The most expensive single bus ticket in Spain is purchased in Barcelona (2.4 euros) compared to the cheapest in Lugo (0.64). On average, in 2023 the urban bus trip costs 1.25 euros in the country, which is 0.8% more than in 2022.
This is reflected in the annual comparison of urban bus fares carried out by FACUA-Consumers in Action in 57 Spanish cities. Of the total number of cities analyzed, five have increased the price of the single ticket in the last year. In Vigo this increase is 10%, going from 1.35 in 2022 to 1.49 euros in 2023. It has also increased by 8.3% in A Coruña (from 1.20 to 1.30 euros), a 7 .1% in Zaragoza and Pamplona (from 1.40 to 1.50 euros) and 6.7% in Tarragona (from 1.50 to 1.60 euros).
The monthly card system, a bonus that allows the user to have unlimited trips during those 30 days, is offered in 43 of the 57 cities included in the study and 39 of these 43 cities offer a bonus ranging between 50 and 100% . The vast majority apply a 50% discount, Soria and Madrid a 60% discount on the usual rate, while in Mérida, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Palma de Mallorca it is free until the end of this year 2023.
The average price of the monthly pass in Spanish cities is currently 16.25 euros, 52% less than last year 2022, which was 33.78 euros. Among the most expensive passes are Logroño (25 euros) and Ávila (22 euros), precisely two of the four cities that are not applying any type of discount on urban transport.
Traveling with a bus voucher or similar wallet card that allows transfer costs on average in our country 45% less than in 2022. The analysis considers the usual rates for each territory, taking into account the discounts applied exceptionally by the Government and the respective town councils and autonomous communities that range between 30% and 50% reduction.
The general secretary of Facua pointed out that a user can save, on average, about 0.82 euros per trip if they use a bus pass instead of a single or one-way ticket, taking into account that no discount is applied to these tickets.
The FACUA study shows that Barcelona and Madrid are the cities with the most expensive fares when using a bus voucher or similar wallet card with transfers (see tables). In the case of Barcelona, the price of the trip is 1.14 euros, taking into account that the 10-trip T-Casual Card does not have a bonus. In the Madrid capital, the price of the trip with transfer remains at 0.91 euros despite the 50% reduction in the usual price.
At the other extreme, the cheapest trips for this category are found in Mérida and Palma de Mallorca, where the bonus is 100% and are therefore free. They are followed by Burgos (0.24 euros), Murcia (0.28 euros), Salamanca (0.29 euros), and Santiago de Compostela, Vitoria and Segovia (all 0.30 euros).
On average, traveling by bus using a similar rechargeable voucher or card with transfer (the one offered by 50 of the 57 cities analyzed) costs 0.43 euros this year, down from 0.77 euros in 2022 (45.1% less) . Of the 50 that have this type of transport title, 46 have been applying discounts during this year 2023, mostly of 50% (30% from the Government and 20% from the town councils). In San Sebastián and Murcia, this reduction in the usual price reaches 60%.
