10 Cities With the Worst Traffic (We Never Thought About #2)

You might be frustrated with your daily commute or just getting around to do errands, but just how bad is it?

FinanceBuzz did a survey of the most and least laid-back cities based on economic factors, well-being, leisure activities, and livability including walkability, weather, and traffic.

To live in some cities, you might need to know how car owners can save money . And sitting in traffic won’t help you save money on gas.

The cities with the worst traffic may not surprise you, but traffic might be a consideration if you’re considering relocating for work or retirement.

Check out the top 10 cities with the worst traffic to see if your local roads made the list.

10. Houston

Houston is the fourth-most populous city in the U.S., behind New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, which could affect traffic and commute times.

Houston is mainly in Harris County, which had more than 3.5 million registered vehicles in 2023, according to data from the Texas Department of Transportation.

The city’s public transportation system, METRO, is insufficient for the area’s needs, which may contribute to the traffic.

9. San Jose, California

One issue facing San Jose is that the city at the south end of San Francisco Bay doesn’t have the room to expand highways and other roads, which causes choke points and additional traffic for commuters.

One study estimated that driving during morning and evening rush hours can add 17 minutes to a driver’s commute, up to 72 hours per year in rush-hour traffic.

8. Miami

Bottlenecks are an issue for commuters in Miami, but the city is undertaking some construction projects to ease congestion. Among these are the construction of several flyover ramps to connect east-west expressways to I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike.

The city has also seen an increase in population since the COVID-19 pandemic, adding extra drivers to the roads in recent years.

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7. Detroit

The Motor City may not be motoring along because traffic is an issue for area residents.

The city’s reliance on cars — and the car industry — could be a contributing factor. But its location as a major port and route to Canada also factor in. Plus, it has rough winters. Detroit is one of only three cities on this list that faces snowy winters.

6. Washington, D.C.

The DMV — the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia — has seen a boom in population in the past 20 years, adding over a million residents.

Many flocked to the suburbs around the city without the necessary infrastructure updates to handle all the vehicles on the road.

One study found that commuters in the D.C. area spend more than 100 hours per year in traffic due to the city’s driving woes.

5. Boston

One of the factors contributing to Boston’s traffic woes is the lack of commuters using public transportation.

The T — Boston’s MBTA public transportation system — includes commuter rails, subways, ferry, and buses, but the number of users has dropped dramatically since the pandemic and hasn’t recovered.

4. Seattle

Seattle is another city affected by commuters returning to the office after working from home during the pandemic.

The city has seen an uptick in traffic in the post-pandemic years, with one study finding that drivers spent 58 hours sitting in traffic in 2023, up from 46 hours a year earlier.

3. San Francisco

San Francisco traffic has returned to pre-pandemic levels as commuters return to the office to work.

Housing costs could also factor into commute times, with residents having to commute longer to suburban areas where they can afford a home.

The median sale price for a home in San Francisco was almost $1.4 million in July, according to real estate website Redfin.

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2. Riverside, California

You might think that Riverside, a city of 320,764 east of Los Angeles, has traffic because of its proximity to LA. But the city has its own traffic problems.

One issue may be choke points along Interstate 215, especially where it intersects with U.S. 60. Besides I-215, I-15 and I-10 are accessed from the city, causing slow traffic and volume issues. This adds up to more time commuters spend in their cars.

1. Los Angeles

It may not be surprising to see Los Angeles at the top of the FinanceBuzz list of cities with the worst traffic, as the city is notorious for its traffic issues.

One recent study found that Angelinos spend an average of 89 hours a year sitting in traffic, making it one of the worst cities for traffic issues.

Bottom line

Traffic can cost you time and money, so you may want to factor in commute times and traffic issues when looking for a new home or job.

You might consider an electric vehicle to reduce your commuting costs. You should also shop around for the best car insurance to save money.

If you live in one of the worst cities for traffic, drive carefully and accept that delays will happen.

Money tips that can work for everyone

No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.

Focus on paying off your debt . Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.

Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.

Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).