🚇 Travel card or pay-as-you-go: which option is more profitable
So, what's the big question for the city budget? Should you go for the travel card or pay as you go? The great news is that the answer depends on how many times you actually travel per week, whether you have a "mixed" schedule (2-3 days in the office) and whether discounts are available. I'm thrilled to share the clear calculation method below! It's so user-friendly, with an interactive insert that allows you to see the cost/month vs. trips/week schedule. There are also examples by city and a section on student discounts. And, to top it all off, there's a handy CTA and an expanded FAQ.
🧮 How to calculate payback
- Determine the number of trips per week. One trip = one validation (a round trip is 2 trips). If you make transfers within the ticket's validity period, it is still considered one trip.
- Convert to a month. Let's assume the average length of a month is 4.33 weeks. Then the monthly cost when paying per trip is:
PAYG/month = trips/week × 4.33 × price of one trip. - Compare with a travel card. For a 30-day card, this is simply the price of the card. For a 14-day/7-day card, multiply by the "per month" coefficient (≈ 30/14 and 30/7).
- Break-even point. When PAYG/month ≈ pass price, the pass becomes more profitable. In the calculation below, we will show it with a vertical line and the number "trips/week".
Grey areas. If your schedule is irregular, use 24-hour/7-day tickets during busy weeks and pay per trip during quiet weeks. This reduces overpayment.
Numbers are DEMO. In production they come from the admin panel / calculator.
🗺️ Examples: Oslo / Bergen / Trondheim / Stavanger
● Oslo. In large, connected areas, the break-even point is often in the range of 20–26 trips/month. With 2–3 days in the office, many people come out slightly ahead on a monthly pass; if the week is "sparse," it is more convenient to alternate between 24-hour tickets and pay-per-trip.
● Bergen. The weather makes cycling less reliable, and the share of PT is higher. If you travel 3 days a week and make transfers within the time window, a monthly pass is usually more cost-effective.
● Trondheim. Short commutes and student scenarios reduce the total number of trips. Many students and interns remain in the black with pay-as-you-go for 1-2 days on campus, but for 3 days, a pass starts to win out.
● Stavanger. For remote work with infrequent trips, PAYG is often cheaper, but for cycles with frequent meetings, it is beneficial to purchase 7-day/14-day cards for "busy" weeks and switch back.
These examples are guidelines for navigation. The exact break-even point depends on zones, transfers and profile (adult/student) — use the interactive insert above.
| City/Operator | Single | 24 h | 7 days | 14 days | 30 days (adult) | 30 days (student)* |
|---|
*Student price = adult price − discount. Values below are DEMO for layout.
🎓 Student discounts
A student profile usually reduces the cost of travel passes by a fixed percentage. This is particularly noticeable in "borderline" schedules: where it is still profitable for an adult to pay per trip, a student already comes out ahead with a monthly pass. However, single tickets do not always have a discounted price, so in mixed schedules it is useful to combine a student travel card with 24-hour tickets for "busy" days. Always estimate the actual number of trips over the last 4-6 weeks — this will help you understand which scenario is consistently more advantageous.
FAQ
One trip is one ticket validation within a time window. Transfers made within this window do not increase the counter. If your route includes two transfers within 60–90 minutes, it is still considered one trip.
Schedules often fluctuate: holidays, business trips, working from home. During quiet weeks, use 24-hour tickets and pay per trip, and during busy weeks, activate a 7/14-day or monthly travel card. It is important to look at the last 4-6 weeks, not just one week.
Take the price of the pass and divide it by (the price of one trip × 4.33). This will give you the number of trips per week at which the pass will break even with pay-as-you-go. Anything above that is where the pass becomes profitable.
Even a 25-40% discount significantly shifts the break-even point. Where it is more profitable for an adult to pay per trip, a student can come out ahead with a monthly or 14-day pass, especially with 2-3 office days.
Be honest: how many trips/week do you have left on your PT? If it's below the break-even point, pay per trip. It's often beneficial to keep the "cycling season" with pay-per-trip and return to a travel card during the cold months.
Prices and break-even points depend on zones. If you have a long trip outside your "home" zones once a week, consider it separately — this may shift the result in favour of a travel card or, conversely, leave PAYG winning.
In months with infrequent trips, do not purchase a monthly travel card. Use 7/14-day cards for active periods and pay per trip the rest of the time. This way, you avoid overpaying and keep transport in your "variable expenses".
