Living In Atlanta Without A Car: Cost Savings

Hopefully you’ve read the first part of my “Living in Atlanta without a Car” series, but if not, you can catch up here! I continue to enjoy utilizing public transportation to meet my daily needs in the City. Public transportation has not only reduced the amount of time I would have spent idling in traffic but has also reduced the amount of stress during my morning and afternoon commute trips. Another factor that has contributed to my transition away from owning a vehicle is the cost savings associated with using public transportation.

Owning a vehicle can be costly and require hundreds of dollars per month to maintain. Vehicles often come with high costs including insurance, monthly payments, gas, maintenance, and parking storage. When living in Tampa, I was spending well over $500 a month to maintain my existing vehicle without even factoring in a new car payment. I anticipated that my transition to Atlanta would require me to purchase a new car, which would have added another $250 to my total monthly expenses.

My current apartment does not offer any available parking spaces for purchase, which would have required me to locate and pay separately for a parking space. Monthly parking costs can range from $100 to $200 per month for safe vehicle parking storage. This information further motivated me to ditch the automobile and pocket the savings. After making the decision to ditch the automobile and only use public transportation, I am now saving over $750 per month which can be substituted to save money for emergencies, future condo renovations, and vacations.

There are some challenges, however. Sometimes emergency situations arise that require me to explore alternative transportation solutions outside of MARTA. I have to utilize Uber or Lyft ridesharing services in the event of transit delays such as maintenance issues, weather etc. Typical ride sharing trips through Uber or Lyft can range from $10 to $50, depending on peak hours. When I’m in Buckhead, however, I have access to the newly implemented on-demand Buc shuttle service. This service allows me to access Buckhead Village, the Buckhead Business Core and MARTA Stations for free or a flat rate fare of $3 – much cheaper compared to Uber or Lyft! With rising fuel costs and other personal expenses, using public transportation continues to be a reliable and more cost-efficient choice compared to owning a personal vehicle.