In major German cities, the cost of what is effectively the same local transport ticket varies considerably depending on where you live. A standard monthly pass for the city centre ranges from €71.40 in Munich to €140.50 in Cologne and Bonn – effectively double the price. This is shown by the ADAC’s 2026 public transport price comparison, which compared ticket prices across 25 major German cities.
Why the prices vary so widely
The main reason lies in the system. In Germany, there is no standardised nationwide public transport fare. Regional transport authorities set the prices themselves for their respective areas. The ADAC attributes the extent of the differences to variations in the level of local public funding for public transport.
For the comparison, the ADAC collected the prices in January and February 2026 directly from the transport authorities’ websites. The comparison covered standard single, day, weekly and monthly tickets for one adult, each valid for the inner city area. Twenty-five major cities with rail-based local transport and a population of at least 300,000 were selected. Erfurt, Magdeburg and Rostock fall just below this threshold and were included to ensure that Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were also represented.
The difference between the cheapest and most expensive city is considerable for every type of ticket. For single tickets, the average is 3.68 euros, with prices ranging from 2.90 euros in Erfurt to 4.20 euros in Augsburg and Munich. The average price for a day ticket is 8.44 euros, ranging from 6.70 euros in Bielefeld to 11.20 euros in Berlin. The average price for a monthly pass is 103.33 euros.
Munich: cheapest monthly pass, most expensive single ticket
The case of Munich is particularly telling. The city has both the most expensive single ticket (€4.20, on a par with Augsburg) and the cheapest monthly pass (€71.40) of all 25 cities surveyed. So, those who travel only occasionally pay the most there, whilst those who commute regularly pay the least. Which ticket is the cheapest therefore depends not only on the city, but also on how often someone travels.
The new benchmark is the Deutschlandticket
Since 1 January 2026, the Deutschlandticket, which is valid nationwide, has cost 63 euros a month. It was launched in 2023 at 49 euros, was subsequently increased to 58 euros and, according to the federal government, is currently used by around 14.5 million people. It has thus shifted the pricing structure in local transport. All 25 traditional monthly travelcards compared are more expensive than the Deutschlandticket. Even the cheapest one, the Munich monthly travelcard at 71.40 euros, is more expensive, whilst the most expensive ones in Cologne and Bonn, at 140.50 euros, cost more than double.
The fact that regional monthly tickets are still available is down to additional benefits that the Deutschlandticket does not offer. These include, for example, the ability to transfer the ticket to other people or to travel with additional adults, children, bicycles or dogs. For people who make use of these options, a traditional monthly ticket can be good value for money despite its higher price.
Rising prices, an uncertain future
Prices are on the rise. Compared with the latest ADAC survey from 2021, the monthly tickets examined have become 22 to 58 per cent more expensive, depending on the city, with Duisburg recording the sharpest increase. Bucking the trend, Hamburg reduced the price of its monthly ticket by around 26 per cent, according to the Hamburg Transport Association, in response to the Deutschlandticket.
The price of the Deutschlandticket is also unlikely to remain at 63 euros. According to the NDR, from 2027 a cost index is set to determine price developments, replacing the annual political debate on the ticket price. For regular users, the Deutschlandticket remains the cheapest option for the time being, whilst the significant price differences for standard tickets show just how much one’s place of residence still determines the cost of everyday travel.
