If you are planning a relocation to Philadelphia, you might be wondering how much it costs for public transportation. There are many people who use the abundant public transportation access to help them commute around the city. Public transportation is a necessity for many people who live in Philadelphia, so calculating the cost of using it for 2026 can help you to determine your relocation budget.
How Much Does Public Transportation Cost in Philadelphia? | A Relocation Guide for 2026
At the end of 2025, a single ride on a SEPTA bus, trolley, or subway is about $2.90 if you use the SEPTA key card. 1 transfer costs one dollar and is valid for up to 2 hours when using a KeyTix card. The monthly key pass with unlimited rides is $116. These costs can be subject to change, but this is the most up-to-date information as of the writing of this blog.
Regional Rail fares will vary between zones and can range anywhere from $5 to $11 for a one-way trip. If you purchase a monthly trail pass for the regional rail system, these start at $116 for zone one and can increase up to $255 for zone four. The cost of living index is 101.2 for the overall living costs of Philadelphia. This is slightly above the national average.
Using public transportation to get around Philadelphia
The SEPTA is the Southeastern Pennsylvania transportation authority. This public transportation system operates most of the public transportation in the city. These transportation outlets include the regional rail with 13 lines that serve into the suburbs, the Norristown high-speed line, the Broad Street line subway, the market/Frankfurt line, the eight trolley lines, and public buses.
The most utilized systems are the Broad Street line and the Market/Frankfurt line, also known as the E train. Public buses fill in gaps, getting Philadelphia travelers from place to place across town. If you live in the suburbs, the regional system is going to be a lifeline to get into Center City.
Tips for estimating monthly public transit costs on a personal level
Beyond knowing the cost of public transportation, you may be looking at tips to help you calculate what it could cost on a personal level and how much you should budget for public transportation costs in your move to Philadelphia. The exact cost for each commuter is going to depend on their commuting habits. Let’s look at a few common scenarios that a significant number of Philadelphia residents face to help you get an idea of how to calculate your personal cost and a ballpark figure.
For those commuting five days a week, they can utilize the SEPTA key monthly pass for $116
If you plan to only use public transportation on the weekends, you may only hop on public transportation for eight round-trip trips a month if you get on public transportation every single weekend. A commuter utilizing public transit on the weekends can pay for eight round-trip tickets with about $40 on a SEPTA key
If you are utilizing the regional rail system, that is pretty easily calculated with the monthly pass costs as long as you are hopping on transportation regularly. So if you were commuting from zone four regularly, you could get a $255 monthly pass.
Are there any ways to save on SEPTA costs?
There are a few ways that you can save a little bit of money on public transportation costs, including:
Checking if your new employer in Philadelphia offers pretax, transit benefits, or a subsidy for your public transportation costs to get to work
There is a discount for seniors age 65+ and students. Riders with disabilities also have eligibility for a discounted fare
Make sure to take advantage of free transfers between most of the transportation, including subways, trolleys, and buses
Purchase a SEPTA key card and make sure to load a monthly pass onto it to get the best possible rates.
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