Living in Singapore · Transport · 7 min
How public transport works in Singapore: MRT, buses and cards
There are no single-trip tickets and you cannot pay cash on the MRT. How the system works, and how to avoid overpaying.
Updated Sep 24, 2026
Singapore's MRT and buses do not sell single-trip tickets and do not accept cash on the train. The whole system runs on card or phone, and fares are calculated by distance travelled, not by the number of stops or transfers.
How to pay: no cash, no tickets
You can enter by tapping an EZ-Link or SimplyGo card, or directly with a contactless bank card (Visa, Mastercard, NETS, Amex) or your phone via Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay. There are no single-trip tickets and no cash fares on the MRT anymore. New SimplyGo EZ-Link cards let you check balance and top up from the SimplyGo app. Top-ups reflect almost instantly, without relying on the physical chip.
Top-up without AXS stations
Since 29 August 2026, AXS stations no longer accept top-ups for EZ-Link and SimplyGo EZ-Link cards. Top up from the SimplyGo app, station machines, convenience stores or the channels listed on SimplyGo EZ-Link.
Distance fares and transfers
Bus and train fares are charged by the total distance of the journey (the system is called Distance Fares), which lets you transfer without paying an extra charge each time you board a different bus or train within the same trip. By card, the adult fare ranges from S$1.28 to S$2.57 depending on distance (in effect since 27 December 2025, according to the Public Transport Council and the LTA fare table). Paying cash on the bus costs more: the minimum fare is S$2.10, nearly a dollar more than by card for the same short stretch.
How transfers work
- Up to 5 transfers (6 rides total) are charged as a single combined distance, as long as they stay within the time window.
- You have 45 minutes to transfer between two buses, or between bus and train.
- Between two MRT stations, the window shrinks to 15 minutes.
- If you go over the time limit, the system charges that leg as a new journey rather than a transfer.
- Exact conditions can vary by card type. Check the rules on SimplyGo before relying on a new travel pattern.
The early-bird discount
If you enter the system before 7:45am on a weekday (it does not apply on public holidays), up to 50 cents comes off the fare, regardless of which card or method you use. Under the Public Transport Council's Morning Pre-Peak Fares programme. Worth checking whether your schedule can take advantage of it.
When is Grab worth it over public transport?
Grab and other private-hire services use dynamic pricing: the fare changes with demand, time of day and traffic conditions. In practice, a short trip within the city often lands in an approximate range of S$12 to S$20 according to what users report, but compare in the app before confirming. A metered taxi follows the LTA's official taxi fares, with peak-hour, booking or ERP surcharges as applicable.
Watch out for rain and peak hours
At high-demand moments (heavy rain, peak hours, events) private-hire apps can raise prices noticeably. Compare against a street taxi or the MRT before confirming if the price looks high.
For short, well-connected trips, the MRT and bus almost always win on price and predictability. Grab or a taxi make more sense with heavy luggage, late at night, or when the destination has no nearby station.
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