When choosing a place to live, prioritize commute time to cut down on one-way travel

18. When choosing a place to live, prioritize commute time to cut down on one-way travel

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.

In plain terms: The longer someone’s commute, the worse they tend to feel about their life. This loss in time and comfort isn’t compensated for by higher wages or better housing. Cutting one-way commute time by 30 minutes saves a full 5 hours each week.

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.

Evidence grade: B

Sources: Stutzer, A., & Frey, B. S. (2008). Stress that doesn't pay: The commuting paradox. Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 110(2), 339–366. <https://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. <https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2019.1649317>; National Bureau of Statistics of China (2024). Bulletin of the Third National Time Use Survey (No. 2). <https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957216.html>

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.