How Much Is MARTA Bus Fare? | What $2.50 Covers

A standard MARTA bus ride costs $2.50 and includes up to four free transfers within three hours when the same payment method is used.

Paying twice is the avoidable mistake: a $2.50 MARTA bus fare already covers a one-way trip plus eligible transfers between buses and trains. The fare is the same whether the trip stays on a bus or continues onto MARTA rail.

The payment method matters as much as the price. A contactless bank card, mobile wallet, physical or virtual Breeze card, or Breeze ticket can preserve the transfer benefit. Cash paid on the bus buys only that one ride and does not include a transfer.

MARTA Bus Fare And What One Ride Includes

MARTA charges $2.50 for a standard one-way ride on local buses, trains, Rapid service, and MARTA Reach. The fare includes up to four transfers during a three-hour window.

A transfer can connect one bus to another or a bus to rail without another $2.50 charge. The system tracks the payment credential, so a rider must tap the exact same card, phone wallet, or Breeze product at every transfer point.

Streetcar exception: The Atlanta Streetcar costs $1 each way, and MARTA bus or rail transfers do not apply to Streetcar rides.

How Do MARTA Bus Transfers Work?

MARTA transfers are free for one-way travel when each leg begins within three hours of the first tap. Up to four transfers are included, but they cannot be used to make a round trip or leave and later reboard the same route as a new trip.

• Tap the same physical debit or credit card for every leg.
• Use the same mobile wallet device for every leg.
• Do not switch between a plastic bank card and that card inside a phone wallet.
• Keep using the same physical or virtual Breeze card or ticket.
• Expect a new fare when the transfer window has expired.

A bank card and its mobile-wallet version may draw from the same account, but MARTA reads them as separate payment methods. Switching between them can trigger another $2.50 charge.

MARTA Fare Options At A Glance

MARTA offers single rides, multi-day passes, trip bundles, reduced fares, and free rides for qualifying young children. The right choice depends on how many paid rides the traveler expects to take.

MARTA lists these prices and transfer limits on its official fares and transfers page. Fare media can add a separate cost: a reloadable physical Breeze card costs $2, while a single-use paper Breeze ticket costs $1.

Ways To Pay On A MARTA Bus

MARTA buses accept contactless bank cards, mobile wallets, physical or virtual Breeze cards, Breeze tickets, and exact cash. Riders seeking free transfers should use a tappable payment method rather than cash.

1. Contactless bank card: Tap a supported debit or credit card on the orange bus validator.
2. Mobile wallet: Tap a phone or smartwatch using Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet.
3. Virtual Breeze card: Add and load a virtual Breeze card inside a supported mobile wallet.
4. Physical Breeze card or ticket: Tap the new orange Breeze media on the validator.
5. Cash: Pay exact change on the bus; no change or free transfer is provided.

Old silver Breeze cards, old tickets, and the Breeze Mobile 2.0 app stopped working after the 2026 fare-system change. The current Breeze Mobile app manages accounts and loads fare, but the app itself is not tapped as payment.

When Does A MARTA Pass Cost Less?

A 1-Day Pass starts saving money on the fourth paid ride, since four single fares cost $10. Longer passes make sense when the planned number of rides reaches each pass’s break-even point.

• The $14 2-Day Pass beats single fares from the sixth ride.
• The $16 3-Day Pass beats single fares from the seventh ride.
• The $19 4-Day Pass beats single fares from the eighth ride.
• The $23.75 7-Day Pass beats single fares from the tenth ride.
• The $95 30-Day Pass matches 38 single fares and saves money from ride 39.

Free transfers should not be counted as separate paid rides. A bus-to-train connection within the three-hour window remains part of the original $2.50 fare, so occasional riders may spend less by paying per trip.

Reduced Fares And Free Child Rides

Eligible riders pay $1 per trip with a Reduced Fare Breeze card, while qualifying children ride free with a paying adult. MARTA limits the child benefit to two children per adult.

The child must be age five or younger and no taller than 46 inches. A child who is six or older, taller than 46 inches, or beyond the two-child allowance needs the regular fare.

Reduced Fare Breeze cards are available to adults age 65 or older, Medicare cardholders, and people with qualifying disabilities. Eligibility documents and photo identification are required before the discounted card is issued.

What To Pay For Your Trip

Most occasional riders should pay $2.50 with a contactless card, mobile wallet, or Breeze product and use the included transfers. Cash works for a single bus ride, but it loses the free-transfer benefit.

• One simple ride: Pay the $2.50 standard fare.
• Bus plus train: Pay once and use the same payment method for the transfer.
• Four or more rides in 24 hours: The $9 1-Day Pass costs less than separate fares.
• Twenty planned trips: The $42.50 20-Trip Pass saves $7.50.
• Eligible reduced-fare rider: Apply for the $1 Reduced Fare Breeze rate before traveling.
• Young child with an adult: Confirm the age, height, and two-child limit for a free ride.

The simplest rule is to tap one payment method throughout the trip. That keeps the standard cost at $2.50 while preserving every eligible bus and rail transfer.