When choosing a place to live, prioritize commute time to cut down on one-way travel
Grade BBig benefitTimeHigh costSome timeNo willpower
In data from Germany that followed the same people over time, those with a longer commute felt their own lives were going worse. That loss was not made up in wages or in housing. Cut 30 minutes off one way, and a week saves you 5 hours.
- Cost
- This option is costly. You may end up paying higher rent or having to settle for a smaller living space. Moving itself also takes time and effort.
- Benefit
- On average, Chinese residents spend 50 minutes daily on transportation; among those who travel on a given day, the average is 1 hour and 2 minutes, according to 2024 data. Longitudinal studies in Germany show that people with longer commutes consistently report lower subjective well-being — meaning they feel their lives are worse. Again, this loss in time isn’t offset by any gain in income or housing quality. A comprehensive review of multiple studies confirms that longer commutes lead to greater dissatisfaction, regardless of the mode of transport used. Reducing one-way travel time by 30 minutes yields roughly 5 extra hours per week.
- Notes
- Point of contention: Chatterjee et al., after analyzing various studies, argue that no consistent link exists between commute length and overall life satisfaction. They suggest that people can generally offset the downsides of long commutes by securing better jobs or housing. It’s also worth noting that transportation statistics include all trips, not just commuting, and that avoiding rush hour can also shorten travel time on the same route.
Sources · 3
- Stutzer, A., & Frey, B. S. (2008). Stress that doesn't pay: The commuting paradox. Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 110(2), 339–366. doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9442.2008.00542.x
- Chatterjee, K., et al. (2020). Commuting and wellbeing: A critical overview of the literature with implications for policy and future research. Transport Reviews, 40(1), 5–34. doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2019.1649317
- 国家统计局 (2024). 第三次全国时间利用调查公报（第二号）. stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957216…