Paying for transit should be affordable and seamless. NITA, CTA, Metra, and Pace are working to make it easier and cheaper for riders to take advantage of the region’s transit system.
The Regional Day Pass (RDP) can be purchased only in the Ventra app. Riders can purchase a Metra Day Pass with their zone of choice and add on a CTA/Pace Day Pass.
You can pay for transit with a credit card, debit card, or your smart phone. Ventra is the region’s fare payment system, which makes it faster and easier to board and pay. Ventra Cards and passes can be added to an iPhone, Apple Watch, or to an Android device with Google Wallet. New Ventra Cards and disposable Single-Ride or 1-Day Tickets are available at every Ventra vending machine and retailers around the region.
Metra calculates fares based on distance, using a zone system. Check your zone on Metra's website to calculate the cost of your trip. You can buy Metra tickets and passes at Metra vending machines, in the Ventra app or pay conductors on board the train at outlying stations.
The cost of your ride will depend on day, distance, type of transit, and whether or not you qualify for reduced cost transit. Explore the information below to find out how much your ride will cost.
Cash is accepted on buses, no transfers are issued when paying in cash.
| Ventra: Full Fare | Ventra: Reduced Fare ** | Cash Fare | Cash Reduced** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTA 'L' train fare | $2.50* | $1.25* | $2.50* | $1.25* |
| CTA Bus fare | $2.25 | $1.10 | $2.50 | $1.25 |
| Pace Bus fare | $2.00 | $1.00 | $2.25 | $1.10 |
| Pace Premium Bus Fare | $4.50 | $2.25 | $4.50 | $2.25 |
| CTA/Pace Transfers Up to two additional rides within two hours | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Pace Transfer to Premium Route Up to two additional rides within two hours | $2.50 | $1.25 | N/A*** | N/A*** |
*Load cash at ‘L’ stations onto a Ventra Card, personal contactless bankcard, or buy a Single-Ride ticket. Single-Ride Ventra Tickets cost $3, which provides up to 2 transfers within 2 hours and includes a limited-use media fee. Buy new Ventra Cards or Tickets at any Ventra Vending Machine.
A special $5 fare applies when boarding the CTA Blue Line at O’Hare paying transit value or buying a Single-Ride Ticket (the special fare does not apply when using a pass to ride).
** Passengers with NITA-issued Reduced Fare permits and children ages 7 to 11. Children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying customer. Call NITA at 312-913-3110 for more information about NITA Reduced Fare permits.
*** Transfer only available when paying with mobile pay or contactless card.
Visit transitchicago.com for CTA fare details.
Visit pacebus.com for Pace fare details.
Passes offer unlimited rides on CTA and/or Pace when activated with first use. Loaded onto a transit account or contactless bankcard.
| Passes | Full | Reduced* |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Day CTA/Pace Pass | $5 | --- |
| 3-Day CTA/Pace Pass | $15 | --- |
| 7-Day CTA/Pace Pass | $20 | --- |
| 30-Day Pace Pass | $60 | $30 |
| 30-Day Pace Premium Pass | $140 | $70 |
| 30-Day CTA/Pace Pass | $75 | $35 |
* Available only to riders with NITA-issued Reduced Fare permits.
Visit transitchicago.com for CTA fare details.
Visit pacebus.com for Pace fare details.
Most Metra tickets and passes can be purchased from Metra vending machines at all downtown Metra rail stations and outlying stations where machines are available. All tickets and passes can be purchased using the Ventra app. Fares are based on distance traveled. The tables below are for the price of tickets and passes based on zones of travel, with downtown Chicago in Zone 1.
Please Note: Trips not going to Zone 1 should use the pricing listed in the 2–4 column. Trips in Zone 1 should use the pricing listed in the 1–2 column.
Effective February 1, 2024.
| Zone | 1 – 2 | 1 – 3 | 1 – 4 | 2 – 4 |
| One-Way | $3.75 | $5.50 | $6.75 | $3.75 |
| Reduced One-Way* | $1.75 | $2.75 | $3.25 | $1.75 |
* Reduced fare tickets are available for seniors ages 65 or over, qualified people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients who have an NITA-issued Reduced Fare Permit. Reduced fares are also available for low-income riders who have an NITA-issued Access card; K-12 students with school ID and active duty military personnel with military ID.
Metra offers Day Passes and Monthly Unlimited Ride Passes for unlimited rides in a calendar month.
Day Passes are good for unlimited rides all day between selected zones. Passes expire at 3 a.m. the next day. Five day passes that can be used on any five days within a 90-day period and are available only in the Ventra app.
Day Pass holders can also purchase the Regional Day Pass, offering unlimited rides on CTA and Pace. The Regional Day Pass can be purchased only in the Ventra app.
Effective February 1, 2024.
| Zone | 1 – 2 | 1 – 3 | 1 – 4 | 2 – 4 |
| Day Pass | $7.50 | $11.00 | $13.50 | $7.50 |
| Reduced Day Pass* | $3.50 | $5.50 | $6.50 | $3.50 |
| Day Pass 5-Pack | $35.75 | $52.25 | $64.25 | $35.75 |
| Reduced Day Pass 5-Pack* | $17.50 | $26.00 | $32.00 | $17.50 |
* Reduced fare passes are available for seniors ages 65 or over, qualified people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients who have an NITA-issued Reduced Fare Permit. Reduced fares are also available for low-income riders who have an NITA-issued Access card; K-12 students with school ID and active duty military personnel with military ID.
Visit Metra's website to view the Full Fare Chart.
The $10 Weekend Pass is good for unlimited rides on all Metra lines all day until 3 a.m. the next day following the weekend. Passes can be purchased only in the Ventra app.
Monthly passes are valid for unlimited rides in a calendar month. Passes are available for purchase from the 20th to the 12th of each month. They expire at noon the first business day of the next month.
Monthly pass holders can also purchase the Regional Connect Pass for $30, offering unlimited rides on CTA and Pace, with no time or day restrictions, for an entire month. The Regional Connect pass can be purchased only in the Ventra app. See transitchicago.com and metra.com for further details.
Effective February 1, 2024.
| Zone | 1 – 2 | 1 – 3 | 1 – 4 | 2 – 4 |
| Monthly | $75.00 | $110.00 | $135.00 | $75.00 |
| Reduced Monthly* | $37.50 | $55.00 | $67.50 | $37.50 |
* Reduced fare passes are available for seniors ages 65 or over, qualified people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients who have an NITA-issued Reduced Fare Permit. Reduced fares are also available for low-income riders who have an NITA-issued Access card; K-12 students with school ID and active duty military personnel with military ID.
Visit Metra's website to view the Full Fare Chart.
Ride CTA, Metra* and Pace** services across the six-county NITA region with a new Regional Day Pass. Starting June 20, 2025, the Regional Day Pass (RDP) can be purchased only in the Ventra app. Riders can purchase a Metra Day Pass with their zone of choice and add on a CTA/Pace Day Pass. See Metra.com for further details.
The combined price of a Metra Day Pass and the RDP add-on is listed below.
| Metra Zones | Full Fare/Reduced Fare*** RDP Weekday | Full Fare RDP Saturday/Sunday/Holidays |
1-1, 1-2, 2-3-4 | $10/$6 | $9.50 |
| 1-3 | $13.50/$8 | $9.50 |
| 1-4 | $16/$9 | $9.50 |
The RDP on CTA and Pace will expire 24 hours after activation.
Metra monthly pass holders can also purchase the Regional Connect Pass for $30. This offers unlimited rides on CTA and Pace, with no time or day restrictions, for an entire month. The Regional Connect pass can be purchased only in the Ventra app. See Metra.com for further details.
*On Metra, Day Passes are good for unlimited rides all day between selected zones. Passes expire at 3 a.m. the next day.
** On CTA and Pace, Day passes are good for unlimited rides until 24 hours. Pace premium route fare surcharge is not included in the RDP price.
*** Reduced fare passes are available for seniors ages 65 or over, qualified people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients who have an NITA-issued Reduced Fare Permit. Reduced fares are also available for low-income riders who have an NITA-issued Access card; K-12 students with school ID and active duty military personnel with military ID.
Children pay reduced fares on CTA, Metra and Pace based on their age. On CTA, children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying customer. On Metra and Pace, children under the age of 7 are not permitted to travel without a fare paying customer.
Ages 7-11 | Under 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| CTA | Reduced Fare | Free with fare-paying customer |
| Pace | Reduced Fare | Free with fare-paying adult* |
| Metra | Half Fare | Free with fare-paying adult** |
* Up to two children free per adult.
** Up to three children free per adult; on weekends children age 7-11 are free
Paying for Children with Ventra
CTA and Pace Bus: Tell the bus driver you are paying for a child before you pay. Bus drivers will press a special button to put the reader to put it in a special mode where the next fare deducted is a reduced fare.
CTA Rail: Ask the ‘L’ station attendant for assistance. The ‘L’ station attendant will touch a special card to the reader in a special mode where the next fare deducted is a reduced fare. A Ventra Card can be used to pay for any combination of up to 7 riders, regardless of whether they're Full Fare or qualifying Reduced Fare riders.
Visit transitchicago.com for more information.
Metra Family Fares
The Metra Family Fares program allows up to three children, 11 years old and under, to ride for free with one fare-paying adult. This program is valid through Labor Day. See Metra.com for further details.
CTA operates the Student Reduced Fare programs for children ages 7-20. Students obtain permits through their schools or on the CTA website. Many college and universities participate in the U-Pass program which provides unlimited rides to full-time students. Find out if your school participates here.
Pace student reduced fares are valid weekdays for student travel to and from school activities. Pace provides the Campus Connection Pass for college students. This pass is valid for unlimited rides on Pace regular fixed route buses and On Demand every day of the week at any time of the day. Additional Pace student fare information is available on the Pace website.
Metra allows full-time students enrolled in an accredited grade school or high school to purchase a reduced one-way, 10-ride or monthly pass. Information on purchasing student tickets is available on the Metra website.
| Fare | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|
| CTA | $0.75 Free transfer | Ages 7-20 with valid CTA riding permit |
| Pace | $0.75 Free Transfer | Grade school and high school students. Valid school ID needed with cash. |
| Metra | Half fare | Grade school and high school students. Valid school ID needed when purchasing and using ticket. |
South Shore Line fares are based on distance traveled. There are four basic ticket types: One-Way, 10-Ride, 25-Ride, and Monthly tickets. Reduced Fares are available for Senior Citizens and Customers with Disabilities. Please note that Metra Tickets and Passes are not valid on South Shore Line trains. Visit mysouthshoreline.com for NICTD fare options and details.
