Mexico City public transport: tickets, passes and apps

For almost every visitor the answer is the same: get the rechargeable Mobility Integrated Card (Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada) on day one and top it up as you go. One card covers Metro, Metrobús, Trolebús, the light rail and the Cablebús, so you are not buying a separate ticket for each system.

The card wins on time, not on price. A single ride costs the same whether you tap a card or buy a paper ticket at a staffed window, but the window queue at a busy station can eat 10 minutes. If you are staying three or more days and riding more than twice a day, the card is the default.

There is no unlimited day pass for Metro or Metrobús, so a 'day pass' question really means: how many rides will I take? Two rides a day is MXN 10–12; five rides is MXN 25–30. Budget by rides, not by days.

Fares are set per system and per ride, and they are among the cheapest in any large city. The figures below are 2026 estimates; confirm at the station window because fares change with each budget cycle.

Children under about five usually ride free, and students and seniors with a Mexican credential pay less on some systems. Foreign visitors pay the standard fare.

The card is the payment method. Buy or top it up at Metro station ticket windows (taquillas) and at recharge machines inside stations; machines take coins and small notes, and some accept cards. Keep the card away from your phone and other cards so the tap reads cleanly.

Contactless bank cards and phone wallets are not accepted at Metro or Metrobús gates. This is the single most common mistake visitors make: the gate will not open for your Visa tap.

Apps help with planning, not paying. Use a mapping app for routes and a ride-hailing app (Uber, DiDi, Cabify) for door-to-door trips; the transport apps show schedules and service alerts but you still tap the physical card.

There are no fare zones on the Metro or Metrobús: one fare covers the whole network, however far you ride. That makes long cross-city trips, such as Centro to Coyoacán or Chapultepec to the airport, unusually cheap.

The systems are integrated, so the same card works across them, but each entry is charged separately. Changing from Metro to Metrobús means paying again, so plan routes that stay on one system when you can.

Some outer routes, such as certain Metrobús lines and the suburban rail, may have their own fare or card rules; check at the station before you rely on the card.

Benito Juárez (MEX) has its own Metro stop, Terminal Aérea on Line 5, about a five-minute walk from Terminal 1. The ride to the centre costs MXN 5 and takes roughly 30–40 minutes, but Line 5 is slow and crowded with luggage at rush hour.

For most arrivals with bags, a taxi or app is the practical choice: about 30–60 minutes to Centro or Roma depending on traffic, and MXN 80–250 by app. Use the official taxi counters inside the terminal or a ride-hailing app; ignore touts offering rides in the arrivals hall.

If you land at Felipe Ángeles (NLU), about 45 km north of the centre, the Metro is not a realistic option with luggage; take an official taxi or app. From either airport, buy your transport card at the first Metro station you use rather than at the airport.

Rush hour is the main thing to plan around. Trains and buses are packed between about 07:00 and 09:30 and again from 17:30 to 20:00; if you can shift a trip by an hour, do. Women-only carriages are at the front of Metro trains and are marked on the platform.

Watch your pockets in crowds, keep your bag in front of you, and do not hold your phone out near the doors. The Metro is generally safe for visitors during the day; late at night, take an app taxi instead.

Keep the card for your whole stay and hand it to a friend or leave it at the hotel rather than throwing it away; it is rechargeable and reusable on your next trip.