Australians commuting by car are collectively spending an astonishing 212 million hours annually in traffic jams, amounting to roughly 8.8 million workdays and costing an estimated $9.7 billion in wasted time.

Research conducted by iSelect, utilizing data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, census figures, and traffic congestion reports, aimed to quantify the time Australians spend caught in rush hour traffic and the subsequent impact on their earnings and fuel expenses.

The analysis revealed that Melbourne tops the list for the worst commuting experience in the nation, with drivers losing the equivalent of $4,628 annually.

Following Melbourne, Sydney drivers face losses of about $4,568 each year, while Perth drivers see an average loss of $3,496. Brisbane and Adelaide commuters are not far behind, with losses of $3,447 and $3,377 respectively. Canberra drivers experience a $2,244 hit, Hobart sees $1,856, and Darwin rounds out the list with $1,390.

Regional areas aren’t spared either, with Newcastle commuters losing approximately $2,587 and those on the Gold Coast incurring $2,443 in losses.

On average, drivers in Australian cities spend around $2,788 per year due to traffic congestion.

Different professions also bear different costs.

Medical practitioners spend more than four extra days a year in traffic, iSelect found, which was the equivalent of $6784 a year.

Other high-cost occupations include air and marine transport professionals, who spend more than three days a year in traffic, translating to a combined cost of $5436. Health diagnostic and promotion professionals spend $5418.