For millions of Americans, the daily commute is a grueling battle against time, blaring horns, and endless gridlock. This frustrating reality not only drains energy but also exacts a heavy financial toll. A new, comprehensive analysis has now quantified this pain, revealing which U.S. city holds the dubious crown for the worst traffic congestion and the staggering cost it imposes on its residents.
Chicago Claims the Unwelcome Title of America's Most Congested City
In a surprising turn, it's not the usual suspects of New York or Los Angeles that top the list. The unfortunate distinction for 2025's most traffic-congested city in the United States goes to Chicago. The study by traffic data firm INRIX found that drivers in the Windy City lost a staggering 112 hours—equivalent to nearly five full days—sitting in traffic over the year. This marked a 10% increase from the previous year.
The economic impact is equally shocking. All those lost hours translated to an estimated cost of $2,063 per commuter in lost time. When scaled across the city, this congestion represents a massive $7.5-billion hit to the Chicago economy. To put the slowdown into perspective, during peak morning and evening commuting times, average speeds in Chicago drop to just 21 mph. Even during off-peak hours, speeds only average around 42 mph.
How the Study Measured Global Gridlock
INRIX determined these rankings by measuring and analyzing congestion using anonymized, aggregated GPS trip data along with information from mobile devices, connected vehicles, and fleet data. This methodology tracked commutes and traffic delays in over 900 cities across 36 countries. To understand the true economic cost, the firm applied inflation-adjusted hourly values of time as outlined by the United States Federal Highway Administration.
Chicago's traffic woes are severe enough to place it third worst in the entire world, beating out famously congested capitals like London and Paris. In comparison, the average American driver lost about 50 hours in traffic, less than half of Chicago's figure.
Other US and Global Cities with Severe Traffic
While Chicago performed the worst, other major American metropolitan areas are not faring much better. The top 10 worst U.S. cities for traffic congestion are:
- Chicago
- New York City (102 hours lost, $1,879 per driver)
- Philadelphia
- Los Angeles
- Boston
- Miami
- Atlanta
- Houston
- Washington, DC
- Seattle
On the global stage, the cities currently holding the unfortunate distinction of having the world's worst traffic congestion are led by Istanbul and Mexico City. The global top ten list includes:
- Istanbul
- Mexico City
- Cape Town, South Africa
- London
- Paris
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Dublin
- Bangkok
- Brisbane, Australia
- Rome
The study underscores a critical urban challenge: as cities grow, traffic congestion is becoming a major drain on productivity, personal time, and economic well-being. The data provides a clear snapshot of the urgent need for innovative infrastructure and mobility solutions in metropolitan centers worldwide.
