# Bus and MRT fares from 26 December 2026: what changes, and when a monthly pass pays off

> How Singapore's distance-based bus and MRT fares work, the 7.0% fare increase from 26 December 2026 by passenger group, the morning pre-peak discount and the monthly pass prices.

- Tool: [Bus and MRT Fare Calculator (2026 Fare Increase)](https://toolsg.com/en/public-transport-fare-calculator)
- Language: en (available: en, zh)
- Last verified against official sources: 2026-11-04
- Source site: ToolSG — a planning guide, not official or financial advice. Cite the agencies listed under Sources.

## Key figures at a glance

| Fact | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Overall fare adjustment granted by PTC (Fare Review Exercise 2026) | 7.0% — The fare formula gave 5.3% and the maximum allowable quantum was 14.7%. Effective 26 December 2026. | [Public Transport Council](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/media-centre/newsroom/fare-review-exercise-2026/) |
| Adult card fare increase per journey | 12 cents up to 3.2 km, 13 cents above — Students, Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities: 5 cents. Workfare Transport Concession Scheme cardholders: no change. | [Public Transport Council](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/media-centre/newsroom/fare-review-exercise-2026/) |
| Cash fare increase per journey | 20 cents for adults, 10 cents for students, seniors and PwD — Less than 1% of public transport journeys are paid in cash. | [Public Transport Council](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/media-centre/newsroom/fare-review-exercise-2026/) |
| Adult monthly travel pass (unchanged) | $122.00 — Unlimited basic bus and train rides. | [Public Transport Council](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/media-centre/newsroom/fare-review-exercise-2026/) |
| Senior Citizen / Persons with Disabilities hybrid pass (unchanged) | $55.00 — Unlimited basic bus and train rides. | [Public Transport Council](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/media-centre/newsroom/fare-review-exercise-2026/) |
| Workfare Transport Concession Scheme hybrid pass (unchanged) | $92.00 — Unlimited basic bus and train rides. | [Public Transport Council](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/media-centre/newsroom/fare-review-exercise-2026/) |
| Morning pre-peak saving on MRT and LRT | Up to 50 cents — Tap in before 7.45am on a weekday that is not a public holiday. The saving is 50 cents or the train fare, whichever is lower. | [Public Transport Council](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/fares/morning-pre-peak-fares/) |

## How the fare is worked out

Bus and MRT/LRT fares are **distance-based**. You pay for the total distance of one journey, whether you go direct or transfer between bus and train. The first band is up to **3.2 km**, then each extra kilometre is a new band (3.3 to 4.2 km, 4.3 to 5.2 km and so on) up to 40.2 km, with one fare above that. Seniors, Persons with Disabilities and students have six bands, and the last one is "over 7.2 km". Feeder buses charge one flat fare.

## What changes on 26 December 2026

The Public Transport Council (PTC) granted an overall increase of **7.0%**. The fare formula produced 5.3% and, with 9.4% carried over from earlier years, the most it could have granted was 14.7%. The remaining 7.7% is deferred and the Government covers it with extra subsidies.

| Group | Card fare per journey | Cash fare per journey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adults | +12 cents (up to 3.2 km) or +13 cents (above) | +20 cents |
| Students | +5 cents | +10 cents |
| Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities | +5 cents | +10 cents |
| Workfare Transport Concession Scheme cardholders | No change | Per the fare table |

For example, an adult taking a 12 km journey pays $1.94 until 25 December 2026 and $2.07 from 26 December 2026.

## Morning pre-peak fares

If you tap in at an MRT or LRT station before **7.45am** on a weekday that is not a public holiday, you save up to **50 cents**, or the fare for the train part of the journey if that is lower. A student riding 2.9 km, for example, pays 2 cents now and 7 cents from 26 December 2026.

## Transfers

You do not pay a new boarding fee for a valid transfer. The rules are:

- No more than **two hours** between the first and last boarding of a journey.
- No more than **five transfers**.
- Board the next bus or train within **45 minutes** when transferring between train and bus, or between buses, and within **15 minutes** between MRT stations.
- The next bus must not have the same number as the previous one, and you must not leave and re-enter the same station.

## Monthly passes

Monthly pass prices do **not change** in 2026. Passes give unlimited rides on basic bus and train services, and do not cover express buses.

| Pass | Price |
| --- | --- |
| Adult monthly travel pass | $122.00 |
| Senior Citizen or Person with Disabilities hybrid pass | $55.00 |
| Workfare Transport Concession Scheme hybrid pass | $92.00 |
| Primary student: bus, train, hybrid | $24.00, $21.00, $39.00 |
| Secondary or polytechnic student: bus, train, hybrid | $29.00, $26.50, $49.00 |
| University student: bus, train, hybrid | $55.50, $48.00, $81.00 |

A pass pays off when your monthly rides cost more than the pass. At an adult fare of $1.94 a ride, the $122 pass is cheaper from **63** rides a month, and from **59** at the new fare of $2.07.

## Help with the cost

The Government raises the Public Transport Voucher for eligible households from $60 in 2025 to **$80** in 2026, and the income criterion for the voucher is being broadened.

## What this guide does not cover

The calculator prices one type of journey at a time. It does not model a journey that mixes bus and train with the pre-peak discount, premium or express top-ups on a pass, or concession cards other than the four groups above. The operator measures the actual distance, so check it on the SimplyGo app.

## Which tool for what

- [MRT map](https://toolsg.com/en/mrt-map): station names, lines and upcoming stations.
- [Government support schemes](https://toolsg.com/en/government-support-schemes): other help with living costs.
- [Public holidays](https://toolsg.com/en/public-holidays): the dates when the pre-peak discount does not apply.

## Frequently asked questions

**How much will bus and MRT fares go up on 26 December 2026?**

Adult card fares rise by 12 cents for a journey of up to 3.2 km and by 13 cents for a longer one. Card fares for students, Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities rise by 5 cents, and Workfare Transport Concession Scheme cardholders see no change. Cash fares rise by 20 cents for adults and 10 cents for the others.

**Do monthly pass prices change in 2026?**

No. PTC keeps every monthly pass price the same in the 2026 Fare Review Exercise, so an adult monthly travel pass stays at $122.

**How is the fare worked out?**

By the total distance of one journey, whatever mix of bus and train you take. You do not pay a new boarding fee for a valid transfer, which means boarding the next bus or train within 45 minutes (15 minutes between MRT stations).

**What is the morning pre-peak fare?**

If you tap in at an MRT or LRT station before 7.45am on a weekday that is not a public holiday, you save up to 50 cents, or the train fare if it is lower.

**When is a monthly pass worth buying?**

When your rides a month cost more than the pass. At an adult fare of $1.94 a ride, the $122 pass is cheaper from 63 rides a month. The calculator shows the break-even for your own journey.

**Does a monthly pass cover express buses?**

No. Monthly passes give unlimited rides on basic bus and train services, so express buses are left out of the pass check.


## Sources

- [Public Transport Council — Outcome of Fare Review Exercise (FRE) 2026](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/media-centre/newsroom/fare-review-exercise-2026/) — The 7.0% adjustment, the changes by passenger group, Annex B fare tables with current and approved fares, and the unchanged monthly pass prices (announced 29 Sep 2026, page updated 27 Oct 2026).
- [Public Transport Council — Public transport fares & passes](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/fares/public-transport-fares-and-passes/) — The current distance-based fare tables and what each monthly pass covers (page updated 28 Jan 2026).
- [Public Transport Council — Morning pre-peak fares](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/fares/morning-pre-peak-fares/) — The tap-in before 7.45am discount and its worked examples (page updated 26 Dec 2025).
- [Public Transport Council — Distance fares & transfer rules](https://www.ptc.gov.sg/fares/distance-fares-and-transfer-rules/) — How a journey is charged and the transfer time limits (page updated 23 Jul 2026).