Toronto has one of the most expensive fares in the world, according to a new report, as fares are expected to rise in a week.
International e-commerce company, Picodi, analyzed data from 45 cities globally and compared transport expenses with local average wages. The study examined single ticket prices and monthly passes by local public transport operators as of March 2023.
Monthly passes were included to allow for unlimited travel within city limits. However, the study did not include cities where there is no monthly pass offered, as well as cities where one mode of transport is offered by multiple operators with different pricing policies, such as Tokyo, and Bangkok.
The study found that Torontonians pay one of the highest prices when it comes to monthly passes, with the total cost being $116 USD, which equates to $156 CAD. Toronto ranks third place, just behind London ($271 USD) and Dublin ($166 USD).
In terms of single ticket prices, the most expensive tickets are in London ($5.19 USD), Zurich ($4.75 USD) and Oslo ($3.91 USD). Toronto ranked seventh for the most expensive single tickets at $2.38 USD, which is $3.25 CAD.
READ MORE: ‘Expect longer wait times:’ Study says TTC service cuts will impact marginalized areas
According to the study, Toronto residents are spending 3.7 per cent of their average net income on public transit. The cities in which residents are paying more with their wages are São Paulo, (14.3 per cent), Istanbul (7.5 per cent) and London (7.4 per cent).
Amongst cities within Canada, Toronto takes the top spot for having the most expensive public transit. Toronto had the most expensive monthly passes, while Calgary had the highest price for a single ticket at C$3.60.
Charlottetown, P.E.I. had the cheapest single tickets at C$2.00 and monthly passes at C$20.
BACKLASH FROM TORONTONIANS
Upon hearing about Toronto transit being one of the most expensive in the world, Toronto residents and Canadian politicians took to Twitter to express their frustration.
Some are even pointing out how much the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) CEO Rick Leary is earning, following the release of Ontario’s 2022 Sunshine List.
Meanwhile, other Twitter users are hoping whoever becomes the city’s new mayor will come to the rescue and lower the cost of living.
TORONTO TRANSIT FARES RISING IN A WEEK
On April 3, both cash and pay-as-you-go PRESTO fares for youths and adults will be increasing by 10 cents.
But fares for seniors, Fair Pass Transit Discount Program users and monthly pass customers will stay the same.
Adult PRESTO fares will become $3.30, adult PRESTO tickets will cost $3.35 and youth PRESTO fares will be $2.35.
“Revenue from this fare increase, in addition to the City of Toronto’s proposed subsidy to the TTC of $958.7 million, will help us ensure the system is reliable, safe and accessible for all Torontonians,” Toronto Transit Commission said in a statement.
