The Burrow
Mar 24, 2026
While tolls play an important role in funding new motorways, bridges, and tunnels, as well as maintaining existing infrastructure, regular toll road fees can quickly add up. Over time, some routes stand out for having the most expensive toll roads, placing extra financial pressure on drivers who rely on them daily.
For motorists commuting to work, travelling between cities or navigating major metropolitan areas, these toll road fees can quietly erode monthly budgets if they’re used frequently. What might feel like a small charge for a single trip can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. When combined with fuel, servicing, registration and insurance, total driving costs can rise far beyond what many vehicle owners initially expect. This makes understanding local toll pricing even more important for people looking to better manage their overall driving costs.
To find out more, the car insurance comparison experts at Compare the Market have dissected toll road pricing data across Australia and the United States, analysing key cost factors to identify which places are home to the most expensive toll roads. By ranking states and regions based on toll pricing and accessibility, the research aims to raise awareness about rising toll road fees, encourage smarter route planning and highlight the importance of financial preparedness.
Here is what we found.
Across Australia, the gap in toll pricing between states is significant. By analysing average trip charges, cost per kilometre and wider road infrastructure, clear differences emerge in where drivers face the highest toll road fees. These variations directly influence overall driving costs, particularly for commuters who rely on these major motorways every day.
Below is a breakdown of the states ranked highest for having the most expensive toll roads, based on their toll road index scores out of 100.
New South Wales ranks as the most expensive toll-road location in Australia, with a score of 40.01. Despite having a large toll road network of 171.7 kilometres, it has the highest average toll cost per kilometre at AUD$1.96, far exceeding both Victoria (AUD$0.39) and Queensland (AUD$0.56). Frequent tunnel use in Sydney adds to these costs, making NSW the most expensive state per kilometre.
Queensland has an average toll fee of AUD$7.46 across 126 kilometres of toll roads, with an average cost per kilometre of $0.56. While the overall average fee is lower than Victoria’s, Queensland has three toll tunnels, which can contribute to higher charges on certain routes.
For Brisbane drivers in particular, consistent use of tolled motorways and tunnels can steadily increase annual driving costs, highlighting how even moderate toll road fees can accumulate over time.
Victoria ranks as the least expensive state overall for toll roads in the study, with a score of 96.32. The state has the shortest toll road network, at just 60 kilometres, yet the highest average toll fee, at AUD$9.95. Making it the most affordable overall in Australia in our toll road ranking is its AUD$0.39 average fee per km.
Toll pricing across the United States varies enormously by state, shaping where drivers face the most expensive toll roads and where fees are more manageable. Differences in average toll charges, network size and infrastructure all play a role in overall driving costs, particularly for commuters and long-distance travellers.
Using the exchange rate of 1 AUD = 0.68 – 0.71 USD, the figures below have been converted to provide context for US motorists.
New York ranks as the most expensive state overall for toll roads. Drivers pay an average toll fee of AUD$14.56 (approximately USD$9.90 – $10.34) across an extensive 859.53km toll network, including 17 toll bridges and three toll tunnels.
The size of the network, combined with consistent usage around major urban centres, means toll road fees can quickly accumulate. For many motorists, these regular charges greatly increase overall driving costs, cementing New York’s position as the US state with the most expensive toll roads.
Texas follows closely behind, with an average toll fee of AUD$8.82 (approximately USD$6.00 – $6.26) across 971.3km of toll roads. The state also has 25 toll bridges and one toll tunnel, reflecting the scale of its tolled infrastructure.
While the average fee is lower than New York’s, the sheer size of the network means drivers can face frequent charges, especially in rapidly growing metro areas. Over time, these repeated toll road fees can meaningfully add to everyday driving costs.
Virginia ranks third among the most expensive states, with an average toll fee of AUD$4.84 (approximately USD$3.29 – $3.44) across 110.8km of toll road. The state includes five toll bridges and three toll tunnels.
In contrast to the three locations listed above, several US states demonstrate how much lighter toll expenses can be.
New Hampshire records the lowest average toll fees at just AUD$2.58 (approximately USD$1.75–$1.83) across 142km of toll road. Compared with higher-ranking states, drivers here face far more manageable ongoing toll-road fees, helping keep overall driving costs down.
South Carolina reports an average toll fee of AUD$8.43 (approximately USD$5.73 – $5.98), but with only 25.7km of toll road. Limited exposure to tolled routes means most drivers encounter fewer charges overall, reducing the impact on annual driving costs.
Delaware’s average toll fee stands at AUD$5.90 (approximately USD$4.00-$4.18) across 120.21km of toll road, including one toll bridge. While tolls exist, the scale and frequency are considerably lower than in states like New York, Texas and Virginia, resulting in more moderate toll road fees overall.
While state rankings highlight where the most expensive toll roads are concentrated, individual routes show just how steep some single-trip toll road fees can be.
The Penna Turnpike in Pennsylvania stands out at AUD$176.67 for 587.7km, the highest fee in the dataset.
Elsewhere in the USA, the Florida Turnpike costs AUD$33.68 for 425.95km, while California’s SR 73 (San Joaquin Hills Toll Road) charges AUD$12.39 for just 19.3km, reflecting a high cost for a short urban stretch.
Meanwhile, in Australia, CityLink (Victoria) costs AUD$12.13 for 21km, which is a significant expense for daily commuters in Melbourne.
For regular commuters, these fees can substantially influence overall driving costs, particularly when tolls are added to fuel, maintenance and insurance expenses.
Toll roads are increasing in price as governments and private operators face rising construction costs, ongoing maintenance demands and major infrastructure upgrades. Expanding road networks and investing in smarter traffic technology all require significant funding, with toll road fees remaining one of the primary ways these projects are financed.
So, while higher tolls can increase everyday driving costs, they also play a vital role in maintaining safer, more efficient transport networks that benefit commuters and freight operators alike. For drivers, this makes financial management increasingly important.
Adrian Taylor, Executive General Manager – General Insurance, says: “Toll roads are essential for improving and maintaining transport infrastructure, but drivers should be mindful of how these ongoing costs add up. Planning and reviewing expenses like car insurance can help motorists to stay financially prepared for the full cost of driving.”
This dataset ranks Australian & US states by the cost of toll roads in each location. To do this, 5 ranking factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given. The normalised values were then combined, to give each state a total score out of 100. The states were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.
The factors used are as follows:
The factors were weighted as follows:
The factors were indexed as follows:
Sources Used:
All data and exchange rates are correct as of 11/02/26. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.