The report showed that technically the cost of getting about Brisbane fell by $469 a year, because people had been forced into buying cheaper cars, but the costs still represented 17 per cent of income.

The city’s residents were paying $445 a week in Brisbane, or $23,000 a year.

The affordability of transport, which calculates the cost against household income, showed that in Brisbane it had risen 17 per cent in the past year with fuel being the biggest component of the rise. On that criteria, Brisbane had the second highest increase behind Hobart.

In a breakdown of the the costs, the AAA report showed car loan repayments, public transport, servicing and registration had decreased since last year, but tolls, fuel and insurance had all increased.

In regional Australia, fuel and insurance were the only catergories that increased. The reason behind the fall in loan repayments was because people bought cheaper vehicles.

“Brisbane’s typical household had transport costs of $23,176 a year (which) made it Australia’s third highest city for transport costs and second least-affordable capital,” the report said.

“Transport costs decreased by $469 a year due to car loan repayments, which was down $1074.”

AAA managing director Michael Bradley said the report showed that nationally fuel costs had risen 40 per cent in the past year.

“Rising fuel prices continue to be a significant contributor to cost of living pressures across regional and metropolitan Australia,” he said.