Most Expensive Tolls in the World 2025
From $59 to cross the Øresund Bridge to $60 for Pennsylvania Turnpike's full length—explore the world's costliest toll roads. Rankings by total cost, per-kilometer rates, and regional analysis across bridges, tunnels, highways, and urban zones.
Why Are Some Tolls So Expensive?
Toll roads range from pennies to nearly $60 for a single crossing. The world's most expensive tolls share common traits: enormous construction costs (underwater tunnels, long-span bridges), private ownership seeking returns, and lack of viable alternatives that create captive audiences.
🎯 Key Insights
- Øresund Bridge ($59) is Europe's single most expensive toll crossing
- George Washington Bridge charges $9.44/km—highest per-kilometer rate
- Canada's 407 ETR is world's most controversial toll road due to pricing
- Australian tolls are globally the most expensive on per-km basis
- Urban congestion charges range $12-19 daily in London, Stockholm
- Pennsylvania Turnpike's $60 full-length toll is America's highest
Bridge and tunnel tolls dominate the expensive toll rankings due to construction costs in the billions. The Øresund Bridge cost $4 billion, Channel Tunnel $15 billion, and Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel $200 million in 1964 dollars (equivalent to $2B+ today).
Private ownership amplifies pricing—operators seek 10-15% annual returns. Canada's 407 ETR, owned by a Spanish consortium, has raised tolls 41% above inflation since privatization. Transurban's Australian monopoly maintains the world's highest per-kilometer rates.
What Drives High Toll Costs?
Construction Costs
Very High ImpactUnderwater tunnels, long-span bridges, and urban excavation cost billions
Examples:
- • Øresund: $4B
- • Channel Tunnel: $15B
- • Chesapeake Bay: $200M (1964)
Private Ownership
High ImpactPrivate operators seek 10-15% annual returns on investment
Examples:
- • 407 ETR: Spanish consortium
- • Australian tolls: Transurban monopoly
No Alternatives
Very High ImpactCaptive audience - detours add 1-2 hours or aren't feasible
Examples:
- • George Washington Bridge: no alternative
- • Confederation Bridge: only year-round option
Debt Repayment
High ImpactTolls must repay construction bonds over 20-40 years
Examples:
- • Pennsylvania Turnpike: covering debt service
- • M6 Toll: bond repayments
Maintenance Costs
Medium ImpactSalt water, weather, heavy traffic require constant upkeep
Examples:
- • Bridges need repainting every 5-7 years
- • Tunnel ventilation systems
Congestion Management
Medium ImpactUrban areas intentionally price high to reduce traffic volume
Examples:
- • London Congestion Charge: reduce traffic 30%
- • Stockholm tax
Top 20 Most Expensive Tolls
Showing 20 tolls sorted by total cost.
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Historic toll road crossing Pennsylvania
Øresund Bridge
Combined bridge-tunnel connecting Copenhagen to Malmö across the Øresund strait
407 ETR (Highway 407)
Electronic toll highway bypassing congested Toronto area
Confederation Bridge
World's longest bridge over ice-covered waters
Eurotunnel (Channel Tunnel)
Undersea rail tunnel connecting England and France
A1 Motorway (Slovenia)
Modern motorway connecting capital to Adriatic coast
Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line
Combined bridge and undersea tunnel across Tokyo Bay
New Jersey Turnpike
Major highway connecting New York to Philadelphia
London Congestion Charge
Daily charge for driving in central London zone
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
23-mile bridge-tunnel complex crossing the mouth of Chesapeake Bay
George Washington Bridge
Major Hudson River crossing between Manhattan and New Jersey
Millau Viaduct
World's tallest bridge spanning the Tarn River valley
A86 Duplex Tunnel
Double-decker underground highway beneath western Paris
M6 Toll
Only major toll motorway in UK, bypassing Birmingham
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Puget Sound crossing, replacement for famous collapsed bridge
Cross City Tunnel
Twin tunnels under Sydney CBD
Sydney Harbour Tunnel
Twin tube tunnel under Sydney Harbour
Stockholm Congestion Tax
Time-variable congestion pricing for central Stockholm
Dartford Crossing
Thames crossing east of London (bridge southbound, tunnels north)
Salik
Electronic toll gate system across Dubai highways
🌉 Bridge Tolls: The Most Expensive Category
Bridges dominate expensive toll rankings due to massive construction costs and lack of alternatives. Spanning water requires sophisticated engineering—suspension cables, deep foundations, weather resistance—costing billions.
Top 5 Bridge Tolls
Why So Expensive?
- • Construction: Underwater foundations, massive towers, suspension cables cost $2-15 billion
- • No alternatives: Detours add 1-2+ hours or require ferries
- • Maintenance: Salt water corrosion, repainting, structural inspections
- • Captive audience: Commercial traffic has no choice but to pay
- • Private operators: Seeking maximum returns on investment
🔍 Bridge Toll Analysis
The Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden epitomizes expensive bridge tolls: $4 billion construction cost, no alternative route, international importance, and private consortium operation combine to justify $59 toll.
George Washington Bridge demonstrates per-kilometer pricing extremes: at just 1.8 km length but $17 toll, it charges $9.44/km—the world's highest rate. Its 275,000 daily vehicles generate massive revenue despite being nearly 100 years old.
🛣️ Highway Tolls: Length vs Price
Long-distance highway tolls reach high absolute costs but often offer reasonable per-kilometer rates. Private concessions and debt repayment drive pricing in this category.
407 ETR (Highway 407)
Toronto, Canada • 108 km
Electronic toll highway bypassing congested Toronto area
A1 Motorway (Slovenia)
Ljubljana-Koper, Slovenia • 100 km
Modern motorway connecting capital to Adriatic coast
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania, USA • 360 km
Historic toll road crossing Pennsylvania
M6 Toll
Birmingham, UK • 43 km
Only major toll motorway in UK, bypassing Birmingham
⚠️ Controversy: Highway 407 ETR
Toronto's 407 ETR is widely considered the world's most expensive and controversial toll highway. The 108-km route costs $53 full-length ($70 CAD), or $0.49/km—yet it parallels free Highway 401.
- Originally publicly built, privatized in 1999 for $3.1 billion
- Spanish consortium (Cintra/Ferrovial) operates with 99-year lease
- Tolls have risen 41% above inflation since privatization
- Can bill missed tolls to vehicle registration with interest and fees
- Provincial government has no power to regulate toll increases
- Saves 45-60 minutes vs congested Highway 401 during peak hours
🚦 Urban Congestion Charges
Urban congestion charges intentionally price high to reduce traffic volume and encourage public transit. Unlike infrastructure tolls, these are policy tools for traffic management.
London
£15 daily charge for central zone. Added ULEZ £12.50.
Stockholm
SEK 35 peak, max SEK 105/day. Time-variable pricing.
Dubai Salik
AED 5 per gate. 7 gates across city. Can add up quickly.
📊 Congestion Charging Effectiveness
London's congestion charge reduced traffic by 30% and journey times by 14% in the first year. However, public opposition remains strong—New York City's planned congestion pricing faces legal challenges despite demonstrated benefits elsewhere.
- Singapore: World's first (1975), evolved to dynamic ERP system
- Milan: Area C zone charge reduced traffic 30%, raised €225M for transit
- Oslo: Toll ring generates NOK 3B annually for transit infrastructure
- Failed attempts: NYC, Hong Kong, Edinburgh abandoned plans due to opposition
Regional Cost Comparison
Toll costs vary dramatically by region, reflecting construction costs, regulatory environments, and tolerance for private operators.
North America
Private toll roads with high pricing. E-ZPass discounts common.
Europe
Mix of vignette and distance-based. Expensive iconic crossings.
Asia
Lower costs but heavy ETC discounts. Government-operated mostly.
Oceania
Highest per-km costs globally. Transurban near-monopoly.
Middle East
Simple flat-fee systems. Limited toll networks.
Bridges & Tunnels
Expensive construction underwater/oversea. Limited alternatives force high pricing.
Urban Highways
Urban tunnels/highways cost more to build underground. Private operators maximize returns.
Long-Distance Highways
Total cost high but per-km reasonable. Private concessions and maintenance funding.
Congestion Charges
Designed to reduce traffic, not primarily for revenue. Pricing discourages driving.
Are Expensive Tolls Worth It?
Whether high tolls represent good value depends on time saved, lack of alternatives, and individual circumstances. Commercial drivers often have no choice, while recreational travelers can weigh costs against benefits.
✓ Good Value Examples
$18 saves 2+ hours and 95 miles vs detour
¥800 ($6) vs ¥3,000 cash—73% discount
$53 avoids 60 min of Highway 401 gridlock
✗ Poor Value Examples
$17 for 1.8 km with no viable alternative
$9.50 for 2.1 km—only saves 15-20 min
£7.90 when M6 free route has minimal delay
💡 Calculating Toll Value
Consider total trip costs, not just the toll:
- Time saved × your hourly value: $25/hour is common business calculation
- Fuel costs of detour: 100-mile detour = $15-20 in fuel
- Vehicle wear: Extra mileage = maintenance, tire wear
- Stress/fatigue: Avoiding congestion has real quality-of-life value
- Frequency: Daily commuters should strongly consider passes/subscriptions
💰 How to Save on Expensive Tolls
🎫 Discount Strategies
- 1. Electronic transponders: E-ZPass, ETC, E-TAG typically 20-50% cheaper than cash
- 2. Subscription plans: Øresund BroPas saves 50%, 407 ETR transponder discounts
- 3. Off-peak travel: London congestion charge doesn't apply evenings/weekends
- 4. Resident discounts: Many bridges offer 50-90% off for local residents
- 5. Commuter passes: Frequent user programs can halve per-trip costs
- 6. Carpool: Some HOV lanes bypass tolls or offer reduced rates
🗺️ Alternative Routes
- • Free parallels: Highway 401 vs 407, I-80 vs PA Turnpike
- • Time flexibility: Travel off-peak to use free congested routes
- • Public transit: Train/bus for London, Stockholm instead of driving
- • Park & ride: Drive to edge, use transit into toll zones
- • Route planning apps: Waze, Google Maps show toll-free options
- • Ferries: Sometimes cheaper than bridge (Øresund example)
🎯 Best Money-Saving Tips by Situation
- • Get transponder immediately
- • Buy monthly/annual pass
- • Check employer subsidies
- • Consider carpooling
- • Use GPS toll avoidance
- • Travel off-peak
- • Prepay online when available
- • Check for day passes
- • Research before trip
- • Rent car with transponder
- • Use public transit in cities
- • Budget tolls in advance
🔮 Future of Toll Pricing
Toll costs are likely to continue rising, driven by inflation, maintenance needs, and shifting from fuel taxes to usage-based charging. However, technology may also enable more sophisticated and fair pricing.
📈 Rising Costs
- • Inflation adjustments annual
- • Infrastructure aging = higher maintenance
- • Private operators maximize returns
- • Fuel tax replacement programs
- • Climate/resilience investments
🤖 Technology Impact
- • AI dynamic pricing (congestion-based)
- • Per-mile GPS charging (Oregon pilot)
- • Blockchain instant settlements
- • Autonomous vehicle integration
- • Carbon-based toll pricing
⚖️ Policy Trends
- • Equity concerns = income-based tolls?
- • Public buybacks (Spain model)
- • Congestion pricing expansion
- • EV road usage charges
- • Regional toll integration
⚠️ Predictions for 2025-2030
- Toll increases outpace inflation: Private operators raise rates 3-5% annually vs 2-3% inflation
- More congestion charging: 20+ cities implement urban tolls to reduce traffic
- GPS/GNSS expansion: Per-mile charging replaces fuel taxes in 5+ US states
- Public backlash grows: Protests against excessive tolls force some buybacks
- Dynamic pricing mainstream: AI adjusts tolls every 15 minutes based on congestion
- Cross-border integration: EU-wide interoperable systems reduce transaction costs
The High Cost of Highway Access
The world's most expensive tolls reveal a fundamental tension: infrastructure costs billions to build and maintain, but high tolls create public resentment and equity concerns. The $59 Øresund Bridge, $53 Highway 407 ETR, and $9.44/km George Washington Bridge represent extreme pricing driven by construction costs, private ownership, and captive audiences.
As fuel taxes decline with electric vehicle adoption, toll roads will likely become more common and expensive. The challenge for policymakers: funding infrastructure without pricing out lower-income drivers or creating backlash that leads to public buybacks like Spain's AP-7 elimination.
Key Takeaways
- Øresund Bridge ($59) is the world's single most expensive toll crossing
- George Washington Bridge charges highest per-km rate: $9.44/km
- Highway 407 ETR is most controversial due to private ownership and 41% above-inflation increases
- Bridge/tunnel tolls cost 3-4x more than highway tolls due to construction complexity
- Electronic transponders save 20-50% compared to cash/video toll rates
- Urban congestion charges (London $19, Stockholm $4.50) reduce traffic 20-30%
- Australian tolls are globally the most expensive on per-kilometer basis
- Value depends on time saved—commercial vehicles often have no choice but to pay
Data compiled from toll operators, transportation authorities, and user reports. Prices converted to USD at March 2026 exchange rates. Individual toll costs may vary by vehicle class, time of day, and payment method.