Chicago parking most expensive in U.S.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Drivers in Chicago pay more for on-street parking than in any other U.S. city, and they also waste a lot of money overfeeding the meters.

In some spots in Chicago, parking costs $13 for two hours. Only San Francisco comes close at a dollar less.

Drivers are also wasting a lot of time looking for parking, ranked sixth in the country, just behind New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Seattle.

Americans spend an average of 17 hours a year looking for parking. In Chicago, it's 56 hours. That adds up to almost $1,200 in wasted time, fuel and emissions.

And when we finally find a spot, much of the time we pay for gets wasted -- $353 worth to be specific.

The effects of this time-killer are wide reaching.

Almost two thirds of people surveyed say they avoid driving to a destination because it's so hard to find parking. That can impact local businesses and attractions.

Twenty percent of motorists say they don't drive to the doctor's office or hospital because of parking issues.