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> However, median transportation costs were $1,152, a figure 38 percent higher than for New Yorkers. In total, the study found, living in Houston was only $79 c
by javagram 7y ago
> However, median transportation costs were $1,152, a figure 38 percent higher than for New Yorkers. In total, the study found, living in Houston was only $79 cheaper each month than New York.
What isn’t clear to me from this if if the median transportation costs are higher in Houston because they have to be, or because people have more free income and are simply choosing to spend it on more expensive vehicles. I’d guess you’d find plenty of SUVs and trucks in and around Houston, which are expensive luxury vehicles that are not needed to commute. So you’re paying a higher lease price and higher gas prices for your gas guzzling status symbol, but that’s your own choice - you could drive a used beater sedan and have lower costs.
- save_ferris 7y agoIt’s probably a bit of both. Houston uses HOV toll lanes, so there are additional costs to commuting there. The distance that people commute in the Houston area can be insane, though, which is where I imagine the cost comparison comes in. 30-50 mile commutes aren’t uncommon in the Houston metro area.
- jeffasinger 7y agoNot an expert on Houston, but did spend the past weekend there. There's definitely a big car factor there. I had reserved a mid sized rental car to get to and from the airport and around the car centric area I was staying. When I got to the rental car center they apologized and said they were out of mid sized cars and said I could take a truck, a large suv, a jeep wrangler or what she referred to as a 2 door. It turns out a 2 door was a dodge challenger (large, overpowered and fuel inefficient car). The representative said they got rid of all the smaller cars because no one would be willing to rent them. The concentration of pickup trucks being driven as day to day commuting vehicles seemed quite high as well.
- selpop 7y agoI just moved to NYC from Durham, NC, and I braced for the change in COL. But I don't think it's as bad as people say, and I think a big part is transportation. The 1 month Metrocard costs about what I was spending on gas in a month of commuting with a 124 Spider (not the most fuel efficient car, but very far from a gas guzzler) Once maintenance and insurance are included, the Metrocard is cheaper (as I take trips outside of work). - I can also walk to most errands I previously had to drive 15-20 minutes for (40+ minutes total after parking and traffic). Besides saving money, the time saved is pretty valuable