Singapore’s MRT is fast, spotless, and one of the easiest metro systems in the world to use — right up until you tap in with your phone and tap out with your physical card, and get charged twice. Here’s exactly what you’ll pay in 2026, and the one mistake that catches more tourists than any other.
Singapore MRT fares at a glance (2026)
| Fare type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult card fare (shortest trip) | S$1.28 | Journeys up to 3.2 km |
| Adult card fare (longest trip) | S$2.57 | Fare cap, cross-island journeys |
| EZ-Link card | S$10 | S$5 non-refundable card fee + S$5 travel credit |
| Singapore Tourist Pass — 1 day | S$17 | Unlimited MRT, LRT, basic bus |
| Singapore Tourist Pass — 3 days | S$29 | Unlimited MRT, LRT, basic bus |
| Singapore Tourist Pass — 5 days | S$45 | Unlimited MRT, LRT, basic bus |
| Children under 7 | Free | No card needed if under 0.9m tall |
Fares are distance-based and reviewed annually by the Public Transport Council. The current rates took effect 27 December 2025 and apply through 2026. You pay by card: an EZ-Link card, a contactless bank card or mobile wallet, or the Singapore Tourist Pass. Single-trip MRT tickets were phased out in 2022 (sales ended on all lines by 10 March 2022), so you cannot pay the train fare in cash.
The mistake that doubles your fare
This is the one thing that trips up more visitors than anything else: you must tap in and tap out with the exact same card or device. If you tap in with Apple Pay on your phone and tap out with your physical Visa card — or any mismatched combination — the system can’t match the journey. You get charged the maximum possible fare on both cards.
It sounds obvious until you’re juggling a phone, a wallet, and a coffee at the gantry. Pick one card or device per journey and stick with it for that trip, even if you switch which one you use the next day.
Do you even need an EZ-Link card in 2026?
Increasingly, no. Singapore’s SimplyGo system means any contactless Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card — physical or in Apple Pay / Google Pay — works directly at the gantry, at the same fare as EZ-Link. There’s no need to buy a card or top anything up.
The catch: foreign-issued cards incur a small admin fee, roughly S$0.60 per day of travel. For most short trips this still works out cheaper than buying a S$10 EZ-Link card you’ll only use for a few days and won’t get a refund on.
An EZ-Link card makes more sense if you’re staying over a week, want to avoid any foreign transaction fees, or want a backup payment method that doesn’t rely on your phone’s battery. For a full breakdown of which option suits your trip length, see our SimplyGo vs EZ-Link vs Tourist Pass comparison.
Is the Singapore Tourist Pass worth it?
The Tourist Pass gives unlimited travel on MRT, LRT, and basic bus services for a flat daily rate, but it excludes premium services like the Sentosa Express and express buses. At S$17 for one day, you’d need 7 rides even at the longest card fare (S$2.57) to break even — and 9 or more at typical fares of S$1.50–S$2.00. That’s unlikely for most visitors doing standard sightseeing.
The pass becomes worthwhile mainly if you value not having to think about balances at all, or if you’re moving around constantly across a full day. For most tourists taking 3–4 MRT rides a day, paying per trip with a contactless card costs less than the pass and requires zero setup.
Free transfers and fare-saving rules
Transfers are free as long as you tap with the same card: you have up to 45 minutes between a train and a bus (or between two buses), 15 minutes between two different train stations, up to five transfers, and two hours from first to last boarding. Tap in at any rail station before 7:45am on weekdays (not public holidays) and your fare is reduced by up to S$0.50 — the morning pre-peak discount.
Since 27 December 2025, rail rides are free on weekdays (not public holidays) if you tap in before 7:30am or between 9:00am and 9:45am at one of the six North East Line stations from Punggol Coast to Kovan, or at any Sengkang–Punggol LRT station.
Getting from Changi Airport
Changi Airport station is on the East-West Line’s airport branch (change at Tanah Merah, or at Expo if you are coming from the Downtown Line), and a standard card fare applies — there’s no airport surcharge. If you’re arriving late, jet-lagged, or with more luggage than you want to manage on the train, a private airport transfer with Welcome Pickups is a fixed-price alternative with a driver waiting at arrivals. You can also book an airport pickup through Trip.com in advance if you prefer to compare options.
Sightseeing: MRT vs hop-on hop-off
The MRT will get you to every major attraction efficiently, but if you’re short on time and want commentary and a guaranteed seat with views, a Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour covers the main sights in one loop — a different trade-off from the MRT’s speed and cost.
Practical notes
Trains run roughly 5:30am to midnight. There are no paper single tickets anymore — everything runs through cards or contactless payment. Standard EZ-Link cards (not the Tourist Pass) are sold at 7-Eleven and Cheers convenience stores in addition to SimplyGo ticket offices and station kiosks.
For the full network map, line-by-line breakdown, and how the MRT connects to buses and taxis, see our Singapore public transport guide.
Singapore MRT ticket prices 2026: FAQ
How much does the Singapore MRT cost in 2026?
Adult card fares range from S$1.28 for short trips up to S$2.57 for the longest cross-island journeys. There are no cash single tickets for the MRT any more — they were phased out in 2022. These rates took effect 27 December 2025 and apply through 2026.
Do I need to buy an EZ-Link card for the MRT?
No. Any contactless Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card — including Apple Pay and Google Pay — works directly at MRT gantries at the same fare as EZ-Link. Foreign-issued cards incur a small admin fee of about S$0.60 per day.
What happens if I tap in and out with different cards?
You’ll be charged the maximum fare on both cards, since the system can’t match an incomplete journey on either one. Always use the exact same card or device to tap in and tap out for a single trip.
Is the Singapore Tourist Pass worth buying?
For most visitors taking 3-4 MRT rides per day, paying per trip with a contactless card costs less than the Tourist Pass (from S$17/day) and requires no setup. The pass is worthwhile mainly for travelers who want to avoid tracking balances or who travel constantly throughout the day.
How much is the EZ-Link card?
An EZ-Link card costs S$10 total: a S$5 non-refundable card fee plus S$5 of starting travel credit. It’s sold at SimplyGo ticket offices, station kiosks, and convenience stores including 7-Eleven and Cheers.
