- The mode price of a single bus fare in a major city with a population above 250,000 is $2.00
- The average price of a single bus fare across all 84 cities is $1.84.
- The state with the lowest average fares in major cities in Missouri with an average bus fare of $0.50
- State with the highest average fare is Colorado with an average bus fare of $2.58
If you’re a frequent bus rider, you may have wondered how your city’s bus fare compares to others across the United States.
Affordable bus travel provides an accessible mode of transportation for people who may not have access to a car or who cannot afford to travel by other means.
By providing a reliable and affordable mode of transportation, bus services can help to connect people with job opportunities, education, and healthcare services that may be otherwise difficult to access.
Furthermore, affordable bus travel can help to promote social equity and reduce inequality. By providing a means of transportation that is accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of their income level or social status, bus services can help to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate fully in society.
We’ve taken a deep dive into the average price of a single bus fare in every major city in the United States.
How We Calculated The Average Price of A Single Bus Fare In Every Major City In The United States
We started by looking at major cities who noted a population above 250,000 according to US Census statistics from 07-2021.
We then cross referenced government and local websites to find the cost of a single local adult bus fare, ignoring discounts for frequent travelers.
Using these numbers, we cross referenced the data to calculate nationwide averages and look for key trends.
Key findings:
The mode price of a single bus fare in a major US city is $2.00
The mode price of a single bus fare in a major city with a population above 250,000 is $2.00, which appears 27 times in the data set. This suggests that many cities have settled on $2.00 as a reasonable price for a single bus ride. However, it’s worth noting that the mode price isn’t necessarily the most representative of the overall data set.
The average price of a single bus fare is $1.86
The average price of a single bus fare across all 84 cities is $1.86. This means that if you were to randomly select a major city in the United States, you’d likely pay around $1.86 for a single bus ride. Of course, there are some outliers to this average.
3 cities offer free transport
There are three cities in the data set with a bus fare of $0.00: Kansas City, Albuquerque and Tucson. While this may seem like a dream come true for budget-conscious travelers, it’s worth noting that these fares may be subsidized by local governments and may not be sustainable in the long term.
Corpus Christi, TX has the lowest bus fare of any major city
The large city with the lowest bus fare is Corpus Christi, TX, where a single bus ride costs only $0.75. This is significantly lower than the average price and suggests that Corpus Christi is a very affordable city to travel around by bus.
Anaheim, CA has the highest bus fare of any major city
On the other hand, the city with the highest bus fare is Anaheim, CA, where a single bus ride costs a whopping $4.00. This is more than double the average price and indicates that bus travel in Anaheim is significantly more expensive than in other major US cities.
Missouri is the state with the lowest average bus fare in major cities
Looking at the data from a state-by-state perspective, we can see that the state with the lowest average fares in major cities in Missouri with an average bus fare of $0.50. This is significantly lower than the overall average and suggests that Missouri is a very affordable state for bus travel.
Colorado is the state with the highest average bus fare in major cities
Conversely, the state with the highest average fare is Colorado, where the average fare in major cities is $2.58. This is significantly higher than the overall average and indicates that bus travel in Colorado is relatively expensive compared to other states.
Data Set – The Average Price of A Single Bus Fare In Every Major City In The United States
MO$0.50
| State | Average bus fare |
| GA | $1.00 |
| LA | $1.25 |
| NE | $1.25 |
| TN | $1.35 |
| NC | $1.39 |
| AZ | $1.50 |
| IN | $1.50 |
| NJ | $1.60 |
| MA | $1.70 |
| KS | $1.75 |
| OK | $1.75 |
| TX | $1.80 |
| OH | $2.00 |
| NV | $2.00 |
| VA | $2.00 |
| MD | $2.00 |
| MI | $2.00 |
| FL | $2.05 |
| CA | $2.06 |
| WI | $2.13 |
| MN | $2.25 |
| DC | $2.25 |
| WA | $2.25 |
| IL | $2.25 |
| NY | $2.38 |
| PA | $2.38 |
| OR | $2.50 |
| CO | $2.58 |
Data Set – The Cost Of A Single Bus Fare In Every Major US City
| Name | Adm. | PopulationEstimate (E)
2021-07 |
Cost of a single bus fare |
| Winston-Salem | NC | 250,320 | $1.00 |
| Chesapeake | VA | 251,269 | $2.00 |
| Irving | TX | 254,198 | $2.50 |
| Laredo | TX | 256,153 | $2.00 |
| St. Petersburg | FL | 258,201 | $2.25 |
| Lubbock | TX | 260,993 | $2.00 |
| Fort Wayne | IN | 265,974 | $1.25 |
| Toledo | OH | 268,508 | $1.50 |
| Reno | NV | 268,851 | $2.00 |
| Madison | WI | 269,196 | $2.00 |
| Buffalo | NY | 276,807 | $2.00 |
| Chula Vista | CA | 277,220 | $2.25 |
| Chandler | AZ | 279,458 | $2.00 |
| Jersey City | NJ | 283,927 | $1.60 |
| Durham | NC | 285,527 | $1.00 |
| Plano | TX | 288,253 | $2.50 |
| Lincoln | NE | 292,657 | $1.25 |
| St. Louis | MO | 293,310 | $1.00 |
| Greensboro | NC | 298,263 | $1.50 |
| Pittsburgh | PA | 300,431 | $2.75 |
| St. Paul | MN | 307,193 | $2.00 |
| Newark | NJ | 307,220 | $1.60 |
| Cincinnati | OH | 308,935 | $2.00 |
| Irvine | CA | 309,031 | $2.00 |
| Orlando | FL | 309,154 | $2.00 |
| Santa Ana | CA | 309,441 | $2.00 |
| Riverside | CA | 317,261 | $1.75 |
| Corpus Christi | TX | 317,773 | $0.75 |
| Stockton | CA | 322,120 | $1.50 |
| Henderson | NV | 322,178 | $2.00 |
| Anaheim | CA | 345,940 | $4.00 |
| Cleveland | OH | 367,991 | $2.50 |
| New Orleans | LA | 376,971 | $1.25 |
| Tampa | FL | 387,050 | $2.00 |
| Aurora | CO | 389,347 | $3.00 |
| Arlington | TX | 392,786 | $2.00 |
| Wichita | KS | 395,699 | $1.75 |
| Bakersfield | CA | 407,615 | $1.65 |
| Tulsa | OK | 411,401 | $1.75 |
| Minneapolis | MN | 425,336 | $2.50 |
| Oakland | CA | 433,823 | $2.25 |
| Miami | FL | 439,890 | $2.25 |
| Long Beach | CA | 456,062 | $1.25 |
| Virginia Beach | VA | 457,672 | $2.00 |
| Raleigh | NC | 469,124 | $1.25 |
| Colorado Springs | CO | 483,956 | $1.75 |
| Omaha | NE | 487,300 | $1.25 |
| Atlanta | GA | 496,461 | $1.00 |
| Kansas City | MO | 508,394 | $0.00 |
| Mesa | AZ | 509,475 | $2.00 |
| Sacramento | CA | 525,041 | $2.50 |
| Tucson | AZ | 543,242 | $0.00 |
| Fresno | CA | 544,510 | $1.00 |
| Albuquerque | NM | 562,599 | $0.00 |
| Milwaukee | WI | 569,330 | $2.25 |
| Baltimore | MD | 576,498 | $2.00 |
| Memphis | TN | 628,127 | $1.00 |
| Detroit | MI | 632,464 | $2.00 |
| Portland | OR | 641,162 | $2.50 |
| Las Vegas | NV | 646,790 | $2.00 |
| Boston | MA | 654,776 | $1.70 |
| Washington | DC | 670,050 | $2.25 |
| El Paso | TX | 678,415 | $2.00 |
| Nashville (- Davidson) | TN | 678,851 | $1.70 |
| Oklahoma City | OK | 687,725 | $1.75 |
| Denver | CO | 711,463 | $3.00 |
| Seattle | WA | 733,919 | $2.25 |
| San Francisco | CA | 815,201 | $2.25 |
| Charlotte | NC | 879,709 | $2.20 |
| Indianapolis | IN | 882,039 | $1.75 |
| Columbus | OH | 906,528 | $2.00 |
| Fort Worth | TX | 935,508 | $2.00 |
| Jacksonville | FL | 954,614 | $1.75 |
| Austin | TX | 964,177 | $1.25 |
| San Jose | CA | 983,489 | $2.50 |
| Dallas | TX | 1,288,457 | $2.00 |
| San Diego | CA | 1,381,611 | $2.25 |
| San Antonio | TX | 1,451,853 | $1.30 |
| Philadelphia | PA | 1,576,251 | $2.00 |
| Phoenix | AZ | 1,624,569 | $2.00 |
| Houston | TX | 2,288,250 | $1.25 |
| Chicago | IL | 2,696,555 | $2.25 |
| Los Angeles | CA | 3,849,297 | $1.75 |
| New York | NY | 8,467,513 | $2.75 |
Last Updated on June 4, 2024 by Dana Leigh, Product Manager and Researcher