Public transport users in seven Brazilian capitals started 2025 with the most expensive public transport fares: Belo Horizonte, Florianópolis, Natal, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo.
The increase in tickets has already been weighing on the pockets of passengers in some cities since the end of December.
1 – Belo Horizonte
In Belo Horizonte, bus fares were readjusted this Wednesday (1st). The fare for short lines increased to R$2.75 and for conventional lines, R$5.75. In the latter case, the increase was R$0.50. The last adjustment took place in December 2023.
In an official statement, Belo Horizonte city hall justifies the increase. “The readjustment is necessary for the continuity of investments in public transport and improvement of services”. The 12 lines that run in the towns and favelas of the capital of Minas Gerais will remain free.
2 – Florianópolis
The bus fare in Florianópolis was readjusted this Wednesday as well. The new price increased to R$5.75 for users of the Integrated Mobility System Citizen Card, which can be purchased at any ticket office in the integration terminals in the capital of Santa Catarina. For payments in cash or QRCode, the value is R$6.90, which is the most expensive bus ticket in the country.
3 – Christmas
In Natal, since Sunday (29), the bus fare costs R$4.90. The value adjustment was approved by the Municipal Transport and Urban Mobility Council (CMTMU) on December 26th. For neighborhood lines, the entire ticket price was R$4.30.
In a note, the council stated that in order to restore 8.88% in the fare, it took into account all the inputs that make up the fare spreadsheet of the Public Passenger Transport System, such as the price of diesel oil, tires, lubricants, salaries of drivers, among other items.
4- Recife
Bus tickets in Greater Recife will be readjusted next Sunday (5). The Superior Metropolitan Transport Council (CSTM) approved, on Monday (30), the Pernambuco government’s proposal for a 4.29% increase in bus fares in the metropolitan region of the capital of Pernambuco in the so-called Ring A, used by more 80% of passengers.
The percentage of adjustment announced was the lowest among the capitals that increased public transport fares between the end of 2024 and the beginning of this new year.
With the decision, the Ring A transport fare increases from R$4.10 to R$4.28 (which can be rounded up to R$4.30). Since 2022, ticket prices have not been adjusted.
5 – Rio de Janeiro
The passage of public transport in Rio de Janeiro will rise to R$ 4.70starting next Sunday. The announcement was made shortly after the inauguration ceremony of re-elected mayor Eduardo Paes. The authorization for the adjustment was published in the municipality’s Official Gazette this Thursday (2).
According to the publication, the single fare is valid for BRT services; by VLT; passenger transport by bus and complementary community service, the so-called cabritinhos, such as kombis and similar vehicles that operate in places that are difficult to access or without regular transport lines.
The increase of R$0.40 is equivalent to monetary correction according to the Broad National Consumer Price Index – IPCA – considered the country’s official inflation – referring to the two years in which the tariff remained without adjustment. The last one was in January 2023.
Urban train fares in Rio de Janeiro will go from R$7.10 to R$7.60starting February 2nd. In a statement on the internet, SuperVia, the concessionaire that manages transport, states that the annual adjustment considers fixed costs “impacted by inflation, such as energy, maintenance of trains and the railway track, acquisition of imported parts and equipment to replace trains, among others.”
This adjustment does not affect passengers who are entitled to the Single Intercity Ticket (BUI).
6 – Salvador
Starting this Saturday (4), Salvador’s public transport fare will increase by R$0.40 – an increase of 7.69% – and the fare will rise from R$5.20 to R$5.60 for regular buses, for buses from the Local Integrated Transport Subsystem (SLIT), known as yellow, and the BRT.
The new value was published in an ordinance from the Regulatory and Supervision Agency for Public Services of Salvador (Arsal) in the Official Gazette of the Municipality, this Thursday (2).
In a public statement, the city of Salvador justifies that the new value is equivalent to the inflation accumulated since the last adjustment, in November 2023. “The new value takes into account the results of the technical studies of the tariff review for the four-year period 2023-2026, developed by Arsal.” The local government states that the new tariff will be applied throughout 2025
Due to integration into the transport system, passengers who have the Salvador Card can use up to three of these modes, and also the metro, paying just one fare.
7 – São Paulo
The new São Paulo municipal bus fare will come into force from Monday (6). The value will go from R$4.40 to R$5which corresponds to an increase of 13.6%. The measure defined by the Municipal Traffic and Transport Council (CMTT) was upheld by the São Paulo Court of Justice this Wednesday, after parliamentarians challenged the new tariff.
The previous bus fare (R$4.40) has not been adjusted since 2020.
However, free bus tickets on Sundays and holidays continue in the capital of São Paulo. The Domingão Tarifa Zero is the right of all passengers with the Bilhete Único, even tourists. According to the city hall, the benefit is valid for buses in the city of São Paulo and does not include rail transport or the intercity system.
And it’s not just on the bus that the fare increase will be felt in São Paulo. Also starting Monday, the State government announced an increase from R$5 to R$5.20 in train and metro line fares. And the transport voucher increases to R$ 5.70.
Other cities
In Aracaju, the Greater Aracaju bus fare was readjusted by 11% this Wednesday, but Law 6,111/24, sanctioned at the end of December, extends the local government subsidy for public transport fares and free access to people with disabilities (PWD) and their companions. As a result, the fare was maintained without an increase for users of the public transport system in Aracaju, Barra dos Coqueiros, Socorro and São Cristóvão.
Outside the Brazilian capitals, the increase in public transport fares can also be seen in the cities of São Paulo. Among them are: Barueri, Caieiras, Carapicuíba, Campinas, Ferraz de Vasconcelos, Itapevi, Itaquaquecetuba, Jandira, Osasco, Ribeirão Pires, Santo André, Suzano, Taboão da Serra, in addition to the ABD Metropolitan Corridor of the Metropolitan Urban Transport Company of São Paulo (EMTU), on the lines connecting the São Mateus/Jabaquara terminals; Diadema/Brooklin. During the month, the adjustment will be made to tickets for Arujá and Mauá, in the interior of the state.
The increase in ticket prices still affects residents of Caxias do Sul (RS) and Contagem (MG).
