A ride on LA Metro costs $1.75 in October 2026, and the fare includes two hours of free transfers. Fare capping limits what you pay to $5 a day and $18 over any seven days. After that, every ride is free, so even a daily rider spends about $80 a month at most.
Seniors, riders with disabilities, students and low-income residents pay less. Below is how the fares work, what a month really costs and what to know about safety. For more local explainers, see our Los Angeles and California guides.
LA Metro prices at a glance
All figures come from Metro’s official fares page as of October 2026. The same base fare applies on buses and trains, whatever the distance.
| Fare type | Price (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Regular one-way fare, bus or rail | $1.75 |
| Transfers | Free for 2 hours (round trips excluded) |
| Daily cap, regular fare | $5 |
| 7-day cap, regular fare | $18 |
| Seniors 62+ and riders with disabilities | Caps of $2.50 a day and $5 per 7 days |
| LIFE program (low income) | 20 free rides a month |
| Students at participating schools | Free with GoPass |
| Children under 6 | Free with a paying adult |
| Plastic TAP card | $2, one time |
The base fare has stayed at $1.75 since Metro switched to fare capping on July 1, 2023. That change also retired the old 1-day, 7-day and 30-day passes. So if you are looking for a monthly pass price, there is none for regular riders now. The caps do the same job on their own.
How fare capping works
Fare capping tracks what you spend on one TAP card or one bank card. Once your rides in a day reach $5, the rest of that day is free. In practice, that happens on your third paid ride, since three rides would cost $5.25 and the system stops at $5.
The weekly cap uses a rolling seven days rather than a calendar week. When your spending in any seven-day window reaches $18, more rides in that window cost nothing. You do not need to register or pay anything up front.
There are two catches. First, the caps only count taps from the same card or phone, so switching between them resets your progress. Second, cash fares on buses never count toward a cap, and cash riders get no free transfer either.
What a month of riding really costs
Because there is no 30-day pass, your monthly bill depends on how often you ride. Here are three common patterns, worked out from the official fares.
- Weekday commuter, two rides a day. Five days of round trips cost $17.50 a week, just under the $18 cap. That comes to about $76 in a typical month.
- Daily rider, many trips. If you ride every day, the weekly cap stops you at $18. A 30-day month then tops out near $80.
- Occasional rider. Two round trips a week cost $7, or about $30 a month.
Compare that with driving. Regular gas in Los Angeles averaged about $6.02 a gallon in the week of October 19, 2026, according to the EIA weekly gasoline survey. So a single 12-gallon fill-up costs about $72, close to a full month of transit. Our explainer on why gas prices are so high in Los Angeles covers the reasons. For the full household picture, see our guide to the cost of living in Los Angeles.
Parking adds to the gap, too. Many Metro rail stations have parking lots, but rules and fees vary by station, so check before you drive to one.
Reduced fares and free rides
Several groups pay far less than the regular fare. However, most of them need to apply for a reduced-fare TAP card first.
- Seniors 62 and older and riders with disabilities reach their caps at $2.50 a day and $5 per seven days. After that, rides are free.
- Students at participating K-12 schools, adult schools and community colleges ride free with a GoPass. Some colleges also sell a discounted U-Pass instead.
- LIFE program members, who are low-income LA County residents, get 20 free rides a month. Each of those rides includes two hours of transfers.
- Children under 6 ride free with a fare-paying adult.
One limit applies for now. Reduced fares still require a TAP card, because Metro plans to add them to bank card payments only in 2027.
How to pay: TAP card, phone or bank card
Since late May 2026, regular-fare riders can simply tap a contactless credit or debit card at any validator. Phones and watches with Apple Pay or Google Pay also work. Metro’s payment guide lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB and UnionPay. Bank card taps earn the same free transfers and fare caps as a TAP card.
A plastic TAP card costs $2 at station vending machines and TAP vendors. Instead, you can add a virtual TAP card in the TAP app or in Apple Wallet. You load money online, by phone, at a vending machine or at a bus farebox. Cash still works on many buses, but only with exact change, and trains do not take cash at all.
TAP is also accepted by more than 20 other transit agencies in LA County, such as city bus lines. Their fares differ from Metro’s, so check each agency before you ride. Metrolink commuter trains also use separate tickets and prices.
Is LA Metro safe?
By Metro’s own count, almost all trips pass without a reported crime. For August 2026, the agency reported 6.25 violent and property crimes per million boardings, its lowest August level since 2019. Violent crime also fell 11.7% from July, while property crime dropped 27%. Metro posts monthly charts on its safety data page.
That said, experiences vary by line, station and time of day. Late at night, some stations feel empty, and riders sometimes report disruptive behavior on trains. Since 2024, Metro has added more police, transit security officers and contract security on the system. It has also installed taller fare gates and tap-to-exit gates at some busy stations.
A few habits help on any big-city system:
- Ride in the first car near the operator, and wait in well-lit parts of the platform.
- Keep phones and bags close, especially near the doors.
- Report problems through the LA Metro Transit Watch app, by calling 888-950-7233 or by texting 213-788-2777. In an emergency, call 911.
Tips for first-time riders
Plan trips with the official LA Metro app or a major map app, since both show real-time arrivals. Service hours vary by line, and only some bus routes run all night, so check before a late trip.
The rail network has six lines, 115 stations and about 118 miles of track, plus more than 165 bus routes. The D Line subway extension opened on May 8, 2026, adding three stations along Wilshire Boulevard. Even so, many trips still need a bus for the first or last mile. Then the free two-hour transfer keeps the cost at one fare.
Finally, tap every time you board, including on transfers. A tap is how the system counts your caps, and fare inspectors check for a valid tap.
Frequently asked questions
How much does LA Metro cost per ride?
A regular ride costs $1.75 on buses and trains as of October 2026. It includes free transfers for two hours, though round trips are not covered.
What is the LA Metro monthly pass price?
There is no monthly pass for regular riders anymore. Metro dropped its 30-day pass in July 2023 and uses fare caps instead. Because the weekly cap is $18, a month of daily riding costs about $80 at most.
Can I pay for LA Metro with a credit card?
Yes. Since May 2026, you can tap a contactless credit or debit card or a phone wallet at validators. Reduced fares still need a TAP card until 2027.
Is LA Metro safe at night?
Most trips end without incident, but fewer riders are around late at night. Sit near the operator, stay alert and use the Transit Watch app or 911 if something goes wrong.
Have a question about this topic? Ask in the comments below. Our editors read every comment and answer questions here, and we add useful answers to the guide.
Sources
- metro.net/riding/fares
- metro.net/riding/fares/how-to-pay
- metro.net/projects/westside
- metro.net/safety-support/by-the-numbers
- metro.net/riding/la-metro-transit-watch-app
- eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel
- metro.net/about/l-a-metro-helps-riders-save-money-improves-transit…
- thesource.metro.net/paying-to-ride-metro-just-got-easier-tap-your-credit-or-…
- taptogo.net/contactless-payment
- metro-magazine.com/news/la-metro-september-ridership-climbs-39-led-by-rail-…