Report Compares Public Transport Fares in Big Cities

Picodi.com recently released the results of its latest study, as its analysts examined the public transport fares in 45 cities worldwide and compared the transport expenses with local average wages.

The study took a look at single ticket prices, as well as monthly passes, which allow for unlimited travel within the city limits, according to the company’s news release.

Around the World

Public transport is completely free for citizens in three out of 45 cities – Luxembourg, the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, and the capital of Malta, Valletta.

Among other cities in the study’s ranking, the most expensive single tickets can be found in London ($5.19), Zurich ($4.75), and Oslo ($3.91). 

On the other hand, the highest prices for monthly passes are paid by citizens of London ($271), Dublin ($166), and New York ($127).

When the study compared the monthly pass prices with the average monthly wages, the least favorable ratio can be found in São Paulo, where the monthly access to all means of public transport in the city costs 14.3% of the average wage. 

Second and third place in terms of cost belongs to Istanbul and London (7.5% and 7.4% of the average wage respectively).

Pricing In the U.S.

When looking at pricing for the U.S., In this ranking, New York is among the more expensive cities – a monthly pass costs $127, which is only 2.1% of the average net wage in New York City. This result is similar to ratios in Dubai (2.3%) and Singapore (1.9%), according to Picodi’s study.

Among the 50 cities included in the ranking, the most expensive single ticket can be found in Honolulu and costs $3.00. 

On the other hand, citizens of Houston, New Orleans, and Huntsville can enjoy the cheapest single tickets – $1.00. 

When it comes to the monthly passes, citizens of New York have to pay the highest price – $127. 

The cheapest monthly pass can be found in Billings ($28). Citizens of Albuquerque, Kansas City, and Burlington can enjoy fare-free public transport.

Picodi’s study was based on the prices of single tickets and monthly passes offered by local public transport operators as of March 2023.

The company said it did not include cities, in which one mode of transport is offered by multiple operators with very different pricing policies (Tokyo, Beijing, Jakarta, Bangkok, and others). It also did not include cities where it is not possible to buy a monthly pass.