About subway and bus fares
- The fare is $2.90 for most riders on subways and local, limited, and Select Bus Service buses.
- Express buses cost $7.
- Reduced fares for seniors and people with qualifying disabilities are half the regular fare. Learn about more ways to save money on fares.
- Tap to pay your fare with your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, wearable device, or OMNY card. If you tap to pay, you won't spend more than $34 a week on subway and local bus fares.
- You can also pay with a MetroCard.
Ways to pay your fare
Tap to pay your fare
You can tap to pay your fare on subways and buses with your credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device. You don't have to sign up or download an app. You can also tap to pay with an OMNY card, which you can get at a vending machine in many subway stations or at hundreds of retail locations.
Tap to pay and you'll only pay for the subway and local bus rides you take up to a cap of $34 in a 7-day period, as long as you use the same device or contactless card.
Use a MetroCard
You can also pay with a MetroCard, which you can get at a vending machine in any subway station, or at some local retailers. MetroCard sales will end on December 31, 2025.
Paying on subways and buses
Paying on the subway
On the subway, tap your credit or debit card, smartphone, wearable device, or OMNY card at the turnstile when you enter. Or, swipe your MetroCard. You don't tap or swipe when you exit.
Paying on the bus
On local, limited, and express buses, board at the front door. Tap your credit or debit card, smartphone, wearable device, or OMNY card on the reader. Or, dip your MetroCard at the farebox. On local and limited buses, you can also pay cash by inserting exact change in the farebox.
On Select Bus Service buses, board at any door and tap your credit or debit card, smartphone, wearable device, or OMNY card on the reader. If you're paying with MetroCard or cash, use one of the sidewalk kiosks at the bus stop to get a paper ticket before you board. Keep the ticket with you throughout your trip.
How transfers work
Transfers get encoded on your device or card when you use it. Make sure to use the same device or card when you're transferring so you're not charged twice.
- With tap to pay or a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard: You get one free transfer within two hours of paying your fare. You can transfer from subway to bus, bus to subway, or bus to bus. If you transfer from the subway or local bus to an express bus, you'll be charged the difference between the subway or bus fare and the express bus fare unless you have a 7-Day Unlimited Express Bus Plus MetroCard.
- With a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard for multiple people: Swipe the same MetroCard once and the turnstile will let everyone through.
- With an Unlimited-Ride MetroCard: You have unlimited swipes, so you don’t have to worry about transfers.
Riding the subway or bus with kids
Up to three children under 44 inches tall ride for free when they’re with a fare-paying adult on the subway and local, limited, and Select Bus Service buses.
On express buses, infants under two years old ride for free as long as they’re seated in the lap of a fare-paying adult.
About Courtesy Passes and GO Tickets
If a severe delay happens and it isn’t possible to take another train or bus, you can ask a station agent for a Courtesy Pass. It’s not a refund, but you can use a Courtesy Pass as payment of fare on the subway or bus within 48 hours of when it was issued.
During certain planned service changes, you might receive a GO Ticket from a station agent. This ticket allows you to continue your trip during the hours of scheduled maintenance or construction. The “GO” in “GO Ticket” stands for “General Order,” which is what we call our plans for work and alternative service. And, of course, green also means go.
We use both Courtesy Passes and GO Tickets to honor our pledge to keep you moving.