Public transport prices in different countries
Public transport is the main way for tourists to travel in foreign cities. There are cities around the world where residents and travelers can travel on public transport completely free of charge, but in some megacities the cost of travel is very high.
Cities with free public transport:
Some cities have decided to make public transport accessible, covering the costs from the city budget or through special fees. This helps reduce traffic congestion, improve the environment and encourage people to abandon their private cars.
List of cities where public transport is free:
* Luxembourg, Luxembourg - since 2020, all public transport in the country is free for all passengers.
* Tallinn, Estonia - since 2013, city residents can use public transport for free by purchasing a special card.
* Dunkirk, France - in 2018, the city authorities made public transport completely free.
* Hasselt, Belgium - transportation was free from 1997 to 2013, after which a symbolic fee was introduced.
* Chattanooga, USA - a free electric bus operates in the city center for residents and tourists.
Cities with the cheapest public transportation:
In some countries, public transportation remains affordable even compared to local wages. Often, such cities are located in Eastern Europe or countries with a low standard of living, where governments try to make transportation as accessible as possible for the population.
The five cities with the cheapest public transportation:
* Bucharest, Romania - a monthly ticket costs about 16 euros.
* Pristina, Kosovo - a monthly ticket costs about 14 euros.
* Tirana, Albania - a monthly ticket costs 16 euros.
* Sofia, Bulgaria - a monthly ticket costs about 25 euros.
* Budapest, Hungary - a monthly ticket costs about 23 euros.
Cities with the most expensive public transport:
In developed countries with high living standards and expensive municipal services, public transport can be quite expensive. These cities invest in improving infrastructure, green transport and travel comfort, which affects ticket prices.
The most expensive public transport is in the following cities:
* London, UK - a monthly ticket costs about €233.
* Dublin, Ireland - a monthly ticket costs about €117.
* Copenhagen, Denmark - a monthly ticket costs about €98.
* Stockholm, Sweden - a monthly ticket costs about €87.
* Paris, France - a monthly ticket costs about €84.
The ratio of fare to average salary:
It is important to consider not only the absolute price of the ticket, but also what share of income it represents in residents' expenses. In some cities, high fares are compensated by high salaries, while in others, even a cheap ticket can significantly damage the budget.
The ratio of travel expenses to average salary is as follows:
* London, UK - with a round-trip ticket costing €233 and an average salary of €3,500, transportation costs account for 6.7 percent of income.
* Bucharest, Romania - with an average salary of €700, a monthly travel of €16 means spending about 2.3 percent of income.
* Dublin, Ireland - with a monthly ticket costing €117 and an average salary of €3,000, transportation costs account for 3.9 percent of salary.
* Paris, France - with a round-trip ticket costing €84 and an average salary of €2,900, transportation costs account for 2.9 percent of salary.
* Sofia, Bulgaria - with a round-trip ticket costing €25 and an average salary of €900, transportation costs account for about 2.8 percent of salary.