As of Monday, December 1, a new increase in bus, subway and toll fares will be implemented in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA). It will be 4.3%, which is the product of inflation of 2.3% in October plus an additional 2 percentage points until the subsidy is removed.
In the governorate, the amendment will be greater, due to the application of an additional amendment that will raise the increase to 14.8 percent.
In fact, the minimum bus ticket in CABA will cost $593.52 and in the province 658 pesos. In this way, there will be three different prices on the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) lines: Ticket prices in the jurisdiction actually rose two weeks ago, and the minimum ticket cost is 494.83 pesos since then.
In CABA, the cost of the subway will also increase: starting tomorrow, it will cost 1,206 pesos per trip. Meanwhile, rush hour tolls will cost $4,912.67 on the Perito Moreno and 25 de Mayo Expressways, and $2,042.38 on the Elia Expressway. Off-peak hours the values will be respectively 3466.55 and 1444.25 pesos. The basis for the increase in the number of fees is the action plan led by AUSA, which is currently in its initial stages and which will accelerate in the coming months.
Increased bus, subway and toll fees: How much are they?
City authorities on buses and subways say the increases serve to compensate for fare delays, as the current rate on buses covers only 70% of the cost of the service, while coverage on the subway is just over 76%.
On the 30 bus routes regulated by CABA from 2024, the minimum ticket will be $593.52 for trips of up to 3 km, increasing to $659.50 for trips of 3 to 6 km, to $710.31 for trips of 6 and 12 km, and $761.15 for trips of more than 12 km.
The administration of the Prime Minister of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macri, confirms that in addition to deducting delays in operating costs, the tariff update aims to support the program of modernization of more than 1,600 units that include verification tools that accept credit and debit cards, SUBE and mobile phones, as well as the placement of cameras and improvements in the roads.
In addition, CABA refers to a “migration” toward clean energy, based on incentives for companies to incorporate gas-powered or electric buses as they renew their fleet. The city itself has previously launched electrical units on the streets in tourist areas such as Microcentro and San Telmo, which are also distinguished by their completely silent operation due to their yellow color.
In the private sector, the “clean energy” challenge has begun to be addressed: Metropole has announced the purchase of 150 gas units for lines running through the city. In addition, from 2027, it will be mandatory, when removing the diesel unit, to replace it with one based on “clean energy”, gas or electricity. However, in 2026, at least 15% of the fleet must be electric or gas units, a proportion that will double in the following year.
A subway ride will cost $1,206, and to mitigate the impact, the Buenos Aires government has ordered that at least one turnstile per station accept credit and debit cards, in addition to SUBE. Contactless payments such as NFC and QR-enabled mobile wallets have been integrated.
According to Imova, this type of payment already reaches 30% of transactions and confirms that many users reduce costs by using the bank’s promotions and virtual wallet, with significant discounts and cashbacks. Discounts are also maintained for frequent flyers, who pay by the same method and receive discounts when they exceed the 20th flight. From 21 to 30 flights, the cost of the ticket drops to $964.80, from 31 to 40, to $844.20 pesos, and from the 41st flight, $723.60 pesos is paid. Additionally, the Premetro costs 422.10 pesos.
Increased transportation traffic in the governorate
Meanwhile, in Buenos Aires Province, the 14.8% increase came in response to a new fare system that increases the cost of urban buses, based on a citizen consultation implemented in mid-November. The new fare schedule applies exclusively to lines that pass entirely through the territory of Buenos Aires and do not enter CABA.
It so happens that lines that pass only through the province use fares set by the government, while buses that travel only via CABA depend on the Government of Buenos Aires and the national services, which cross both provinces, have their fares set at the federal level.
The tariff structure that comes into force aims to rebuild the income of concessionaires and address the high costs associated with operation, including the value of fuel and vehicle fleet maintenance. Resolution 342, published on Friday before the new tariffs were implemented, marks the official start of these increases. The Ministry of Transport in Buenos Aires explained that the amendment includes an exceptional increase of 10%, added to the monthly update mechanism linked to inflation in addition to two percentage points, in line with the system in place since March. This brings the total increase for December to 14.8%.
The Argentine Association of Automobile Entrepreneurs of Transport (AAETA) considered the action taken by the Buenos Aires government to decouple from the national and CABA rates “successful”. “With the announcement of this price increase for provincial lines, together with the upcoming dismissal of support accounts by the province (which, as we have learned, will assume full powers in the issue of calculations and determination from January), a new scenario opens up, which we understand offers better guarantees given the call for dialogue that we see), to ensure the continuity of services.” AAETA said it was aware of the “inconvenience” caused by the action taken by the Buenos Aires government, but “essential service,” it concluded, “requires this type of decision.”
New costs for each trip
The new fare schedule is detailed according to the kilometers traveled. For urban services in Greater Buenos Aires, the minimum fare (corresponding to routes from 0 to 3 km) is set at $658.44. Section prices depend on distance: 3 to 6 km, $733.50; 6 to 12 km, $790.00; 12 to 27 kilometers, $846.57; And trips over 27 kilometers are $902.73.
For those paying the fare with an unnamed SUBE card, the cost is much higher, with minimum values starting at $1,046.92 and reaching a maximum of $1,435.34 depending on the distance travelled. This differential seeks to encourage the SUBE label to create correspondence between the user and the card, and limits the use of subsidies per registered passenger.
There is also a specific category of Social Benefit beneficiaries, intended for people in vulnerable situations, who reserve ticket discounts. For December, members suggest the following amounts: up to 3 kilometers, $296.30; 3 to 6 kilometers, $330.08; 6 to 12 kilometers, $355.50; 12 to 27 kilometers, $380.96; and above 27 kilometers $406.23. These amounts represent a benefit aimed at reducing the weight of transportation in the budgets of the sectors most affected by the general rise in prices.
In the medium-distance intercity bus sector, which connects the surrounding areas of CABA and plays a strategic role in connecting to the capital, new values are also observed. The minimum ticket for this type of service has been adjusted: it previously cost $753.99 and now costs $866.28 with the nominal SUBE. If a passenger uses SUBE without registering, the minimum ticket is $1,377.39. In addition, the per-kilometre fee sets a base of US$33.46 (named SUBE) versus US$53.20 (unnamed), while the base fare at stations starts at US$219.05 ($348.29 with unnamed SUBE).
The scope of the increase is limited to regional lines, that is, those that do not enter the federal capital and therefore do not affect services governed by Buenos Aires and the national governments. The implemented scheme responds to the need, as identified by official sources, to restore the operational balance of transport companies, which are currently suffering from pressure due to the cost of key inputs. Among the factors indicated are exchange rate volatility, frequent adjustments in fuel prices, and increased inputs needed to maintain and renew fleets.
Specifically, the new tariff system specifies the following values for each bracket:
Greater Buenos Aires (full price with registered SUBE):
- 0-3 km: $658.44
- 3-6 km: $733.50
- 6-12 km: $790.00
- 12-27 km: $846.57
- More than 27 km: $902.73
Greater Buenos Aires (SUBE without label):
- 0-3km: $1,046.92
- 3-6 km: $1,166.27
- 6-12 km: $1,256.11
- 12-27 km: $1,346.04
- More than 27 km: $1,435.34
Social rate:
- 0-3 km: $296.30
- 3-6 km: $330.08
- 6-12 km: $355.50
- 12-27 km: $380.96
- More than 27 km: $406.23
- Average distance between cities (full rate):
- Station: $219.05
- Base passenger/km: $33.46
- Minimum ticket: $866.28
Average distance between cities (SUBE without label):
- Station: $348.29
- Base passenger/km: $53.20
- Minimum ticket: $1,377.39
The new tariff policy implemented by the Province of Buenos Aires does not modify the tariff schedule for other metropolitan or metropolitan services and does not affect the values imposed by other jurisdictions. The increase affects exclusively the routes operating entirely in the territory of Buenos Aires and which were defined by their numbers exceeding 200. The rest of the services were subject to their own negotiation schedules and tariff policies determined by the specific authorities of CABA and the National Government.