HDomestic transport costs continue to rise, with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane among Australia’s most expensive capital cities to live in.
Alice Springs and Geelong were also the most expensive of the regional cities analysed.
This is in line with the latest findings from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) Transport Affordability Index which also shows that the average household now spends 14.9 per cent of their income on transport costs.
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The latest quarterly results include the last three months of the temporary halving of the fuel excise rate, annual inflation at 7.3 percent and higher vehicle prices impacting vehicle loan repayments.
AAA data shows that typical weekly household transportation costs are now $413.53 for metropolitan households and $343.93 for regional households.
Compared to the previous quarter, weekly car loan payments increased in every city tracked in the index, whether regional or capital.
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While fuel prices have fallen since the end of last quarter, the typical Australian household is still paying $18.57 more per week in fuel costs than last year.
AAA managing director Michael Bradley said transport costs were putting significant pressure on household budgets.
“The latest figures are a timely reminder to governments that they need to carefully consider policies that could increase transport costs under housing pressure in both regional and metropolitan Australia,” he added. “
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AAA data shows Sydney remains Australia’s most expensive capital city with a typical weekly transport cost of $485.68, followed by Melbourne ($463.64) and Brisbane ($458.38).
Alice Springs is Australia’s most expensive regional city at $377.85 per week, while Geelong ($364.06) replaces Bunbury ($363.48) as the second most expensive regional city.
The Tasmanian cities of Launceston (18%) and Hobart (17.6%), followed by Brisbane (17%) had the highest transport costs as a proportion of household income.