this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2026
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$1000 a month for a car is a pretty low estimate for most people. And even if we accept that estimate, it's $1000 per month, per car. Most suburban families are going to need more than one.
If you're paying $1,000 a month for your car, you have money to burn, or you have a terrible driving record and your insurance is absurd. We have two cars, each with a monthly payment of less than $300, and our combined insurance is $450 and includes two life insurance policies.
There's no way we could afford to move into the city. First, there are more jobs out here. Second, the public schools are so much better than in the city. Third, we have space for dogs, a garage with bikes, a fenced-in yard and a creek.
I lived in the city for 10 years, and I do miss it. I miss commuting on my bike. I miss being able to take the subway home after a night of drinking. I miss walking to the corner bodega for the best fucking potato salad anywhere.
But when we moved to the burbs, the rent was $1,600 a month for our two bedroom apartment. The exact same apartment is now $3,000 a month in rent, which is more than my mortgage payment for a 4 bed, 2.5 bath on 2 acres (bought in 2018, before rates went to absolute shit).
The point is, I can't afford to move anywhere because the cost of living everywhere is too high. For us, it doesn't make financial sense not to have a car.
Because that's how they want it.
There are unfortunately so many American metro areas like the one you're describing: poor public services in city vs suburbs, more jobs in suburbs, cheaper housing. Its definitely not a natural law of the universe but a result of short-sighted, racist, classist planning and development, and it forces lots of people to live in the burbs even if they'd rather not.
I do want to push back on the monthly car cost a bit. You didn't factor in gas, maintenance, repairs, etc in your own estimate of your car cost. Those really add up and would probably push you closer to the $1000/month/car mark.
Also, your insurance rate seems extremely low. I'm happy for you, but I think you might be an outlier.
My electric car costs about us$25 to charge and US$800 to finance and insure monthly. My other car is owned outright and is under $100 for fuel, and $100 for insurance. I’m disregarding depreciation because it’s about cash in hand, and including maintenance puts it about $1000-1100 total.
I think it’s not unreasonable, but you need to assume a fairly short commute. With a pickup truck doing marathon 60 mile commutes, it’s more like $2000 for sure. Per car.
You can't disregard depreciation. That's real cost, and regardless how well you take care of your car is not literally going to run forever.
But regardless, you are forgetting to consider maintenance and a lot of other things. And if you are in one accident, especially one where you are at fault, you will find that your cost will rise considerably.
I addressed both depreciation and maintenance.
When I purchase a car, I pay, for example, $50,000. If I enter that as an asset, I need to depreciate it as time and mileage add up - ($10,000) year one, (5000) year two.
If I consider the payments simply as a cost, without considering the value of the vehicle as an asset, I don’t need to consider depreciation. It’s right there on the books as (50,000) in 2026. So that $800 for car payments plus insurance is the total cost of the vehicle. This calculation would only be a problem while I have money owing on the vehicle and try to sell it - which I personally won’t do. I’d rather own a car for 15-20 years if I can.