How to pay for the T
The MBTA accepts both contactless payments and the older CharlieCard system. Which to use depends on how often you ride.
For occasional riders: tap to pay.
Hold your phone (Apple Pay, Google Pay) or a contactless card on the reader at any fare gate or bus farebox. You pay per ride — $2.40 subway, $1.70 local bus, $2.40-$13.25 commuter rail by zone.
For regular riders: a CharlieCard with a pass saves money.
Pay-per-tap adds up fast. A monthly LinkPass on a CharlieCard is $90 for unlimited subway + local bus rides — cheaper than per-ride pricing for most daily commutes, and notably cheaper for bus-only commuters ($55/month with the Local Bus Pass).
Pass options on a CharlieCard
- 1-Day Pass: $11 — unlimited subway and bus for 24 hours.
- 7-Day Pass: $22.50 — unlimited for 7 days.
- Monthly LinkPass: $90 — unlimited subway and bus for the calendar month.
- Monthly Local Bus Pass: $55 — bus only.
Get a CharlieCard from any subway station's vending machine; load it with cash or a card.
Transfers are free
Within 2 hours bus-to-bus, bus-to-subway, and subway-to-bus. The transfer benefit applies whether you're using a CharlieCard or contactless.
For the Commuter Rail, use the mTicket app.
Buy your ticket in the app before boarding, show the active ticket to the conductor.
Reduced fares
Available for riders 65+, riders with disabilities, students, and income-eligible riders. Details at mbta.com/fares.
The bottom line
If you ride a few times a month, just tap. If you commute regularly, get a CharlieCard with a monthly pass — it pays for itself within a couple weeks.