Subway Fares
Subway fares are valid on the Red, Orange, Green, and Blue lines, Mattapan Trolley, and Silver Line routes SL1, SL2, and SL3.
One-Way Fares
Subway One-Way
with CharlieCard, CharlieTicket, or Cash
Fare Calculator
Choose your origin and destination to calculate your fare with our Trip Planner.
Transfers
Generally, your trip includes 1 free transfer within 2 hours of your first tap, but only if the mode you’re transferring to costs the same or less than your first fare payment. For example, transferring from subway to bus is free, but you’ll have to pay the difference if you transfer from bus to subway.
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 into a subway station.
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1-Day Pass
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$12.75
Unlimited travel for 24 hours
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
Subway
Local Bus
Silver LineCharlieTicket also valid on:
Commuter Rail Zone 1A
Charlestown Ferry -
7-Day Pass
-
$22.50
Unlimited travel for 7 days.
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
Subway
Local Bus
Silver LineCharlieTicket also valid on:
Commuter Rail Zone 1A
Charlestown Ferry -
Monthly LinkPass
-
$90.00
Unlimited travel for 1 calendar month
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
Subway
Local Bus
Silver LineCharlieTicket also valid on:
Commuter Rail Zone 1A
Charlestown Ferry
CharlieCard
CharlieCards are reusable plastic cards that can be loaded with cash value or 1-Day, 7-Day, or monthly passes.
Learn more about CharlieCardsHow to Pay Your Subway Fare
First, choose how you’ll pay your fare
The right way to pay for you depends on which modes you want to take, and how often.
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CharlieCard
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Best for frequent bus and subway riders
Discounted one-way fares
Load with cash value or passes
Easily tap into stations and vehicles
Online card management via MyCharlieValid 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 discounts
No online card managementCash-value CharlieTicket valid on:
Subway
Bus
Silver Line1-day, 7-day, and monthly LinkPass CharlieTickets valid on:
Subway
Bus
Silver Line
Commuter Rail Zone 1A
Charlestown Ferry
You can also pay in cash on buses and at street level trolley stops, or use your EBT card to load value or passes onto a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket at fare vending machines, the CharlieCard Store, 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.
At street-level trolley stops, you can add up to $20 cash value to a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket at the onboard fare boxes.
At select stores throughout Greater Boston and Providence, you can get a CharlieCard and load it with cash value or a pass. You can also add passes to a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket you already have.
Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted. Some locations also accept EBT cards.
When you register for a MyCharlie account, you can add cash value and passes to your CharlieCard online. We recommend registering for a MyCharlie account to protect your card if it is lost, stolen, or damaged.
Reload your card without creating an account
You can also sign up for Auto-pay, a monthly LinkPass that automatically renews each month.
When you’re ready to board the subway
CharlieCard
To enter subway stations, tap your card on the fare gate target.
At street-level trolley stops, tap your card on the fare box near the front door of the trolley to board.
CharlieTicket
To enter subway stations, put your CharlieTicket into the slot on the fare gate with the orange arrow facing up and away from you.
At street-level trolley stops, put your ticket into the onboard fare box with the orange arrow facing up and away from you.
Tip! Fareboxes and faregates beep to indicate if your 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.
At street-level Green Line and Mattapan Trolley stops, you can add cash value to your CharlieCard or CharlieTicket with coins or bills, up to $20.
You cannot buy or reload 1-day, 7-day, or monthly passes at onboard fareboxes.
To pay your fare:
- Tell the driver you need to add value to your CharlieCard or CharlieTicket.
- Press the white button in the upper right corner on the fare box.
- Tap your CharlieCard on the farebox target, or insert your CharlieTicket into the machine with the orange arrow facing up and away from you.
- Insert cash or coins up to your desired value. Change is not returned from onboard fare boxes, so any cash you insert will be loaded onto the card or ticket.
- Press the white button again.
- Tap your CharlieCard to complete the transaction, or remove your CharlieTicket from the machine.
- Tap your CharlieCard or insert your CharlieTicket 1 more time to pay your fare.
At street-level Green Line and Mattapan Trolley stops, you can pay your fare in cash with coins or bills, up to $20.
To pay your fare, tell the driver you are paying in cash, and insert the amount displayed on the fare box.
Tip! If you pay $0.50 or more over the required one-way fare, the change will be returned on a CharlieTicket. You can then use it to pay your fare on another mode of transit, or reload it at a fare box or fare vending machine.
Reduced Fares
Some customers are eligible for reduced fares or can ride the T for free.
Have a Question?
Other MBTA Fares
Fare Calculator
Choose your origin and destination to calculate your fare with our Trip Planner.
Reduced Fares
Some customers are eligible for reduced fares or can ride the T for free.