MRT Fare Calculator Singapore
Estimate your MRT, LRT, and bus fares by journey distance. Compare EZ-Link card vs cash rates for adult, senior, student, and child passengers.
How Singapore MRT Fares Work
Singapore public transport fares are distance-based — the further you travel, the more you pay, up to a cap. Adult card fares start at $0.83 for journeys up to 3.2 km and increase in steps for longer journeys. Paying with an EZ-Link card or SimplyGo saves $0.22 per trip versus cash. Concession fares for seniors, students, and children are significantly lower.
Journey Details
Common Routes
Result updates as you adjust
Estimated fare
$1.65
Adult · 10km · MRT/LRT · EZ-Link
Card
$1.65
EZ-Link / SimplyGo
Cash
$1.87
+$0.22 surcharge
Save $0.22/trip with EZ-Link
$9.68/month if you commute daily
Monthly estimate (22 working days)
Estimates based on LTA distance-fare formula. Actual fares depend on exact route, interchange transfers, and current LTA fare structure. Verify with TransitLink or the SimplyGo app.
Quick Reference
- • Adult card fare starts at $0.83 (≤3.2 km), increases ~$0.09 per 0.8 km step
- • Cash fare = card fare + $0.22 surcharge — always use EZ-Link/SimplyGo
- • Bus card fare is $0.10 higher than train at each distance band
- • Senior (65+) with PAssion Silver Card: ~50% off adult card fare (min $0.42)
- • Students and children 7–12: flat $0.42 per trip with concession card
- • Children under 7: free on all public transport
- • Maximum fare is approximately $2.79 (card) regardless of distance
- • Transfers between MRT and bus within 45 minutes count as one journey
- • Daily commuter (return trip, 22 days/month) typically spends $50–$120/month
Singapore's Distance-Based Fare System
Unlike many cities with flat-fare systems, Singapore charges for public transport based on how far you travel. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) sets fares using a distance-band formula, so a short hop across one MRT stop costs less than a cross-island journey.
Fares are calculated on total journey distance, not the number of interchanges or lines used. This means transferring from MRT to bus as part of one journey won't cost more than taking a single mode — as long as you transfer within 45 minutes using the same stored-value card.
The biggest fare saving is switching from cash to EZ-Link/SimplyGo. The $0.22 surcharge on cash fares adds up fast — a daily commuter making two trips can save nearly $10/month just by tapping with a card.
Worked example 1 — short trip: A 3 km MRT ride (within the base distance band) costs $0.83 by card or $1.05 by cash for an adult. A senior 65+ with PAssion Silver pays ~$0.42; a student or child 7–12 also pays $0.42 with a concession card.
Worked example 2 — daily commute: A 14 km MRT journey (e.g. Clementi to Bugis) is $0.83 + (14 ways of 0.8 km steps × $0.0912) ≈ $1.83 per trip on adult card. Return trip = $3.66/day. Over 22 working days, that's $80.52/month — switching from cash would add ~$9.68/month in surcharges.
Worked example 3 — cross-island: A 30 km journey (e.g. Punggol to HarbourFront) reaches the fare cap. Adult card = $2.79; cash = $3.01. Daily commuters on long routes benefit most from monthly travel passes (Adult Monthly Concession Pass at $128 covers unlimited trips and breaks even after ~70 fully-priced rides).
Adult Card Fare (Train)
$0.83 – $2.79
Based on journey distance (3.2km to 40km+)
Concession Card Fare
$0.42 flat
Students and children 7–12 pay flat rate
Cash Surcharge
+$0.22/trip
Added to card fare for cash/single-trip tickets
Adult Card Fare by Distance
| Distance | Train (Card) | Bus (Card) | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤3.2 km | $0.83 | $0.93 | +$0.22 |
| 3.2–4 km | $0.92 | $1.01 | +$0.22 |
| 4–5 km | $1.01 | $1.10 | +$0.22 |
| 5–6 km | $1.10 | $1.19 | +$0.22 |
| 8–10 km | $1.28 | $1.37 | +$0.22 |
| 12–15 km | $1.55 | $1.64 | +$0.22 |
| 20–25 km | $1.91 | $2.00 | +$0.22 |
| 30+ km | $2.43 | $2.52 | +$0.22 |
Approximate values based on LTA distance-fare formula. Actual fares may vary — verify with SimplyGo or TransitLink.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are MRT fares calculated in Singapore?expand_more
Singapore MRT fares are distance-based. Adult card fares start at $0.83 for journeys up to 3.2 km, then increase by approximately $0.0912 for each additional 0.8 km. Fares are capped at a maximum of around $2.79 per journey. Cash fares add a $0.22 surcharge on top of the card fare.
How much cheaper is EZ-Link vs cash for MRT?expand_more
Paying with EZ-Link (or SimplyGo) saves you $0.22 per trip compared to cash. For a daily commuter making return trips 22 days a month, this adds up to around $9.68 per month in savings. Using a stored-value card is always recommended.
Do seniors get discounted MRT fares in Singapore?expand_more
Yes. Singapore residents aged 65 and above can apply for the PAssion Silver Card, which gives approximately 50% off standard adult card fares on trains and buses, with a minimum fare of $0.42. The concession card must be linked to your transit account.
What is the MRT fare for students?expand_more
Full-time students in Singapore pay a flat $0.42 per ride on trains and buses using their student concession card, regardless of distance. This applies to primary, secondary, ITE, and polytechnic students. University students pay adult fares unless they qualify for other concessions.
Are children's MRT fares free in Singapore?expand_more
Children under 7 years old travel free on all public transport in Singapore. Children aged 7 to 12 with a child concession card pay a flat $0.42 per ride. Children travelling without a concession card pay the adult cash fare.
Are MRT and bus fares charged separately if I transfer?expand_more
No. As long as you transfer within 45 minutes using the same EZ-Link or SimplyGo card, your trip is treated as a single journey for fare calculation. Total distance across MRT, LRT, and bus is summed, and you pay one combined distance-based fare. This is one of the biggest savings of using a stored-value card vs paying cash separately.
How accurate is this MRT fare calculator?expand_more
This calculator uses the LTA distance-based fare formula and provides estimates accurate to within a few cents for most journeys. Actual fares may vary slightly based on the precise route taken, line transfers, and any LTA fare adjustments. For exact fares on a specific route, use the SimplyGo app or TransitLink fare enquiry tool.
Sources
- • LTA (lta.gov.sg) — public transport fare structure and distance-based fare formula
- • TransitLink (transitlink.com.sg) — EZ-Link concession card fares for seniors, students, and children
- • SimplyGo (simplygo.com.sg) — fare information and trip history