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Fares & payment
PRONTO is the single fare system for MTS and NCTD — Trolley, bus, COASTER and SPRINTER. The key thing visitors miss: you never have to buy a pass, because fares cap automatically.
Last updated
PRONTO is San Diego's transit fare system. A one-way Trolley or bus ride is $2.50, fares cap at $6 per day and $72 per month, and you can pay with the free PRONTO app, a $2 plastic PRONTO card, or by tapping a contactless credit card or phone wallet on the validator.
One-way (Trolley/bus)
$2.50, 2-hour transfers included
Daily cap
$6 — pay as you go, rides after that are free
Monthly cap
$72
COASTER
$5.00–$6.50 one way by zone; no fare capping
Youth 18 and under
Free with a registered PRONTO card (Youth Opportunity Pass)
Senior/disabled/Medicare
$1.10 one way, $23 monthly cap
Operators change fares and timetables on their own schedule. Every number below is checked against the operator's own page on the date shown — check the source link before you travel.
Adult one-way fare: $2.50 through September 30, 2026; $3 on most regional services beginning October 1, 2026
Verified Sep 30, 2026 against MTS — final approved fares effective October 1, 2026 — view the source
Announced change effective 2026-10-01: $3 adult and $1.50 SDM one way on most regional services
Daily and monthly caps: $6 daily / $72 monthly through September 30, 2026; $7 daily / $85 monthly beginning October 1, 2026
Verified Sep 30, 2026 against MTS — final approved fares effective October 1, 2026 — view the source
Announced change effective 2026-10-01: $7 standard adult daily cap and $85 standard adult monthly cap
Fare capping: Fare capping does not apply to the COASTER. Tap on before boarding and tap off at your station or you are charged the full 3-zone fare.
Verified Sep 19, 2026 against NCTD — Bus & Train Fares + Passes — view the source
On MTS buses and the Trolley, every tap deducts $2.50 until you hit $6 in a calendar day; after that, the rest of the day's rides are free. The same logic applies monthly at $72, so there is no reason to prepay a day pass. Capping does not extend to the COASTER: those fares are charged per trip by zone, and you must tap off at your station or you are billed the full 3-zone fare.
No — you can tap a contactless credit card or phone wallet, or use the free PRONTO app. A physical card is only required for discount programs.
$6 for buses and the Trolley, but you don't need to buy one: PRONTO caps your fares at $6 automatically.
Yes — riders 18 and under ride free on MTS and NCTD with a registered PRONTO card through the Youth Opportunity Pass program.
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Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.