Should you buy that car? It makes sense to own one in these cities.

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Own a car, or use public transit? It’s a classic debate full of trade-offs.

For most Americans, quicker commutes and the convenience of car ownership outweigh the pros of using public transit. But that comfort often comes at a steep price, averaging around $8,137 per year when factoring in fuel, insurance, maintenance and parking, according to a study by Point2Homes, a resource for renters that publishes market research.

For the average homeowner, that’s 8% of their income, but for the average renter, it’s 15%, the study found. Meanwhile, public transit costs commuters on average less than $1,000 per year – a more than $7,000 annual difference, notes the study's author, Andra Hopulele.

“This financial imbalance underscores how transit affordability can play a key role in household budgeting, particularly for lower- and middle-income renters,” Hopulele told Paste BN. “The trade-off is clear: significant cost savings versus modest time gains. For budget-conscious commuters, especially renters, public transit can offer meaningful financial relief.”

Debating buying a car versus sticking to the bus route and metro system? Here’s what to know:

Where ditching the car saves the most money

Commuters can save thousands by ditching cars in some of the nation's most well-known cities, according to the study. Three of the top five cities where ditching a car will save more than $7,000 a year are in California.

They are:

San Francisco, where commuters save an average of $10,188.
New York, where commuters save an average of $9,538.
San Diego, where commuters save an average of $8,676.
Los Angeles, where commuters save an average of $8,436.
Boston, where commuters save an average of $8,195.
Washington, where commuters save an average of $8,078.
Philadelphia, where commuters save an average of $7,983
Jacksonville, Florida, where commuters save an average of $7,662.
San Jose, California, where commuters save an average of $7,488.
Chicago, where commuters save an average of $7,362.

Where owning a car saves the most time

While saving money is always nice, for some Americans, time is money.

Point2Homes calculated the average amount of time drivers save on their work commutes in each city by subtracting the average car commute times from the average public transit commute times Americans reported in the Census American Community Survey.

How Trump's tariffs will effect everyday prices

With new tariffs on imports, several everyday goods are likely to become more expensive for American consumers. Cars and auto parts, many of which are produced through an integrated North American supply chain, will see price increases as manufacturers adjust to higher costs.

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Two California cities where opting for public transit saves consumers some of the most money also rank in the top 10 of places where owning a car saves Americans the most time on their way to and from work.

They are:

Las Vegas, where commuters save an average of 52.3 minutes per day and 9.1 days per year.
San Jose, California, where commuters save an average of 50.8 minutes per day and 8.9 days per year.
El Paso, Texas, where commuters save an average of 46.8 minutes per day and 8.2 days per year.
Fort Worth, Texas, where commuters save an average of 44.4 minutes per day and 7.8 days per year.
San Antonio, where commuters save an average of 42.3 minutes per day and 7.4 days per year.
Phoenix, where commuters save an average of 41.3 minutes per day and 7.2 days per year.
Detroit, where commuters save an average of 40.5 minutes per day and 7.1 days per year.
Indianapolis, where commuters save an average of 39.2 minutes per day and 6.9 days per year.
San Diego, where commuters save an average of 38.9 minutes per day and 6.8 days per year.
Columbus, Ohio, where commuters save an average of 37.3 minutes per day and 6.5 days per year.

Reach Rachel Barber at rbarber@usatoday.com and follow her on X @rachelbarber_

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