How do subway fares work in New York?
The subway charges a flat fare per ride regardless of distance, with free transfers to buses and between subway lines within a set time window. Fare payment is made with OMNY tap or a MetroCard while both are in use.
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How it works
You tap a contactless card, phone or OMNY card at the turnstile, or swipe a MetroCard, and the fare is deducted at that point rather than calculated by journey length. Frequent riders can reach a fare cap within a set number of days, after which further rides in that period are free.
Commonly mixed up with
The flat fare is sometimes assumed to vary by how far you travel, as in some other cities. It does not: one fare covers any distance on a single ride.
How do subway fares work in New York?
| Knowledge, New York | Travel and visit |
|---|---|
| Short answer | The subway charges a flat fare per ride regardless of distance, with free transfers to buses and between subway lines within a set time window. Fare payment is made with OMNY tap or a MetroCard while both are in use. |
| How it works | You tap a contactless card, phone or OMNY card at the turnstile, or swipe a MetroCard, and the fare is deducted at that point rather than calculated by journey length. Frequent riders can reach a fare cap within a set number of days, after which further rides in that period are free. |
| Commonly mixed up with | The flat fare is sometimes assumed to vary by how far you travel, as in some other cities. It does not: one fare covers any distance on a single ride. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-08 |
Short questions
- Is the fare based on distance?
- No, one flat fare applies to any subway ride.
- Are transfers free?
- Free transfers apply between subway and bus within a set time window.
- Is there a weekly cap?
- Yes, OMNY applies a fare cap after a set number of paid rides in a period.
- Can I still use a MetroCard?
- MetroCard remains valid while the MTA phases in OMNY fully.
- Where are current fares published?
- The MTA publishes current fares and cap rules.
Sources
More in this track
- How do you get from JFK to Manhattan?
- How do you get from LaGuardia to Manhattan?
- How do you get from Newark Airport to Manhattan?
- OMNY or MetroCard: what is the difference?
- Can you get around New York without a car?
- What is the weather like in New York through the year?
- What is the AirTrain and how does it work?
- What is the difference between Penn Station and Grand Central?
- How does Citi Bike fit alongside public transit in New York?
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