2025's Most and Least Affordable U.S. Cities for Car Insurance and Ownership

The cost of car ownership in the U.S. involves multiple factors including insurance premiums, gas prices, parking fees, and maintenance expenses. A recent analysis by Way.com highlights the top five most affordable and most expensive cities for car owners in 2025, focusing primarily on full coverage insurance costs alongside fuel and parking prices. Cities such as Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, and Johnson City, Tennessee, rank as some of the most budget-friendly locations, with average full coverage insurance rates under $110 per month and competitive gas prices around $2.86 to $2.90 per gallon. Other affordable cities include Green Bay and Appleton in Wisconsin, and Kingsport, Tennessee, where lower gas prices and minimal taxes contribute to reduced overall ownership costs. Conversely, Detroit, Michigan, emerges as the most expensive city for car owners, primarily due to its high average monthly insurance premium nearing $887. Other costly cities include Tampa, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, Miami, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada, all where insurance costs exceed $400 per month. Additional fees such as sales taxes and elevated parking rates further inflate the total cost of ownership in these urban areas. Beyond insurance and fuel, infrastructure quality impacts repair and maintenance expenses. Cities with superior road conditions and less traffic congestion, such as San Diego and Detroit, tend to offer a less stressful ownership experience. Vehicle theft rates also influence insurance premiums, with regions like California and Nevada reporting higher incidents, thereby increasing related costs. Overall, the affordability of car ownership is determined by a combination of insurance rates, fuel pricing, parking costs, safety, and infrastructure. Urban centers that manage to balance these factors enable more manageable and cost-effective vehicle ownership. This comprehensive city-level analysis assists insurers, policymakers, and car owners in understanding market variances and tailoring strategies accordingly.