With the latest increase this year, the minimum ticket is now double what it was at the beginning of the year / Demian Alday
A new 14.4% increase on Buenos Aires buses took effect yesterday, putting public transport once again among the expenses that put the greatest pressure on La Plata families. With the update, the minimum ticket now exceeds 700 pesos and reinforces the trend of increases that was consolidated this year. In this context, many users are forced to adjust their routines and juggle daily trips.
“I learned about the increase because I think this morning I paid more than 800 pesos. I don’t remember very well because I came so early that I was a little sleepy. But the truth is that I don’t care much, I just support SUBE and pay. Because if I start thinking, I think it’s crazy how much the amount goes up every month,” Above Inflation, admitted Belén Ballestero, an Eastern Line user who works downtown.
The automatic increase added an unusual increase that was only applied in the Buenos Aires province. The Axel Kiselov administration decided – through a decision published on Friday in the Official Gazette – to apply an additional rate of 10 percent to the automatic monthly calculation, which arises from the inflation rate of the previous month (2.4 percent in October, according to the INDIC index) plus two points. The formula aims to reduce the payment of subsidies.
“I don’t care much, I just support the increase and payment. Because if I think about it, it’s crazy that ticket prices go up every month.
Belen Ballestero
East employee and user
“I try to save as much as possible. In the morning my husband brings me and then I leave by bus. At least it’s one less ticket and the amount for the week is great
Paula Silva
Sicardi’s neighbor
“I have a pension, so I don’t realize it. One thing is who works and another is who goes out for a walk. When I charge, I put more in without thinking about it
Elsa Oliva
Neighbor of Los Hornos
Through this monthly mechanism, the rate was supposed to be updated by 4.4%, but with the exceptional reinforcement the final increase rose to 14.4%. As officially described, the measure seeks to “restore income to the system”, cover higher operating costs (mainly fuel, maintenance and salaries) and “reduce the need for compensatory contributions”.
For this reason, in the city stations, this adjustment was felt early. “Although we have to take into account that other provinces charge much higher fees, around 1,600 pesos for the minimum ticket, I think at some point we will equal it if we continue at this pace. The salary money is the same, and the pocket feels it every month,” said Paola Silva, a resident of Sicardi. She added: “I try to save as much as possible. In the morning my husband brings me and then I go by bus. At least the ticket is less and the amount for the week is a lot.”
The current fare structure sets the minimum ticket at 717 pesos, while the second section – one of the most used tickets by students and workers – is around 780 pesos, well exceeding a thousand pesos if a SUBE is not registered. In annual terms, the shortest fare was almost twice what it was at the beginning of 2025.
Companies and unions
For their part, carriers, which had been demanding a deeper rate correction, insisted that operating costs rose above income, even with the automatic increases.
Likewise, in parallel, the Automobile Tramway Union (UTA) threatened to carry out a strike throughout the country and, above all, on every line where it was proposed to pay salary and bonuses in installments. The conflict erupted after the chambers that bring together transport businessmen reported that as a result of delayed government support and operating costs that exceed the technical percentage recognized by the Ministry of Transport, the upcoming salaries, including the Supplementary Annual Salary (SAC), will be disbursed.
However, for users, the calculation is not technical but daily. “There’s no way to escape, you just have to pay it. I knew about virtual wallets that give you about 100 or 50% back. So I’m about to start using them. You have to implement it because I earn almost 20,000 pesos a month and I don’t get there sometimes. I only take two a day. I don’t use SUSUBE for anything else. Just for work. Then I ride the bike,” Belen explained. Crossbow man.