Everything you need to know about fares and tolls in New York (2023)

FAQs

How much is a 7 day unlimited MetroCard NYC? ›

Cost: $33 (7-day) or $127 (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.

The One-Day MetroCard Fun Pass is the most popular pass for tourists and visitors. With the One-Day MetroCard Fun Pass, you can ride of NYC's subways and local buses for one flat fare. A Fun Pass can be purchased anytime during the day and it is valid until 3 a.m. the following day.

Consider an unlimited MetroCard. If you take the bus or subway more than 46 times in a month, a monthly unlimited card, which costs $127, would save you money. A weekly unlimited card, which costs $33, saves you if you use it more than 12 times in seven days.

You have the choice between Single Ride, MetroCard and Fast $9 MetroCard. 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.

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.

You can't use a regular Unlimited Ride MetroCard on express buses. You can only use a 7-day Express Bus Plus MetroCard.

The MetroCard is essential if you want to use New York's transportation, as you will only be able to take the Subway using this card. Although for buses you can still pay with cash (exact amount), to use the subway you need to have a Metrocard. You can either purchase the pay-per-ride or the unlimited Ride MetroCard.

The subway operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Riding the subway is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get around the city. For most riders, the subway fare is $2.75.

Unlimited Ride MetroCards:

These passes are only good for one person, they cannot be shared. Once swiped you cannot use the card again for another 18 mins.

How do tourists use the NYC subway? ›

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.

OMNY CARD. As an alternative to using a MetroCard, riders can now tap to pay at the turnstile! Metrocard machines were scheduled to be phased out in 2023, but this date is now 2025. With the new OMNY system, you can tap a credit or debit card onto the OMNY reader, smartphone, or wearable device.

Credit/debit card with microchip: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, UnionPay, and JCB are all currently accepted. Reloadable, prepaid OMNY card: You can purchase a prepaid OMNY card at retail locations on this map. Note: OMNY cards are $5 each before fares are added.

Whether Pay-Per-Ride or Unlimited Ride, every MetroCard has an expiration date. The date is located at the upper left corner on the back of the card. The expiration date is usually about one year from the date of purchase.

What does “OMNY” mean? OMNY, which stands for One Metro New York, is based on the concept of unifying fare payments and ticketing across multiple modes of transportation. We believe that transportation is an essential service that connects communities and brings the diversity and energy of New York together.

You have up to a year after the expiration date on the card to transfer the balance at a booth, a MetroCard Vending Machine or by mailing it in to MetroCard Customer Claims. We issue a replacement card for the remaining value on your Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard.

Please note, unlimited passes can only be used by one person for the duration of the pass. To utilize an unlimited pass, each person will require their own SmartLink Card. PATH 2-Trip MetroCards - can be shared by two people and are not refillable. These cards are not for use on the NYC subway or bus.

To pay your fare at subway turnstiles, AutoGates, and onboard buses (including Select Bus Service buses), simply tap your own contactless credit or debit card, smart device, or OMNY card on the OMNY reader.

About reduced fares

The reduced fare is $1.35, or half of the base fare ($2.75) for subways and local buses. A Reduced-Fare MetroCard is available for riders who use mobility aids or have service animals.

What is the cheapest way to get around NYC? ›

Aside from walking, the bus or the subway is the cheapest way to get around NYC since a single ride costs only $2.75.

OMNY readers, which allow New Yorkers to "tap to pay" for their ride instead of swipe an iconic MetroCard, have officially been installed in every single subway station in NYC. And that means, the end of the MetroCard is near.

Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard. The Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard can be filled with an initial value in any increment between $5.50 and $80, though vending machines only sell values in multiples of 5 cents.

7-day MetroCard will cost you $29.00 and is a popular New York subway pass option.

A single subway ride costs $2.75 for most people, a $1 fee applies when you buy a new MetroCard, and the minimum balance you can put on a new card is $5.50 (the cost of two swipes), according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

The Fair Fares NYC MetroCard discounted options and prices are: $16.50 for a 7-day unlimited pass. $63.50 for a 30-day unlimited pass. $1.35 for a single fare (Pay-Per-Ride)

LOCAL TIP: New Yorkers typically call the subway “trains” (not underground or metro) or by their alpha name (the C or the Q).

Tickets - How Much A Bus Ride Costs in NYC

Public buses in New York are run by the same company that manages the subway system, the MTA, and the cost of a single-ride ticket is $2.75. To pay for your ride, you can use the same Metrocard that you buy at the vending machines located in every Subway Station.

There's no difference, the words are interchangeable and both are synonyms for mass rapid transit. Whether an MRT system is referred to as a metro (DC) or a subway (NYC) depends on local custom, and the name of the system that was decided upon by the transportation authority that owns/operates it.

In this card mode, the cost of riding the subway is $2.75 per ride (regardless of the destination or length of the ride). Pay-Per-Ride cards can be shared by up to four people. To share a card, you can swipe the card multiple times to let multiple people through the turnstiles.

How long does it take for a metroCARD to recharge? ›

If you recharge in person or using a vending machine, your funds will be available immediately. If you recharge online or over the phone, the funds will be available in around one hour and will load to your metroCARD when you next validate it. You need to validate the metroCARD within 3 months of buying a recharge.

When you see the message, Please Swipe Again, you must continue to use the same turnstile reader you have been using until it takes. if you try to switch turnstiles, the reader will record it as Just Used and you be blocked from using it again at that station for 18 minutes.

This spring's survey crowned the L train as New Yorkers' favorite, although it still only attracts a 53% satisfaction rating. The G and the Q trains earned silver and bronze medals, with respective ratings of 52% and 51%.

On 2021, the busiest station of the New York City Subway system was Times Square-42 Street, with an annual ridership of around 29.5 million passengers.

While meal prices in New York City can vary, the average cost of food in New York City is $50 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in New York City should cost around $20 per person.

Use your MetroCard at the AirTrain turnstiles to pay the $8.25 fare. Use a MetroCard ticket machine if you need to add value to your card. (Do this in advance to skip the lines.) You can board any AirTrain that arrives.

You must use the same contactless credit or debit card, smart device, or OMNY card for each trip. Customers will automatically receive free, unlimited rides for the rest of the week once they have paid $33 in fares (or $16.20 for registered Reduced-Fare customers) — the same as taking 12 trips.

MYmta offers regionwide travel support, including real-time arrival and schedule information for subway, bus, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North service. Download the MYmta app for iOS or Android.

You must use the same contactless credit or debit card, smart device, or OMNY card for each trip. Customers will automatically receive free, unlimited rides for the rest of the week once they have paid $33 (or $16.20 for registered Reduced-Fare customers) in fares — the same as taking 12 trips.

Is OMNY the same as MetroCard? ›

Customers in the MTA's Reduced-Fare MetroCard program can now make the switch to OMNY and get the same half fare benefit with the contactless credit/debit card or smart device of their choice.

Do I need to create an OMNY account to use OMNY? Creating an OMNY account is not required. However, there are many benefits available to you by registering for an OMNY account. For example, you can access a secure, personalized dashboard, where you can view up to 12 months of your trips and charges.

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.

Stick to main streets and pathways and always cross at the intersection. Follow the traffic signals and pay attention to cars and cyclists. Be hyper-vigilant at night and stick to well-lit, populated streets. Plot out your path before heading out — and stick to it.

We think the best way to get around New York is a combination of the subway, bus system and walking. If you're situated over in Brooklyn, we would add the NYC Ferry to that list. If you are new to the city and want to get a feel for the layout and the sights, then we can also recommend a Hop on Hop off bus tour.

Unlimited Ride MetroCards:

These passes are only good for one person, they cannot be shared. Once swiped you cannot use the card again for another 18 mins. The 7 Day Unlimited Pass is $33. It's good for a full 7 days from the first day you use it.

You can use unlimited ride MetroCards and OMNY on the subway but not on the AirTrain.

For most riders, the subway fare is $2.75. Reduced fares are available for people 65 and older, people with disabilities, and low-income New Yorkers. Learn more about fares.

The Sightseeing DAY Pass is great for:

First time visitors wanting to see all of New York. Families with children, who like to relax and enjoy hop-on, hop-off buses and food offers. Visitors with an open plan, who enjoy visiting attractions on the go.

Up to 4 people can use the same MetroCard. It will still cost $2.75 per person per ride but you do not need to pay the $1 fee for multiple cards. Each ride includes a free transfer (within two hours) between subway lines, bus, and subway, or between buses.

How to get on AirTrain for free? ›

You may enter AND exit any AirTrain station except Howard Beach or Jamaica free of charge. If you enter OR exit the system at Howard Beach or Jamaica station, the cost of a single AirTrain ride is $8.25 USD.

The JFK AirTrain fare is payable only by MetroCard. If you already own a MetroCard, you can use it to pay your fare. Keep in mind, however, that unlimited MetroCard (e.g. 7-day or 30-day) cannot be used to pay the fare. You would need to add additional money to your card to cover the cost of the AirTrain.

To pay your fare at subway turnstiles, AutoGates, and onboard buses (including Select Bus Service buses), simply tap your own contactless credit or debit card, smart device, or OMNY card on the OMNY reader.

Use a smart phone (with digital wallet enabled), a wearable, or a contactless credit or debit card to pay your fare at subway turnstiles, AutoGates, and onboard buses (including Select Bus Service). Simply tap one of them on the OMNY reader.

About reduced fares

The reduced fare is $1.35, or half of the base fare ($2.75) for subways and local buses.