Why do suburban residents often have higher transportation costs than city residents?

Suburban residents often face higher transportation costs compared to city dwellers primarily due to the nature of urban sprawl.

In suburban areas, homes, workplaces, schools, and stores are geographically dispersed rather than concentrated. This layout necessitates a heavy reliance on automobile ownership, which drives up individual transportation expenses. Furthermore, because of this dispersed development, suburban communities incur greater costs for public services, such as providing bus transportation for students and maintaining extensive road networks.1

These factors, combined with the time-consuming nature of long commutes, contribute to a higher overall economic burden for those living in sprawling suburban environments compared to those in more compact urban centers.12