Annual public transit costs in New York City, particularly for the PATH train, place it among the priciest metro systems globally, according to a study by digital financial services company Remitly. The research analyzed the cost of single tickets and annual passes across 94 metro systems worldwide.
The London Underground emerged as the most expensive, with an estimated annual ticket cost of approximately $2,817 USD. The New York PATH train followed closely, ranking second globally with an annual commuting cost of $1,578.
Remitly's study calculated these costs by considering average wages in each city, using net national income per capita data from the World Bank. Researchers factored in various elements, including using midpoint values for systems with variable pricing based on zones, considering only metro zones for integrated transport networks, and extrapolating annual costs from monthly passes for systems that do not offer yearly options.
Beyond the direct ticket prices, some commuters in the New York area face even higher expenses. One blogger noted that combining NJ Transit trains with the PATH and potentially a ferry can lead to annual commuting costs of $6,625 to $7,500, in addition to lengthy commute times.
While New York City's own MTA subway system, now using the OMNY fare system, was not explicitly listed among the top global offenders for annual passes in the Remitly study, analysis suggests its costs can still be substantial. A commuter taking two subway rides daily could spend around $2,190 annually. However, the OMNY system's weekly fare cap of $35, which allows unlimited rides after 12 paid trips in a week, could reduce the annual cost to approximately $1,820 for frequent riders.
For single ticket prices, the Lausanne Metro in Switzerland was found to be the most expensive at about $7.22 per ride, followed by Copenhagen's Metro at $6.54. These figures highlight the significant financial commitment required for daily public transportation in major global urban centers.