Subways and buses
- Fare for most riders on subways and local, limited, and Select Bus Service buses: $2.90.
- Express buses cost $7.
- Tap to pay your fare with your contactless credit/debit card, smartphone, or OMNY card, or pay with a MetroCard.
Railroads: LIRR and Metro-North
- Buying tickets on your phone with TrainTime is the most convenient option.
- Save on trips within New York City with CityTicket.
About subway and bus fares
- Tap to ride with OMNY. When you tap to ride with your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device, you don’t have to worry about reloading a MetroCard. Learn more.
- Get free rides with OMNY! Pay for 12 rides using the same device or card in a week and additional rides within the week are free, only with OMNY.
- MetroCards cost $1. All cards except for the Single Ride card are refillable.
- You pay the fare at turnstiles before you board the train. You don’t have to do anything after.
- Up to three children under 44 inches tall ride for free when they’re with a fare-paying adult.
- Some Unlimited MetroCards are protected against loss or theft. See details about our Balance Protection Program below.
- MetroCards can be used with our regional transit partners: PATH, AirTrain JFK, NICE Bus (Nassau Inter-County Express), Westchester Bee-Line Buses, and the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Fare payment options
OMNY is our contactless payment system.
You don't have to sign up or download an app to use OMNY — simply use your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device to tap and go.
You'll pay the same base fare — $2.90 — and still get free transfers. Plus, you get free rides after 12 fares within seven days using the same device or contactless card. There's also an option for Reduced-Fare customers.
Types of MetroCards and what they cost
Pay-Per-Ride
Cost per swipe: $2.90.
You put a dollar value on the card and pay $2.90 at the beginning of each trip. The minimum balance for new cards is $5.80, the cost of two swipes. A new card costs $1.
You can combine time and value on the same MetroCard. Time will always be used first. Value will become available the time on your card runs out. PATH, AirTrain, and Express buses will always deduct from the value on your card.
There is also an EasyPay option for pay-per-ride MetroCards, which automatically refills your MetroCard when the balance is low. Please note that as of June 16, 2022, we will no longer accept new applications for full-fare EasyPay MetroCards. Learn more.
7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited
Cost: $34 (7-day) or $132 (30-day).
You have unlimited swipes on the subway and local buses for either 7 or 30 days.
Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You can’t pause an unlimited ride card once you’ve started using it.
You can combine time and value on the same MetroCard. Time will always be used first. Value will become available the time on your card runs out. PATH, AirTrain, and Express buses will always deduct from the value on your card.
There is also an EasyPay option for 30-day Unlimited MetroCards, which automatically refills your card. Please note that as of June 16, 2022, we will no longer accept new applications for full-fare EasyPay MetroCards. Learn more.
7-Day Unlimited Express Bus Plus
Cost: $64.
You have unlimited swipes on express buses, local buses, and the subway for 7 days.
Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You can’t pause an unlimited ride card once you’ve started using it.
Single Ride
Cost: $3.25.
These are only available at ticket machines. They aren’t refillable. These are useful if you don’t want to put the $5.80 minimum on a pay-per-ride card.
You cannot transfer between the subway and the bus with this fare. If you’re transferring between buses, ask the driver for a paper transfer when you board the first bus.
Student MetroCards
Schools distribute MetroCards that let eligible students get to and from school and school-related activities. As with regular MetroCards, Student MetroCards allow for a free transfer between the subway and local/limited/Select Bus services, or a free transfer between buses
You can use your card for three rides each school day, between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Student MetroCards are good for one semester.
Reduced Fare
Cost: 50% of the base fare.
Riders who are 65 or older and riders with qualifying disabilities can apply for a reduced fare card.
JFK-AirTrain 30-Day Unlimited Ride
Cost: $40.
These are good for unlimited JFK-AirTrain trips until midnight, 30 days from first use.
Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You can’t pause an unlimited ride card once you’ve started using it.
JFK-AirTrain 10-Trip
Cost: $25.
These are good for 10 JFK AirTrain trips until midnight, 30 days from first use.
You can buy these only at MetroCard Vending Machines in Howard Beach and Jamaica Air Train stations.
AAR MetroCard
The AAR MetroCard gives Paratransit customers four free trips a day using the subways, local buses, Select Bus Service (SBS), and Staten Island Railway (SIR).
A day is a 24-hour calendar day, from midnight to 11:59 p.m. Like any other MetroCard, you get an automatic free transfer between the subway and a local bus route, SIR and a local bus, or between two local bus routes
How transfers work
When you tap with OMNY or use a MetroCard
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 OMNY or a pay-per-ride card: 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 pay-per-ride for multiple people: Swipe the same MetroCard once and the turnstile will let everyone through.
- With an unlimited card: You have unlimited swipes, so you don’t have to worry about transfers.
About paratransit fares
Access-A-Ride is our paratransit service. The fare for any transportation is $2.90.
You can read more about the program, apply, make reservations, and more.