Public Transport Fares in Singapore Increase for 2025
The Public Transport Council (PTC) announced a 5 per cent overall fare increase for 2025, following its annual fare review. The adjustment, slated to take effect on December 27, affects adult journeys on MRT and basic bus services, as well as express buses that offer faster travel times across the city-state. Concessionary fares for seniors, students, people with disabilities, and low-wage workers will rise more modestly.
What Changes for Adults?
Adult card fares will go up by nine cents for trips of up to 17.2km and by 10 cents for longer journeys. This translates into tangible increases for common routes; for instance, a Tanah Merah to Tanjong Pagar MRT ride (14km) would rise from $1.93 to $2.02, while a longer ride to Jurong East (26.2km) would increase from $2.32 to $2.42.
Concessionary Fares and Short Trips
Concessionary fares for about two million eligible riders will rise by three cents for journeys between 3.3km and 7.2km and by four cents for trips longer than 7.2km. Short trips of up to 3.2km will remain unchanged, acknowledging that many concession-card holders rely on brief trips to schools, workplaces, or amenities. For example, a senior taking the MRT from Tanah Merah to Paya Lebar (6.1km) would pay 94 cents instead of 91 cents, and a ride to Jurong East would be 1.07 instead of 1.03.
Express Bus Premiums
Express buses, which shorten travel times from the heartlands to city centres, will see a combined increase reflecting both the base fare and express premium. Adults will pay an extra 49 to 50 cents per ride, while concessionary groups will face a 20 to 24 cent rise. For a typical 10km express bus ride, an adult could see the fare move from $2.37 to $2.86, and a senior from $1.48 to $1.72.
Cash Fares and Passes
Cash fares for public buses will rise by 20 cents for adults, 10 cents for seniors and people with disabilities, and five cents for students. Cash transactions form a minority of trips, but the adjustments ensure all fare categories remain aligned with operating costs. Meanwhile, monthly passes will become more affordable for many users. From December 27, monthly passes drop by 5 per cent: adults pay $122 (down from $128), while seniors and the disabled pay $55 (down from $58). Low-wage workers under the Workfare Transport Concession Scheme can secure a monthly pass for $92 (down from $96).
Support Measures to Cushion the Impact
To help heavy public transport users manage the price hike, the Government will issue $60 public transport vouchers to households with monthly income up to $1,800 per person. Each eligible household receives one voucher usable for topping up fare cards or purchasing monthly passes. The Public Transport Council highlighted that fares remain affordable despite the increases. In 2024, the rise was 6 per cent, and the council notes that 2025’s increase is gentler because of a new reference period and lower energy prices and inflation pressures.
New Reference Period and Fare-Setting Details
A key change for 2026 is the adoption of a new reference period for cost factors, shifting from the previous January-to-December data to a July-to-June window. This aims to reduce the lag between cost changes and fare adjustments, ensuring fares better reflect current costs. The 2025 decision used 18 months of data as a transition. Operators SBS Transit Rail and SMRT Trains were required to contribute 20 per cent of their projected fare revenue increases to the Public Transport Fund to support households coping with higher costs.
Looking Ahead
With public transport subsidies continuing to play a critical role, the government intends to sustain service quality and network expansion while keeping fares within reach for typical households. The ongoing Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme and other subsidies remain central to maintaining Singapore’s robust and affordable transit system.
