Singapore MRT and bus fares are based on the total distance you travel, not the number of trains or buses you take. Adult card fares run from about $1.28 for a short hop up to $2.57 for the longest journeys, charged as one continuous trip even when you transfer. Tap in before 7.45am and an early-morning discount applies — short trips start from around $0.78.
How are MRT fares calculated in Singapore?
You pay for the distance of your whole journey, not per vehicle. Transfers between lines, or between bus and train, count as one continuous trip rather than a fresh charge. This is why tapping in and tapping out both matter: the tap-out tells the system how far you travelled. Forget to tap out and you can be charged a maximum fare.
What is the adult card fare table?
These are adult card fares per ride by distance. The lower column applies when you tap in before 7.45am (an incentive to spread the morning peak); all other journeys use the standard column.
| Distance | Before 7.45am | All other times |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3.2 km | $0.78 | $1.28 |
| 3.3 – 4.2 km | $0.88 | $1.38 |
| 4.3 – 5.2 km | $0.99 | $1.49 |
| 5.3 – 6.2 km | $1.09 | $1.59 |
| 6.3 – 7.2 km | $1.18 | $1.68 |
| 7.3 – 8.2 km | $1.25 | $1.75 |
| 8.3 – 9.2 km | $1.32 | $1.82 |
| 9.3 – 10.2 km | $1.36 | $1.86 |
| 10.3 – 11.2 km | $1.40 | $1.90 |
| 11.3 – 12.2 km | $1.44 | $1.94 |
| 12.3 – 13.2 km | $1.48 | $1.98 |
| 13.3 – 14.2 km | $1.52 | $2.02 |
| 14.3 – 15.2 km | $1.57 | $2.07 |
| 15.3 – 16.2 km | $1.61 | $2.11 |
| 16.3 – 17.2 km | $1.65 | $2.15 |
| 17.3 – 18.2 km | $1.70 | $2.20 |
| 18.3 – 19.2 km | $1.74 | $2.24 |
| 19.3 – 20.2 km | $1.77 | $2.27 |
| 20.3 – 21.2 km | $1.80 | $2.30 |
| 21.3 – 22.2 km | $1.83 | $2.33 |
| 22.3 – 23.2 km | $1.86 | $2.36 |
| 23.3 – 24.2 km | $1.88 | $2.38 |
| 24.3 – 25.2 km | $1.90 | $2.40 |
| 25.3 – 26.2 km | $1.92 | $2.42 |
| 26.3 – 27.2 km | $1.93 | $2.43 |
| 27.3 – 28.2 km | $1.94 | $2.44 |
| 28.3 – 29.2 km | $1.95 | $2.45 |
| 29.3 – 30.2 km | $1.96 | $2.46 |
| 30.3 – 31.2 km | $1.97 | $2.47 |
| 31.3 – 32.2 km | $1.98 | $2.48 |
| 32.3 – 33.2 km | $1.99 | $2.49 |
| 33.3 – 34.2 km | $2.00 | $2.50 |
| 34.3 – 35.2 km | $2.01 | $2.51 |
| 35.3 – 36.2 km | $2.02 | $2.52 |
| 36.3 – 37.2 km | $2.03 | $2.53 |
| 37.3 – 38.2 km | $2.04 | $2.54 |
| 38.3 – 39.2 km | $2.05 | $2.55 |
| 39.3 – 40.2 km | $2.06 | $2.56 |
| Over 40.2 km | $2.07 | $2.57 |
Figures are for adult travel using a contactless card or transit card, and come from the published SimplyGo adult fare table. Concession fares for students, seniors, and other eligible groups are lower.
- One fare for the whole journey
- Tap in and tap out every trip
- Tapping in before 7.45am costs less
How do I pay for the MRT?
You do not need a paper ticket for everyday travel. Most riders use one of:
- a contactless bank card or a phone wallet
- a stored-value transit card
- a concession card, if eligible
Use the same card to tap in and tap out — switching cards partway through breaks the trip and can produce an incorrect fare.
Does taking an extra transfer cost more?
No. Because the charge follows distance rather than the number of vehicles, a route with an extra transfer is not automatically more expensive than a direct one. That frees you to pick the quickest or least stressful journey — see how to choose the best MRT route — rather than the one that simply avoids changes.
Where MRT Go fits
MRT Go shows the fare for each route it suggests, alongside time and transfers, so you see the cost before you decide. Because of the distance rule, the cheapest option and the fastest option are often the same trip.