How much does MRT and bus cost per month in Singapore?

Your monthly public transport spend depends mainly on trip frequency and distance. A practical planning range for many working adults is about $60–$140 per month. If you travel multiple times daily (work + errands + weekends), you can go higher—at which point the adult monthly travel pass can start to make sense.

Is the adult monthly travel pass worth it?

The $122 Adult Monthly Travel Pass is worth considering if you have high and consistent usage across train and basic bus services. If you’re a light commuter (few trips per day) or your travel varies heavily month to month, pay-per-trip is usually better.

How do I compare public transport costs vs owning a car?

Use public transport as your baseline: estimate your monthly MRT+bus spend, then compare it against your true monthly car ownership cost (including depreciation, parking, ERP, fuel and insurance). The gap is what you pay for convenience, time and certainty.

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Public Transport Cost in Singapore (2026): MRT + Bus Monthly Budget Model

Last updated: February 2026

If you’re deciding between owning a car and not owning a car, public transport is your baseline. The right question isn’t “how cheap is MRT?” — it’s: what is my realistic monthly MRT + bus spend, and what is the convenience gap I’m paying for with a car?

Start here (fast path)

1) Compare against the full ownership exposure: Cost of Owning a Car in Singapore (5-Year Breakdown)
2) If your decision is “car vs ride-hailing”, run: Car vs Ride-Hailing Break-Even Calculator
3) If you’re budgeting monthly, anchor here: True Monthly Cost of Owning a Car

This page is the non-car baseline. If you still want a car, you’re paying for time, certainty, family logistics, or comfort — not “saving money”.

What you should budget per month (realistic ranges)

Most adults don’t need exact fare tables to budget. You need a range that matches your lifestyle. Use these as planning bands, then validate with your actual commute.

Profile	What it looks like	Monthly budget (typical)
Light commuter	2 trips/day on weekdays, minimal weekends	$40 – $80
Standard worker	2–4 trips/day + occasional weekend trips	$70 – $140
High-mobility lifestyle	Multiple daily trips + frequent weekends	$120 – $200+

Why bands? Because distance + transfers + timing matter. If you want precision, use the official fare tools (SimplyGo / TransitLink journey planners) to model your actual routes.

Reality check: what fares look like in 2026

Singapore fares are distance-based. As a rough anchor (card fares), many short trips start around $1.28, and longer trips can approach about $2.50+ depending on distance. There’s also a morning pre-peak discount for rail if you tap in early on weekdays.

Quick modelling shortcut (good enough for decisions)

Estimate your average cost per trip (e.g. $1.30–$2.00).
Trips per weekday × 22 + weekend trips.
That’s your monthly baseline.

Example: $1.60 average × (2 trips × 22 weekdays = 44) ≈ $70.40/month, before weekend trips.

Is the $122 Adult Monthly Travel Pass worth it?

The Adult Monthly Travel Pass is a simple question: will your normal month exceed $122 anyway? If yes, the pass can cap your spend. If no, it’s an overpay.

Usually worth it if you have multiple daily trips (work + errands) and you’re consistent month to month.
Usually not worth it if you WFH often, travel irregularly, or you’re a light commuter.

How this compares to car ownership (the convenience gap)

Public transport is cheap. Cars are not. The useful comparison is not “car vs MRT” — it’s: (true monthly car cost) − (true monthly public transport cost). That difference is what you’re paying for:

time saved (door-to-door),
family logistics certainty,
comfort, privacy, flexibility,
and sometimes business needs.

If you haven’t modelled your true monthly ownership costs properly, these pages matter: parking, ERP, fuel, and (if relevant) EV vs petrol.

FAQ

Do I need to calculate exact fares to decide?
Not usually. For most decisions, a monthly range is enough. Precision matters only when you’re near a break-even point (e.g., considering the monthly travel pass, or comparing against ride-hailing).

What’s a “normal” public transport budget for working adults?
Many working adults fall in the ~$70–$140/month band depending on distance and weekend travel. Heavy movers can go higher.