How much does it cost to go to the New York Metro?

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.



That’s a great question, but “cost to go to the New York Metro” can mean a few different things. To give you a useful answer, I’ll break it down into the most common interpretations.

I’ll assume you’re asking about public transportation costs within the New York City subway and bus system, which is run by the MTA and is often called the “metro.”

1. Cost of a Single Ride (Subway & Local Bus)

  • Base Fare: $2.90 (as of 2024).
  • How to Pay: You need a MetroCard (phasing out) or, more commonly now, use OMNY (contactless payment).
    • OMNY: Tap your own contactless credit/debit card, smartphone, or smartwatch at the reader. You can also buy an OMNY card at retail stores.
    • MetroCard: You can buy a new card ($1 fee) and load value or a pass at vending machines in stations.

2. How to Save Money: Fare Caps & Passes

  • OMNY Fare Cap (Best for most visitors): The system tracks your taps. After you pay for 12 rides in a 7-day period (from Monday to Sunday), all subsequent rides for the rest of that period are FREE. This effectively acts like a 7-Day Unlimited Pass for $34.80 (12 x $2.90), but you only pay as you go.
  • 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard: $34.00 (if you can still find/use one). Useful if you know you

People Also Ask

Once you've taken 12 paid rides in a seven-day period, you can ride free for the rest of the week. Here's an example: A rider uses the subway to get to and from work, and takes it on weekends to go into Manhattan to meet friends.

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While a single ride costs $2.90, the Unlimited card saves you money because the more you use it, the cheaper each ride is. If your stay is 30 days or longer, consider a 30-day unlimited card for $127 ($63.50 reduced fare). Important rules that apply to Unlimited MetroCards: It can only be used by 1 person.

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What is this? Select Single Ride if you only need one ticket for one trip and pay $3. To purchase a Pay-Per-Ride Card or a 7-Days-Unlimited Card press MetroCard. Select $9 MetroCard, if you want to buy a Pay-Per-Ride Card and you want to get done quick.

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While a single ride costs $2.90, the Unlimited card saves you money because the more you use it, the cheaper each ride is. If your stay is 30 days or longer, consider a 30-day unlimited card for $127 ($63.50 reduced fare). Important rules that apply to Unlimited MetroCards: It can only be used by 1 person.

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You can use cash, credit, or debit cards to make your purchase. New York City subway fares are $2.75 per trip. For visitors staying more than a couple of days you can buy a one week unlimited MetroCard for $33 or an unlimited monthly MetroCard for $127.00.

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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.

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Credit cards are accepted everywhere. In New York (and in the rest of the US) people that use credit cards are more common than those that use cash. In many ways, it is comparable to using a debit card. Debit cards will work at ATMs and you can pay more and more with them in restaurants and stores in New York as well.

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Buses are your best option if you are traveling from East to West across the city. If it's a pleasant day try to rent a bike or ride a NYC ferry. You will see more of the city and have fun. NYC has many ride sharing options.

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New York MetroCard entitles you to 7 consecutive days of free travel on New York buses (Local Buses) and subways (Subway). Indispensable to get around New York easily. The MetroCard is valid for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Unlimited travel on both Local Buses and the Subway.

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The free buses will go into effect this Sunday, September 24, and include the following: Bx18A/B, B60, M116, Q4, and S46/96. Once the pilot program is completed, Hochul reportedly expects the MTA to extend the free bus service into 2025. There's also a free shuttle bus that takes you around Downtown Manhattan.

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About bus fares OMNY is accepted on all New York City buses. Fares can also be paid with a MetroCard, coins, or SingleRide ticket. Some buses are fare-free: Q70-LaGuardia Link to and from LaGuardia Airport.

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There are 4 ways to get to Manhattan from JFK Airport: by taxi, private shuttle, subway and bus. A taxi or private shuttle will be the quickest but the most expensive option, followed by the bus and then the subway being a good balance between cheap and quick.

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Where to buy a MetroCard:
  • Hudson News stands before and after security at Terminals 1, 4, 7 and 8.
  • AirTrain Howard Beach and Jamaica Station's ticket vending machines and MetroNews stands.
  • Any MTA Subway station.


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The best way to get around NYC as a tourist is by taking the subway or the bus since it's cheap, efficient, and goes to most parts of the city.

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Unlimited Ride MetroCard Cannot be used again at the same subway station or the same bus route for at least 18 minutes. Cannot be used by or transferred to another person until the completion of a trip for which entry was obtained.

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Fair Fares is open to New York City residents aged 16-84 living at or below the federal poverty line (earning an annual income of less than $12,880 for an individual to $26,000 for a family of four).

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