compared to the average of three years spent on vacation and 26 years sleeping.

In Canada, the transportation sector is to blame for 27% of Canada’s Greenhouse gas emissions. The effects of this can be largely reduced by choosing to carpool, take public transportation, bike or walk.

1 www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2021/commute-calculator-pandemic/

2 www.dreams.co.uk/sleep-matters-club/your-life-in-numbers-infographic#:~:text=The%20average%20person%20spends%20about,what's%20so%20special%20about%20sleep%3F