Which Cities Have the Worst Parking?

Whether you’re commuting to work or looking to park up for the night in the city centre, every driver knows how difficult it can be to find a parking space in a dense urban area. From a lack of space to expensive hourly rates, competing for parking is one of the most frustrating parts of car ownership.

Not all cities face the same issues, though, as some are better equipped to handle the daily needs of urban drivers. To highlight the best and worst cities in the world for parking, car insurance comparison experts at iSelect have ranked some of the biggest cities around the world on the quality and quantity of their parking spaces, as well as the average hourly cost of a stay, giving them a score from 0 to 100.

Ready to see if your nearest city made the list? Here are the best (and worst) areas in the world for finding parking.

Top cities where parking is a nightmare

Our parking pain index assigns each city we researched a score from 0 to 100, with high-scoring cities ranking as the best areas for parking, and low-scoring cities ranking as the worst. These are the cities that received the lowest scores in different regions:

The worst Australian cities for parking

When it comes to car infrastructure, Sydney is the least well-equipped city in Australia for parking. Its average parking prices of AU$32/hour are the most expensive in the country, and with just 156 parking locations near the city centre, the capital of New South Wales is the city with the second-fewest choices (behind Ballarat). It also has the third-lowest rated parking areas in Australia, with an average user rating of 2.95. These give Sydney a dismal score of 1.4 out of 100 in our rankings, making it the most painful city for parking on our list.

Brisbane followed closely, ranking second-worst in Australia for parking, with a total index score of 6.4 out of 100. With just 270 locations within 2km of the city centre, and an average price of AU$29.71/hour for the second-lowest rated spaces in Australia (2.91 out of 5 on average user ratings), it’s no wonder that it places so low on our list.

Rounding out the worst three cities in Australia for parking is Melbourne, with a score of 26.9 out of 100. Although it has the second-most parking locations near the city centre of any Australian city (687, beaten by only Adelaide), these spots have the lowest user rating in the country, averaging just 2.9 stars out of 5. Plus, with a typical hour of parking costing AU$21.88, it’s still an expensive place to leave your car.

The worst European cities for parking

With the most expensive parking infrastructure in Europe, it’s little surprise that London tops our rankings of the worst cities for parking on the continent. The city has 217 parking locations within 2km of its centre, with a typical space receiving 3.49 stars out of 5, but its hourly rate of £13.21 (AU$26.51) is the main contributor to its low score. Earning just 14.1 points out of 100, it ranks considerably lower than the next worst UK city for parking (Manchester – 43.9).

The second-worst European city for parking is Brussels, which scores just 31.4 out of 100 on our parking pain index. Despite having 309 parking spaces near its centre, the city typically charges €11.46 (AU$19.92) per hour, making it the second-most expensive European country for car owners. Although its 309 parking locations make it more accessible than many other major cities, its average review score of 3.64 stars has a major impact on its overall ranking on our list.

Florence caps off the bottom three with a score of 33.0 out of 100. With just 122 parking locations near the city centre, it follows a trend among Italian cities struggling to make space for cars, as the only European cities with fewer options are Naples (117) and Palermo (111). Add an expensive hourly rate of €11.36 (AU$19.75) and average review scores of 3.73 stars to the mix, and its low ranking begins to make a lot of sense.

The worst American cities for parking

American cities are known for their car dependence, and as the largest city in the USA, New York City, NY, ranks as the worst area of the country for parking, with a comfortable lead. Scoring just 12.8 out of 100 overall, the city is shockingly expensive for drivers, charging an average of US$34.12 (AU$50.69) per hour of parking. It also has the third-fewest spaces in the US, with its 122 options averaging just 3.24 stars in online reviews.

Nearby, Boston, MA, shares many of New York’s problems, ranking second-worst for parking in America with a score of 26.6. It’s America’s second-most-expensive city for parking, with hourly rates averaging US$29.09 (AU$43.22) across 271 locations. A typical parking location in Boston is rated 3.52 stars online, which outranks many other American cities, but isn’t enough to raise its score out of the bottom three.

Finally, Austin, TX, closes our list as the third-worst city in the USA for finding parking. Although there are 568 locations to choose from, their average online review score of 3.30 stars indicates low quality, and the typical hourly rate of US$22.80 (AU$33.87) continues the American trend of having particularly pricey parking. These all combine to give Austin a final rating of 33.8 out of 100.

Top cities where parking is a breeze

While we often think of parking as a frustrating task, some cities are much better suited to drivers than others, making the process far easier. For Australians, Toowoomba ranks as the best city for parking with a score of 81.9 out of 100. It’s closely followed by Ballarat (75.1) and Cairns (71.0).

The Polish city of Krakow boasts the best parking in Europe, with a total score of 81.8, while the Croatian capital, Zagreb, follows in second place with a score of 79.6. It beats our third-place city, Budapest, by just 0.1 points to earn second!

For American drivers, Greensboro, NC, is the best-equipped city in the country for parking, with infrastructure that scores an impressive 80.7 out of 100 in our rankings. It beats tough competition from Corpus Christi, TX, in second (79.6) and Fresno, CA, in third (78.4).