Transit Cost Calculator: Monthly Cost by Canadian City

Key takeaways

Covers Toronto, Vancouver (1 to 3 zones), Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax and Mississauga
Uses October 2026 fares from each transit agency
Applies the TTC 47-fare cap and the Ottawa and Edmonton daily and monthly caps
A typical 5-day commuter takes about 43 rides a month

How the calculator works

The calculator turns your weekly routine into an average month. There are about 4.33 weeks in a month (52 weeks ÷ 12). So 2 rides a day, 5 days a week, is about 43 rides a month.

It then works out three costs where they exist:

Pay per ride: rides × the best regular fare on the agency’s card or app.
Fare cap: in Toronto, you stop paying after 47 paid fares. In Ottawa and Edmonton, a daily cap and a monthly cap limit what you pay.
Pass: the monthly pass price, or a special pass for your fare type.

It shows the cheapest one first, plus the breakeven: how many rides a month make a pass worth it.

Worked example

Two newcomers each ride to work and back 5 days a week (about 43 rides a month):

City	Pay per ride	Pass or cap	Cheapest
Toronto, adult	43 × $3.30 = $143.00	Cap $155.10	Pay per ride, $143.00
Calgary, adult	43 × $4.00 = $173.33	Pass $126.00	Pass, $126.00

In Toronto, paying as you go is cheaper because this rider stays under 47 trips. In Calgary the pass wins easily, because the breakeven is only 31.5 rides.

Fare types and who qualifies

Youth: ages 13 to 19 on the TTC and MiWay, 13 to 17 in Calgary and Halifax. You need a youth card or photo ID.
Post-secondary student: Toronto sells a $128.15 student monthly pass. Montreal gives full-time students 18 and over the reduced $66 pass. In Vancouver and many other cities, students get a U-Pass through school fees, so check with your school.
Senior: 65 and over. Montreal-area residents ride free in Zone A, and seniors ride MiWay free with a senior PRESTO card.
Low income: Toronto Fair Pass, Calgary Low Income Pass, Edmonton Ride Transit, Ottawa EquiPass, Winnipeg WINNpass and the Peel Affordable Transit Program. You apply first, usually with your Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or proof of income support.

If a city has no separate fare for your group in our data, the calculator uses the adult fare and tells you.

What the calculator does not include

Cash fares, which are higher and do not count toward caps.
Regional trains such as GO Transit, exo and the West Coast Express.
Vancouver’s evening and weekend 1-zone rule. If you ride across zones only at night or on weekends, pick the 1-zone option.
Special fees such as the YVR airport AddFare.

Compare cities side by side in our monthly pass table.

Next steps

Get the agency’s card in your first week (PRESTO, Compass, OPUS, Arc or peggo).
If your income is low, apply for the low-income program early. Approval can take several weeks.
Thinking about a car? Compare the full cost with our car vs transit calculator.
Choosing where to live? Our where to live by transit tool adds rent.

Common questions

How many transit rides does a full-time worker take in a month?

About 43 if you ride to work and back 5 days a week (2 × 5 × 4.33). Holidays and sick days lower it; weekend trips raise it.

Why is the Toronto result sometimes below $155?

Because the TTC charges per trip until you reach 47 paid fares. If you take fewer than 47 paid trips, you pay only for the trips you take.

Does the calculator include GO Transit?

No. GO Transit charges by distance. Under Ontario’s One Fare program, your local TTC, MiWay or Brampton ride is free when you connect to GO with the same card.

Why does Vancouver have three options?

TransLink charges by zone for SkyTrain and SeaBus trips on weekdays before 6:30 p.m. Bus trips are always 1 zone, and so are all trips in the evening and on weekends.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Transit cost calculator: your monthly cost in a Canadian city

Your travel

Your monthly transit cost