The Diary

How to Pay for the MRT and Buses: SimplyGo, Bank Cards and Concession Passes

Posted by eduKate Asia on

By The Diary desk · Last verified 28 September 2026

Tap a contactless bank card or your phone at the gantry or on the bus, and the fare is charged to your card later. That’s SimplyGo. You can also use a SimplyGo EZ-Link card, or a concession card if you qualify. Adult fares are the same whichever you use.

Quick facts

  • Contactless American Express, Mastercard, NETS and Visa cards work, as do cards in a mobile wallet.
  • You pay the same fare as with a travel card.
  • Fares are added up and posted to your bank later.
  • Cards issued outside Singapore pay an admin fee.
  • Tap in and out with the same card or phone.
  • Buses take cash, but at higher fares and with no transfers.

What counts as SimplyGo?

SimplyGo covers fare payment by contactless bank card (American Express, Mastercard, NETS or Visa), by one of those cards in a mobile wallet, or by a SimplyGo EZ-Link or SimplyGo Concession card. When you tap a bank card, the reader displays “Bank Card Usage”.

How does the charge reach my bank?

For American Express, Visa and NETS cards, a day’s fares are added together and posted to your bank after three days. Mastercard charges are grouped for up to five days, or until S$15 is reached, whichever comes first. On your statement they appear as “BUS/MRT”.

Do I need an account?

Not to travel: you just tap. Register a SimplyGo account if you want to see each trip and what you were charged.

What about EZ-Link cards?

A SimplyGo EZ-Link card charges the adult fare and is sold at any SimplyGo Ticket Office. Pair it with the SimplyGo app for the account features.

I’m visiting. Can I use my own card?

Yes, but an admin fee applies to cards issued outside Singapore. Your bank may add an overseas transaction fee on top. If you’re staying for a while, compare that with buying a SimplyGo EZ-Link card.

Which passes exist?

Monthly travel passes are sold for adults, seniors, students, persons with disabilities and Workfare concession cardholders. In December 2025, pass prices were cut by up to 5 per cent, and the adult pass now costs S$122. The concession groups also pay lower fares per ride; the fares guide on this desk has the tables.

Phones and watches

Tap in and out with the same device and the same card. If you tap in with your phone and out with the physical card, the system sees two different journeys.

The WahLiao Verdict

Tap the card you already carry, one card per person, and use the same one for both ends of the ride. Visitors should check their bank’s foreign-transaction fee before relying on a home-country card for a week of rides.

Questions people ask

Can two people share one card?

No. Each person taps their own card.

Do I earn rewards on transit fares?

It depends on your bank. Some banks treat transit as an ordinary retail purchase, while American Express International cards earn no rewards on it.

What if I forget to tap out?

You’re charged the maximum fare.

Can I pay cash?

On buses, yes, but at a higher fare and without transfers.

Sources: LTA, TravelSmart; American Express Singapore, SimplyGo FAQ; Standard Chartered Singapore, SimplyGo FAQ; PTC, Fare Review Exercise 2025; Land Transport Guru.

Read next: MRT and Bus Fares in Singapore · Taxi, Grab or Gojek in Singapore · Back to The Diary

For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.