A bike bought specifically for daily city commuting has different priorities from one bought for weekend leisure rides or trail use — reliability and low maintenance usually matter more than outright speed or capability.
A hub gear or single-speed drivetrain is worth real consideration for a commuter: fewer moving parts exposed to daily weather means less frequent maintenance, and a hub gear can be shifted while stopped at a signal, which a derailleur can't. Puncture-resistant tyres are a genuine time-saver on a bike ridden daily, where a flat means a late arrival rather than just an inconvenience.
Mounting points for a rack or basket matter more than they might seem, since carrying a bag or groceries is a daily reality for most commuters. And a comfortable, upright riding position — closer to a roadster or hybrid than a hunched sport posture — holds up much better over a repeated daily ride than it might over one occasional long ride.