Everything you need to know about fares in New York

Find out how much it costs to ride the subway and bus, how transfers work, your options for reduced fares, and how to tap to pay or buy an OMNY card or MetroCard.

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 pay your fare with OMNY. Use your own contactless card or mobile device or an OMNY card to tap to pay your fare. You can also pay using a MetroCard. Buses also accept exact change in coins.
• Get free rides when you tap to pay. Only pay for the rides you take up to a cap of $34 in a 7-day period, as long as you use the same card or device. Learn more.
• OMNY cards and MetroCards cost $1 from a vending machine. All cards except for Single-Ride cards are refillable. OMNY card vending machines are now available at many subway stations, and all stations have MetroCard vending machines.
• You pay the subway fare at turnstiles as you enter the station. You don’t have to do anything after.
• On most buses, pay by the door when you board. On Select Bus Service routes, you can tap to pay with OMNY at the door. If you're using a MetroCard or coins, get a paper ticket from the kiosk before you board and keep it throughout your trip.

• 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.
• If you lose an OMNY card, you can block it from further use immediately and transfer the card balance to a new card if you have an OMNY account. Register for an account.
• Some Unlimited MetroCards are protected against loss or theft. See details about our Balance Protection Program below.
• You can tap to pay with OMNY on partners including AirTrain JFK, the Roosevelt Island Tram, and Hudson Rail Link. More partners are coming soon.
• MetroCards can be used on our regional transit partners: PATH, AirTrain JFK, NICE, Bee-Line, and the Roosevelt Island Tram. Unlimited MetroCards can't be used on PATH or AirTrain JFK.

Fare payment options

OMNY is our contactless tap-to-pay 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 can also get an OMNY card from vending machines at many subway stations and hundreds of retail locations.

You'll pay the same $2.90 base fare and still get free transfers. Plus, you only pay for the 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. There's also an option for Reduced-Fare customers.

More information about OMNY

About MetroCards

Types of MetroCards and what they cost

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 (7 or 30 days of unlimited rides) and value on the same MetroCard. Time will always be used first. Value will become available after the time on your card runs out. PATH, AirTrain JFK, and express buses will always deduct from the value on your card.

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 JFK, 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. As we transition to OMNY, we are no longer accepting new applications for this program. But, if you are already have a 30-Day Unlimited EasyPay MetroCard, you can continue to use it. Learn more.

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.

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.

You can tap a Student OMNY Card whenever you want to take up to four free trips every day of the week, any time of the day. This includes a free transfer between the subway and local, limited, and Select Bus Service buses, or a free transfer between buses.

Student OMNY cards are good for one full school year and the summer.

Cost: 50% of the base fare.

Riders who are 65 or older and riders with qualifying disabilities can apply for a reduced fare card.

Cost: $42.50.

These are good for unlimited AirTrain JFK 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.

Cost: $26.50.

These are good for 10 AirTrain JFK 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.

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.