Bus Fares
Local Bus One-Way
Local buses travel within Boston and communities in the immediate area. Silver Line routes SL4 and SL5 are local bus routes. Routes SL1, SL2, and SL3 are priced as subway fares.
Local Bus One-Way
with CharlieCard, CharlieTicket, contactless payment, or cash
Express Bus One-Way
Express Buses travel in suburbs and communities outside the city and make stops in downtown Boston.
Note: Contactless payment readers on Express Buses only charge Express Bus fare. To pay Local Bus fare on an Express Bus, notify the bus operator and pay with cash or a CharlieCard at the farebox.
Express Bus One-Way
with CharlieCard, CharlieTicket, contactless payment, or cash
Tap to Ride
Transfers
Subway and Bus
For Local Bus, Express Bus, Silver Line, and/or Subway, transfer up to two times and pay only the cost of the highest-priced service.
Commuter Rail and Ferry
Certain monthly Commuter Rail passes printed on a CharlieTicket include unlimited transfers to any mode. Single-ride Commuter Rail and ferry tickets generally do not include free transfers.
Note: Transfers are not available with store value CharlieTickets or cash payments. Transfer rules still apply to travel with contactless payment.
Passes
1-Day and 7-day passes purchased on CharlieTickets are valid from the date and time of purchase. Those purchased on CharlieCards are valid from the first tap at a fare box or fare gate.
You can buy monthly passes at fare vending machines starting the 15th of the prior month or you can sign up for Auto-pay.
-
1-Day Pass
-
$11.00
Unlimited travel for 24 hours
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
Local Bus
Subway
Silver LineCommuter Rail Zone 1A Pass on CharlieTicket also valid on:
Commuter Rail Zone 1A
Charlestown Ferry
East Boston Ferry (seasonal) -
7-Day Pass
-
$22.50
Unlimited travel for 7 days
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
Local Bus
Subway
Silver LineCommuter Rail Zone 1A Pass on CharlieTicket also valid on:
Commuter Rail Zone 1A
Charlestown Ferry
East Boston Ferry (seasonal) -
Monthly Local Bus Pass
-
$55.00
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month
Valid on:
Local Bus
SL4 and SL5 -
Monthly LinkPass
-
$90.00
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
Local Bus
Subway
Silver LineCharlieTicket also valid on:
Commuter Rail Zone 1A
Charlestown Ferry
East Boston Ferry (seasonal) -
Monthly Express Bus Pass
-
$136.00
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
Local and Express Bus
Subway
Silver LineCharlieTicket also valid on:
Commuter Rail Zone 1A
Charlestown Ferry
East Boston Ferry (seasonal)
Auto-pay Monthly Passes
Sign up for Auto-pay so you never have to worry about reloading your CharlieCard again. Signing up is quick and easy, and your pass renews automatically each month.
Learn more about Auto-pay
How to Pay Your Bus Fare
First, choose how you’ll pay your fare
The right way to pay for you depends on how often you ride the T.
-
CharlieCard
-
Best for frequent bus and subway riders
Online card management via MyCharlie
Easily tap into stations and vehicles
Use up to four times at once for one-way fareValid on:
Subway
Bus
Silver Line -
CharlieTicket
-
Best for visitors
Purchase at any subway station
Load with cash value or passes
Limited transfers with cash value
No online card management1-Day Pass, 7-Day Pass, and cash-value CharlieTickets valid on:
Subway
Bus
Silver LineMonthly LinkPasses valid on:
Subway
Bus
Silver Line
Commuter Rail Zone 1A
Charlestown Ferry
East Boston Ferry (seasonal) -
Contactless payment
-
Best for visitors and regular bus and subway riders
Easy to tap and go
Can connect with reduced fare benefits
Online card management
Not valid on Commuter Rail or ferry
Not compatible with daily, weekly, or monthly passes
Cannot use to pay Local Bus fare on an Express BusValid on:
Subway
Bus
Silver Line
Mattapan Line
You can also pay in cash or add cash value to a CharlieCard at onboard fare boxes, or use your EBT card to load value or passes onto a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket at fare vending machines, the Charlie Service Center, or MBTA retail sales locations that accept EBT cards.
Then, choose where to buy your ticket or pass
At fare vending machines, you can add cash value or 1-day, 7-day, or monthly passes to a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket. If you don’t already have a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket, your purchase will be printed on a new CharlieTicket.
Fare vending machines are located at all subway stations and at the Lynn and Worcester/Union Commuter Rail stations.
Most machines accept cash, major credit/debit cards, and EBT cards. Some machines only accept credit/debit/EBT cards and are marked to indicate that they don’t accept cash.
You can add up to $20 in cash value to a CharlieCard at onboard fare boxes.
When you’re ready to board the bus
CharlieCard
Simply tap your CharlieCard on the fare box target to pay.
CharlieTicket
With the orange arrow facing up and away from you, insert your ticket into the fare box. Your ticket will be returned after the machine reads it.
Tip! Fare boxes and faregates beep to indicate if your fare payment was accepted:
- 1 beep means your CharlieCard fare was paid.
- 2 beeps means your CharlieTicket fare was paid.
- 3 beeps means that the machine was not able to read your ticket or that there wasn’t enough money to pay the fare. You can try again or visit a fare vending machine to reload your ticket or pass.
For issues with payment or purchase at any fare point please call 617-222-3200.
Reduced Fares
Some riders are eligible for reduced fares or can ride the T for free.
CharlieCard
CharlieCards are reusable plastic cards that can be loaded with cash value or 1-Day, 7-Day, or monthly passes.
Learn more about CharlieCards
Other MBTA Fares
Tap to Ride
Reduced Fares
Some riders are eligible for reduced fares or can ride the T for free.