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1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 28 (from laksa091)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa028.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://blog.moneysmart.sg/transportation/bus-mrt-fares-public-transport/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://blog.moneysmart.sg/transportation/bus-mrt-fares-public-transport/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/bus-mrt-fares-public-transport\/","crawl_time":1776076711,"first_indexed_time":1571290567,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"sg,moneysmart!blog,\/transportation\/bus-mrt-fares-public-transport\/ s443","src_root_hash":"13205646038179025628","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Tips to Save Money on Transport Fares in Singapore - MoneySmart Blog","meta_descriptions":["Bus & MRT fares seem to be perpetually on the rise. Here are a few ways you can save on your public transport fares in Singapore."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Public transport fares in Singapore have gone up by 7%, and for obvious reasons, nobody is pleased. Each journey is going to cost 10 to 11 cents more from 23 December 2023.\nThe local news media insists that the 7% hike is still well below the maximum allowable hike of 22.6%, but we’re not buying that. In a time when everyone is struggling with inflation, this fare increase is as welcome as another GST hike.\nThe average Singaporean spent 1.7% of their monthly income on public transport in 2022, according to the Public Transport Council, while lower-income households in the 11th to 20th percentile spent about 2.4%. That doesn’t sound like much, but when added to all the other rising expenses we’re facing, this is still bad news.\nSo, what can Singaporeans do? Tighten our belts once again, that’s what.\nHere are a few ways you can save money on your commute:\n1. Take the MRT before 7:45am\nThey say the early bird catches the worm. Here’s one such incentive for early risers: Tapping into the MRT before 7.45am will earn you $0.50 off your MRT fares.\nOf course, the cheapest way to commute to work is to work from home, if your employer allows that. But if you need to be at work, and your job allows for flexible working hours, then you might as well start and end your day earlier.\nIf you’re consistent in being early, the savings do add up. Assuming 22 working days a month, you’d be saving $11 a month — enough to pay for a couple of meals in Singapore.\n2. Tap in & out within 45 minutes\nIf you’ve got a quick errand to run, you can make the round trip count as one journey by tapping in and out within 45 minutes.\nThis only applies to bus\/rail transfers. You can’t use this trick to enter and exit at the same MRT station. For example, you can take the MRT from Bishan to Serangoon, buy whatever you need from Nex, then transfer to bus 53 to go back to Bishan (within 45 minutes of tapping out at Serangoon MRT).\nYou can also make multiple MRT transfers without incurring additional charges if you tap in and out within 15 minutes. Use this trick for transferring between MRT lines to save time.\n3. Earn credit card rebates with SimplyGo\nWith the introduction of SimplyGo in April 2019, you can now completely bypass the EZ-Link card, and use your credit card to pay for public transport.\nThere are quite few credit cards that can earn you some pretty neat rebates on public transport. We won’t go into the full list here, but these are the 2 more popular credit cards for public transport:\nWhile both credit cards offer high rebates (5% or 8%) on your bus and MRT rides, note that you need to spend at least $600 (\nDBS Live Fresh\n) or $800 (\nMaybank Family & Friends\n) a month to earn them.\nIf you’re not very keen on having to hit a minimum spend, perhaps the \nStandard Chartered Smart Credit Card\nmight do the trick for you. Enjoy 6% cashback in equivalent Rewards Points on your everyday spend including your daily commute (Bus\/MRT).\n4. Prefer EZ-Link? Use the Citibank SMRT Card\nYou may prefer to stick to the tried-and-true EZ-Link for bus and MRT rides. Well, there’s a credit card for that too: the Citibank SMRT Card.\nThe Citi SMRT Card is one of the best for public transport — it doubles up as an EZ-Link card that can auto-reload. By doing this, you can earn 5% rebates on your public transport spending provided you meet the minimum spend of $500 a month.\nIt also rewards you for groceries and online spending, so consolidating your expenses on this card shouldn’t be too difficult.\n5. Get a public transport concession card (maybe)\nI’ll just put it out there: Singaporeans and PRs can get an Adult Concession Card that costs $128 for one month’s worth of unlimited bus and MRT rides.\nYou’ll need to travel A LOT to actually benefit from it so it’s probably not worth it for most people, unless you have a daily cross-country commute.\nNot sure how much you spend on public transport in a given month? You can calculate your fares with the MRT fare calculator and bus fare calculator to see if the concession card is worthwhile.\nNote that there’s also a one-time fee of $8.10 (includes $5 card cost and $3.10 personalisation fee) if you’re getting this travel pass for the first time.\n6. Take advantage of the Travel Smart Journey scheme\nThe Travel Smart Journey (TSJ) scheme is applicable to those who take the North East Line to work.\nSince the NEL is packed like sardines in the morning, the TSJ is trying to get commuters on this route to switch to taking the bus.\nAs a reward, you’ll earn $1.50 worth of SimplyGo points per trip, which can later be redeemed for transport vouchers.\nIf you start your weekday commute between 7am to 9am at Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok or Hougang, you can earn your $1.50 per trip by switching to bus services 43e, 654, 660, 666, 671 or 672. You need to do this for at least four weekdays in 30 days to qualify.\n7. Cycle or use a PMD\nFed up with ever-increasing public transport fares and want to reduce your reliance on public transport altogether?\nThen take advantage of the expanded cycling path and park connector network to cycle as much as possible, whether to get the groceries, commute to work or hit your favourite leisure spots.\nIf cycling sounds like too much work, you can also look into alternative forms of transportation or Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) like electric scooters. Just be aware that PMDs are not allowed on footpaths and need to be registered with the LTA.\n8. Earn Ez-link rewards\nIf you’re paying your fares using vanilla Ez-Link, you’re missing out on some of the advantages we mentioned earlier, so the least you can do is to sign up for the Ez-Link rewards programme.\nIt lets you earn 1 point for every $0.10 spent using the Ez-link mobile app. The programme rewards you not only for transport fares, but also any other payments made through Ez-Link, Ez-Link charms, Ez-Link Wallet and Ez-Link Pay by Wallet with Mastercard. These include SMRT and TransCab taxis, certain convenience stores like 7-11 and Cheers, and certain eateries like Koufu and KFC.\nAdmittedly, this isn’t exactly the world’s most attractive rewards programme, but it’s better than nothing and can save you a few bucks here and there on certain purchases.\nFound this article useful? Share it with your bargain-hunting friends & family.","attrs_markdown":"[![MoneySmart Logo](https:\/\/assets.cdn-moneysmart.com\/assets\/cargo\/svg\/w5vwxizv54d1kcnlfsds.svg)](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/)\n\n- [Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards)\n  #### Compare Credit Cards\n  [All Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards) [Air Miles Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/air-miles) [Cash Back Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/cash-back) [No Annual Fee Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/no-annual-fee) [Overseas Spending Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/overseas-spending) [Promo Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/promo) [Petrol Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/petrol) [Rewards Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/rewards) [Travel Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/travel) [0% 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Us\n\n[![https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BlogBanner-desktop-1000x430%402x-8.png](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BlogBanner-desktop-1000x430%402x-8.png)](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/gold-rush-madness-ms?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=float-widget&utm_campaign=credit_cards_gold_rush)[Learn More](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/gold-rush-madness-ms?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=float-widget&utm_campaign=credit_cards_gold_rush)\n\n[Transportation](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/category\/transportation\/)\n\n# Singapore Transport Fares to Rise By Up To 11 Cents—8 Tips to Save Money on Bus & MRT Fares\n![](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/small-M.png)\n\nby  on  20 September 2023\n\n![Singapore Transport Fares to Rise By Up To 11 Cents—8 Tips to Save Money on Bus & MRT Fares](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/singapore-public-transport-price-increase-save-money.jpg)\n\nPublic transport fares in Singapore have gone up by 7%, and for obvious reasons, nobody is pleased. Each journey is going to cost 10 to 11 cents more from 23 December 2023.\n\nThe local news media insists that the 7% hike is still well below the maximum allowable hike of 22.6%, but we’re not buying that. In a time when everyone is struggling with inflation, this fare increase is as welcome as another GST hike.\n\nThe average Singaporean spent 1.7% of their monthly income on public transport in 2022, according to the Public Transport Council, while lower-income households in the 11th to 20th percentile spent about 2.4%. That doesn’t sound like much, but when added to all the other rising expenses we’re facing, this is still bad news.\n\nSo, what can Singaporeans do? Tighten our belts once again, that’s what.\n\nHere are a few ways you can save money on your commute:\n\n## 1\\. Take the MRT before 7:45am\nThey say the early bird catches the worm. Here’s one such incentive for early risers: Tapping into the MRT before 7.45am will earn you \\$0.50 off your MRT fares.\n\nOf course, the cheapest way to commute to work is to work from home, if your employer allows that. But if you need to be at work, and your job allows for flexible working hours, then you might as well start and end your day earlier.\n\nIf you’re consistent in being early, the savings do add up. Assuming 22 working days a month, you’d be saving \\$11 a month — enough to pay for a couple of meals in Singapore.\n\n## 2\\. Tap in & out within 45 minutes\nIf you’ve got a quick errand to run, you can make the round trip count as one journey by tapping in and out within 45 minutes.\n\nThis only applies to bus\/rail transfers. You can’t use this trick to enter and exit at the same MRT station. For example, you can take the MRT from Bishan to Serangoon, buy whatever you need from Nex, then transfer to bus 53 to go back to Bishan (within 45 minutes of tapping out at Serangoon MRT).\n\nYou can also make multiple MRT transfers without incurring additional charges if you tap in and out within 15 minutes. Use this trick for transferring between MRT lines to save time.\n\n## 3\\. Earn credit card rebates with SimplyGo\nWith the introduction of SimplyGo in April 2019, you can now completely bypass the EZ-Link card, and use your credit card to pay for public transport.\n\nThere are quite few credit cards that can earn you some pretty neat rebates on public transport. We won’t go into the full list here, but these are the 2 more popular credit cards for public transport:\n\n[![DBS logo](https:\/\/photos.cdn-moneysmart.com\/credit_cards\/uploads\/products\/images\/image_url_2021-05-18_DBS%20Live%20Fresh%20Card%20\$Front\$%20\$1\$.jpg)](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/dbs-live-fresh-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=cash-back&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=dbs-live-fresh-card&provider_slugs=dbs&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\nOnline Promo\n\nShopping and Transportation\n\n[DBS Live Fresh Card](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/dbs-live-fresh-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=cash-back&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=dbs-live-fresh-card&provider_slugs=dbs&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\non Shopping & Transport Spend\n\nUp to 6% cashback\n\nCashback Cap\n\nUp to S\\$70\n\nMin. Spend per month\n\nS\\$800\n\n[Apply Now](https:\/\/iss.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/dbs-live-fresh-card\/redirect?affiliate_category=transportation&provider_slugs=dbs&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1&category_slug=cash-back)\n\n[More Details]()\n\n### Cash Back Features\n- Get 0.3% unlimited cashback on All Spend\n- Get up to 6% cashback on Shopping and Transport Spend with a minimum spend of S\\$800 for each calendar month.\n- Minimum Spend Requirement Terms & Conditions: Eligible transaction(s) include retail, recurring bill payments, and refunds in both local and foreign currency that is charged to your DBS Live Fresh Card per calendar month. General exclusions, such as instalments, cash advances, fees charged by DBS and bill payments via internet banking, apply.\n- Cashback Terms & Conditions: Cashback is capped at S\\$50 on eligible Shopping spend and S\\$20 on eligible Transport spend for each calendar month. Refunded transactions will be deducted from the computation of Minimum Spend Requirement and computation of Cashback in the same month that the refunded transactions occurred. Cashback is computed to the nearest 2 decimal places per transaction.\n- Cashback will be awarded to the Principal Cardmember’s Card Account (that is of good standing) by the end of the following calendar month. Cashback awarded will be reflected in the monthly Card Account statement.\n- Cashback will automatically be applied to pay part of the billed amount for that statement month.\n\n[See all card details](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/dbs-live-fresh-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=cash-back&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=dbs-live-fresh-card&provider_slugs=dbs&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\n[![Maybank logo](https:\/\/photos.cdn-moneysmart.com\/credit_cards\/uploads\/products\/images\/image_url_2024-10-04_maybank%20ff%20Medium.jpeg)](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/maybank-family-friends-mastercard?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=maybank-family-friends-mastercard&provider_slugs=maybank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\nEarn up to 8% Cashback\n\n[Maybank Family & Friends Card](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/maybank-family-friends-mastercard?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=maybank-family-friends-mastercard&provider_slugs=maybank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\nglobally on 5 preferred cashback categories\n\nUp to 8% Cashback\n\non Malaysian Ringgit and Indonesia Rupiah spend\n\nUp to 8% Cashback\n\nCashback Per Month\n\n\\*\n\nor Up to S\\$1,800 Cashback Yearly\n\nUp to S\\$150\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/maybank-family-friends-mastercard?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=maybank-family-friends-mastercard&provider_slugs=maybank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\n[More Details]()\n\n### Key Features\n- Earn 8% cashback globally on your 5 preferred cashback categories\n- Up to 8% cashback in local and overseas restaurant dining and Online Food Delivery (e.g. Foodpanda and Deliveroo)\n- Up to 8% cashback on petrol and passenger transportation services such as contactless bus and train rides, taxi, private hire rides (e.g. SimplyGO, Grab rides, ComfortDelGro etc.)\n- Up to 8% cashback on online local and overseas groceries (e.g. Redmart, FairPrice Online)\n- Up to 8% cashback on data communication & online TV streaming\n- Earn 8% cashback on all Malaysian Ringgit and Indonesian Rupiah spend on top of your 5 preferred cashback categories\n- Unlimited 0.3% cashback on all other spend\n- 3 years annual fee waived; spend min. S\\$12,000 per year to get subsequent waiver\n- Be empowered with the choice of card design that best represents you! Select your preferred card design from the 3 designs offered by Maybank\\!\n\n[See all card details](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/maybank-family-friends-mastercard?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=maybank-family-friends-mastercard&provider_slugs=maybank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\nWhile both credit cards offer high rebates (5% or 8%) on your bus and MRT rides, note that you need to spend at least \\$600 ([DBS Live Fresh](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/dbs-live-fresh-card-review\/)) or \\$800 ([Maybank Family & Friends](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/maybank-family-friends-card-review\/)) a month to earn them.\n\nIf you’re not very keen on having to hit a minimum spend, perhaps the [Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card-moneysmart-review\/) might do the trick for you. Enjoy 6% cashback in equivalent Rewards Points on your everyday spend including your daily commute (Bus\/MRT).\n\n[![Standard Chartered logo](https:\/\/photos.cdn-moneysmart.com\/credit_cards\/uploads\/products\/images\/image_url_2021-09-29_SC_Card_Smart_AssetA_v3-min-min.png)](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=standard-chartered-smart-credit-card&provider_slugs=standard-chartered&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\nEarn up to 10% Bonus Cashback\n\n[Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=standard-chartered-smart-credit-card&provider_slugs=standard-chartered&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\non spends above S\\$1,500 on Bonus Categories\n\n10% Bonus Cashback\n\non spends above S\\$800 on Bonus Categories\n\n8% Bonus Cashback\n\non eligible spends below S\\$800\n\n0\\.5% Cashback\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=standard-chartered-smart-credit-card&provider_slugs=standard-chartered&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\n[More Details]()\n\n### Key Features\n- Get up to 10% bonus cashback on 3 bonus categories: Smart Dining, Smart Streaming and Smart Transport\n- Smart Dining merchants: McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Toast Box, Starbucks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and many more\\!\n- Smart Streaming merchants: Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Viu, iQiyi, HBO GO\n- Smart Transport: Bus & MRT commute via SimplyGo, Electric Vehicle Charging\n- Enjoy 1% cashback on all other eligible spends (for card spend above S\\$1,500)\n- No cap on your cashback\n- Enjoy SmartDelay - complimentary access to selected airport lounges worldwide in event of flight delay (effective 15 Jan 2025 onwards)\n- At MoneySmart, we strive to keep our information accurate and up to date. This information may be different from what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or specific product site. MoneySmart shall not be liable to compensate the Customer should the information is not as updated as our Partner.\n\n[See all card details](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=standard-chartered-smart-credit-card&provider_slugs=standard-chartered&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n## 4\\. Prefer EZ-Link? Use the Citibank SMRT Card\nYou may prefer to stick to the tried-and-true EZ-Link for bus and MRT rides. Well, there’s a credit card for that too: the Citibank SMRT Card.\n\n[![Citibank logo](https:\/\/photos.cdn-moneysmart.com\/credit_cards\/uploads\/products\/images\/image_url_2025-01-02_SMRT-Visa_1397x885-\$Name\$%20Medium.jpeg)](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card&provider_slugs=citibank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\nMoneySmart Exclusive\n\nFASTER REWARD FULFILMENT \\| EARN UP TO 5% SMRT\\$\n\n[Citi SMRT Card](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card&provider_slugs=citibank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\non Online Purchases, Groceries, Taxi, Ride-hailing, SimplyGo & Malaysia Ringgit Spend\n\n5% Savings\n\non Other Retail Spend\n\n0\\.3% Savings\n\nMin. Spend per statement month to earn max rebates\n\nS\\$500\n\n**MoneySmart Exclusive:**\n\nFor a limited time only, get a **GUARANTEED S\\$20 CASH BONUS** on top of **S\\$400 Cash Reward or [6,140 SmartPoints](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/store)** (worth up to S\\$499 of Gifts) when you charge a min. of S\\$500 within 30 days! [T\\&Cs apply](https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1f-xjj4N5gBagpyMkqUdMgl-jubTuh_CA\/view?usp=sharing).\n\nValid until 17 Apr 2026\n\n![](https:\/\/photos.cdn-moneysmart.com\/campaigns\/uploads\/images\/credit-card-citi-130426_image_1775985578800.png)\n\n[Apply Now](https:\/\/iss.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card\/redirect?affiliate_category=transportation&provider_slugs=citibank&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1&category_slug=best-credit-cards)\n\n[More Details]()\n\n### Key Features\n- No monthly rebates cap, although rebates are capped at 600 SMRT\\$ per year\n- Minimum spend of S\\$500 per statement month to earn maximum rebates across groceries, online shopping, taxi rides (including private hire operators such as Grab and Gojek), SimplyGo transactions and Malaysian Ringgit Spend\n- Earn 5% savings on Malaysian Ringgit Spend (Applies to both eligible retail and online spend). Valid from 1 Sept 2025 to 28 Feb 2026\n- Earn up to 5% SMRT\\$ on groceries \\[0.3% (base rate) + 4.7% (bonus rate)\\]\n- Earn up to 5% SMRT\\$ on online shopping \\[0.3% (base rate) + 4.7% (bonus rate)\\]\n- Earn up to 5% on taxis and private hire cars \\[0.3% (base rate) + 4.7% (bonus rate)\\]\n- Earn up to 5% SMRT\\$ for SimplyGo (tap to pay) transactions \\[0.3% (base rate) + 4.7% (bonus rate)\\]\n- Earn 0.3% SMRT\\$ on all other retail spends\n- Enjoy 2 year annual fee waiver\n- At MoneySmart, we strive to keep our information accurate and up to date. This information may be different from what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or specific product site. MoneySmart shall not be liable to compensate the Customer should the information is not as updated as our Partner.\n\n[See all card details](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card&provider_slugs=citibank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1)\n\nThe Citi SMRT Card is one of the best for public transport — it doubles up as an EZ-Link card that can auto-reload. By doing this, you can earn 5% rebates on your public transport spending provided you meet the minimum spend of \\$500 a month.\n\nIt also rewards you for groceries and online spending, so consolidating your expenses on this card shouldn’t be too difficult.\n\n## 5\\. Get a public transport concession card (maybe)\nI’ll just put it out there: Singaporeans and PRs can get an Adult Concession Card that costs \\$128 for one month’s worth of unlimited bus and MRT rides.\n\nYou’ll need to travel A LOT to actually benefit from it so it’s probably not worth it for most people, unless you have a daily cross-country commute.\n\nNot sure how much you spend on public transport in a given month? You can calculate your fares with the MRT fare calculator and bus fare calculator to see if the concession card is worthwhile.\n\nNote that there’s also a one-time fee of \\$8.10 (includes \\$5 card cost and \\$3.10 personalisation fee) if you’re getting this travel pass for the first time.\n\n## 6\\. Take advantage of the Travel Smart Journey scheme\nThe Travel Smart Journey (TSJ) scheme is applicable to those who take the North East Line to work.\n\nSince the NEL is packed like sardines in the morning, the TSJ is trying to get commuters on this route to switch to taking the bus.\n\nAs a reward, you’ll earn \\$1.50 worth of SimplyGo points per trip, which can later be redeemed for transport vouchers.\n\nIf you start your weekday commute between 7am to 9am at Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok or Hougang, you can earn your \\$1.50 per trip by switching to bus services 43e, 654, 660, 666, 671 or 672. You need to do this for at least four weekdays in 30 days to qualify.\n\n## 7\\. Cycle or use a PMD\nFed up with ever-increasing public transport fares and want to reduce your reliance on public transport altogether?\n\nThen take advantage of the expanded cycling path and park connector network to cycle as much as possible, whether to get the groceries, commute to work or hit your favourite leisure spots.\n\nIf cycling sounds like too much work, you can also look into alternative forms of transportation or Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) like electric scooters. Just be aware that PMDs are not allowed on footpaths and need to be registered with the LTA.\n\n## 8\\. Earn Ez-link rewards\nIf you’re paying your fares using vanilla Ez-Link, you’re missing out on some of the advantages we mentioned earlier, so the least you can do is to sign up for the Ez-Link rewards programme.\n\nIt lets you earn 1 point for every \\$0.10 spent using the Ez-link mobile app. The programme rewards you not only for transport fares, but also any other payments made through Ez-Link, Ez-Link charms, Ez-Link Wallet and Ez-Link Pay by Wallet with Mastercard. These include SMRT and TransCab taxis, certain convenience stores like 7-11 and Cheers, and certain eateries like Koufu and KFC.\n\nAdmittedly, this isn’t exactly the world’s most attractive rewards programme, but it’s better than nothing and can save you a few bucks here and there on certain purchases.\n\n**Found this article useful? Share it with your bargain-hunting friends & family.**\n\n***\n![MoneySmart](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/small-M.png)\n\n## About MoneySmart\nMoneySmart Group is a personal finance platform helping millions across Southeast Asia make smarter moves with their money. Between fine print, endless options, and financial jargon, managing money can feel like a full-time job. MoneySmart cuts through the noise and make complex decisions—from picking the perfect credit card to finding the right insurance—simple, clear, and (dare we say it) even a little enjoyable. Across the region, our trusted platforms, MoneySmart.sg in Singapore and MoneySmart.hk in Hong Kong guide every earning, spending, saving, and investing decision.\n\n## Related Articles\n[What Is SimplyGo (Formerly ABT) & Should You Ditch Your EZLink Card?](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/transitlink-simplygo-abt\/)\n\n[EZ-Link Card Singapore Guide: 7 Nifty Features You Probably Didn’t Know About](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/ezlink-fun-facts\/)\n\n[Is the Citi SMRT Card Singapore’s Most Underrated Cashback Card? (MoneySmart Review 2025)](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/citibank-smrt-card-review\/)\n\nTags: [Budgeting](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/tag\/budgeting\/)\n\nPopular Articles\n\n[01Best Fixed Deposit Rates in Singapore (Apr 2026)—Minimum Deposits From \\$500, Rates Up To 1.55%](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/fixed-deposits\/best-fixed-deposit-accounts-singapore\/)\n\n[02Taking the Train from SG to JB? The Ultimate Guide to KTM Ticket Prices, Train Schedule, and More (2026)](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/travel\/ktm-train-to-jb-guide\/)\n\n[0311 Best Halal Buffets in Singapore (Mar 2026)—Starting From \\$32++](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/dining\/halal-buffet-singapore\/)\n\n[04Cheapest SIM-Only Plans in Singapore (Feb 2026)—Circles Life, MyRepublic, Zero1, SIMBA, Maxx & More](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/budgeting\/cheapest-sim-only-plans\/)\n\n[05HDB Downpayment Guide: How Much Do You Need for BTO, Resale & EC?](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/home-loans\/hdb-downpayment-guide\/)\n\n## Related Articles\n[![erp-rates-gantries-singapore-2024](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/erp-rates-gantries-singapore-2024-masthead-300x213.jpg)Transportation “Every Road Pay”? Here Are The 5 Most Expensive ERP Timings To Avoid in Singapore (2025)](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/erp-rates-gantry-singapore\/)\n\n[![Woman declaring that she doesn't do taxes](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/LTA-Road-Tax-Guide-Masthead-300x169.gif)Transportation LTA Road Tax Renewal Guide 2025: How to Check & Pay Road Tax](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/lta-road-tax-renewal\/)\n\n[![coe vs parf car singapore](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coe-vs-parf-car-singapore-300x169.gif)Transportation COE vs PARF Cars in 2025: Which Is Better for Your Budget in Singapore?](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/coe-car-parf-car-singapore-difference\/)\n\n[![How To Get Your Driving Licence In Singapore—Fast](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/drive-300x206.gif)Transportation How To Get Your Driving Licence In Singapore—Fast](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/get-driving-licence-fast-singapore\/)\n\n[![Getting a Driving Licence in Singapore (2025)—Prices and Reviews of BBDC, SSDC, and CDC](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/driving-licence-singapore-300x169.gif)Transportation Getting a Driving Licence in Singapore (2025)—Prices and Reviews of BBDC, SSDC, and CDC](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/driving-license-singapore\/)\n\n[![how to take the bus from singapore to jb guide](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Masthead-300x191.png)Transportation How to Take the Bus From Singapore to Johor Bahru](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/bus-from-singapore-to-johor-bahru\/)\n\n[![Man being asked for a permit](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Driving-to-Malaysia-Masthead-300x169.gif)Transportation Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for Driving to Malaysia](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/vehicle-entry-permit-malaysia\/)\n\n[![drive to johor bahru guide](https:\/\/blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/drive-to-johor-bahru-guide-300x167.gif)Transportation How to Drive Into Johor Bahru From Singapore in 2025](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/transportation\/drive-to-johor-bahru-from-singapore\/)\n## Sign up for our newsletter for financial tips, tricks and exclusive information that can be personalised to your preferences\\!\n\n![MoneySmart Logo](https:\/\/assets.cdn-moneysmart.com\/assets\/cargo\/svg\/w5vwxizv54d1kcnlfsds.svg)\n\n- [About](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/about-us)\n- [Careers](https:\/\/moneysmart.com\/)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/contact-us)\n\n- [Credit Cards](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards)\n- [Insurance](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/insurance)\n- [Personal Loans](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/personal-loan)\n\n[Blog](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/)\n\n[Budgeting](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/category\/budgeting\/)\n\n[Opinion](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/category\/opinion\/)\n\n[Invest](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/category\/invest\/)\n\nDisclaimer: At MoneySmart, we aim to provide accurate, objective and up-to-date information. The details you see on our site may be different from others. Some content may be compensated through third-party advertisers. However, the results of our comparison tools which are not marked as sponsored are based on objective analysis. All financial products and services are presented without warranty. The list of financial products displayed on this website are not exhaustive.  \n  \nAll content on this blog is created by MoneySmart Singapore for general knowledge and educational purposes only, and does not constitute financial advice. This content is produced separately from MoneySmart Financial, the licensed entity within the MoneySmart Group.\n\nFollow us\n\n© 2009-2026 MoneySmart Singapore Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/terms-of-use), [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/privacy-policy) and [Fair Dealing Policy](https:\/\/www.moneysmart.sg\/fair-dealing-policy)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Public transport fares in Singapore have gone up by 7%, and for obvious reasons, nobody is pleased. Each journey is going to cost 10 to 11 cents more from 23 December 2023.\n\nThe local news media insists that the 7% hike is still well below the maximum allowable hike of 22.6%, but we’re not buying that. In a time when everyone is struggling with inflation, this fare increase is as welcome as another GST hike.\n\nThe average Singaporean spent 1.7% of their monthly income on public transport in 2022, according to the Public Transport Council, while lower-income households in the 11th to 20th percentile spent about 2.4%. That doesn’t sound like much, but when added to all the other rising expenses we’re facing, this is still bad news.\n\nSo, what can Singaporeans do? Tighten our belts once again, that’s what.\n\nHere are a few ways you can save money on your commute:\n\n## 1\\. Take the MRT before 7:45am\nThey say the early bird catches the worm. Here’s one such incentive for early risers: Tapping into the MRT before 7.45am will earn you \\$0.50 off your MRT fares.\n\nOf course, the cheapest way to commute to work is to work from home, if your employer allows that. But if you need to be at work, and your job allows for flexible working hours, then you might as well start and end your day earlier.\n\nIf you’re consistent in being early, the savings do add up. Assuming 22 working days a month, you’d be saving \\$11 a month — enough to pay for a couple of meals in Singapore.\n\n## 2\\. Tap in & out within 45 minutes\nIf you’ve got a quick errand to run, you can make the round trip count as one journey by tapping in and out within 45 minutes.\n\nThis only applies to bus\/rail transfers. You can’t use this trick to enter and exit at the same MRT station. For example, you can take the MRT from Bishan to Serangoon, buy whatever you need from Nex, then transfer to bus 53 to go back to Bishan (within 45 minutes of tapping out at Serangoon MRT).\n\nYou can also make multiple MRT transfers without incurring additional charges if you tap in and out within 15 minutes. Use this trick for transferring between MRT lines to save time.\n\n## 3\\. Earn credit card rebates with SimplyGo\nWith the introduction of SimplyGo in April 2019, you can now completely bypass the EZ-Link card, and use your credit card to pay for public transport.\n\nThere are quite few credit cards that can earn you some pretty neat rebates on public transport. We won’t go into the full list here, but these are the 2 more popular credit cards for public transport:\n\nWhile both credit cards offer high rebates (5% or 8%) on your bus and MRT rides, note that you need to spend at least \\$600 ([DBS Live Fresh](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/dbs-live-fresh-card-review\/)) or \\$800 ([Maybank Family & Friends](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/maybank-family-friends-card-review\/)) a month to earn them.\n\nIf you’re not very keen on having to hit a minimum spend, perhaps the [Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card](https:\/\/blog.moneysmart.sg\/credit-cards\/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card-moneysmart-review\/) might do the trick for you. Enjoy 6% cashback in equivalent Rewards Points on your everyday spend including your daily commute (Bus\/MRT).\n\n## 4\\. Prefer EZ-Link? Use the Citibank SMRT Card\nYou may prefer to stick to the tried-and-true EZ-Link for bus and MRT rides. Well, there’s a credit card for that too: the Citibank SMRT Card.\n\nThe Citi SMRT Card is one of the best for public transport — it doubles up as an EZ-Link card that can auto-reload. By doing this, you can earn 5% rebates on your public transport spending provided you meet the minimum spend of \\$500 a month.\n\nIt also rewards you for groceries and online spending, so consolidating your expenses on this card shouldn’t be too difficult.\n\n## 5\\. Get a public transport concession card (maybe)\nI’ll just put it out there: Singaporeans and PRs can get an Adult Concession Card that costs \\$128 for one month’s worth of unlimited bus and MRT rides.\n\nYou’ll need to travel A LOT to actually benefit from it so it’s probably not worth it for most people, unless you have a daily cross-country commute.\n\nNot sure how much you spend on public transport in a given month? You can calculate your fares with the MRT fare calculator and bus fare calculator to see if the concession card is worthwhile.\n\nNote that there’s also a one-time fee of \\$8.10 (includes \\$5 card cost and \\$3.10 personalisation fee) if you’re getting this travel pass for the first time.\n\n## 6\\. Take advantage of the Travel Smart Journey scheme\nThe Travel Smart Journey (TSJ) scheme is applicable to those who take the North East Line to work.\n\nSince the NEL is packed like sardines in the morning, the TSJ is trying to get commuters on this route to switch to taking the bus.\n\nAs a reward, you’ll earn \\$1.50 worth of SimplyGo points per trip, which can later be redeemed for transport vouchers.\n\nIf you start your weekday commute between 7am to 9am at Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok or Hougang, you can earn your \\$1.50 per trip by switching to bus services 43e, 654, 660, 666, 671 or 672. You need to do this for at least four weekdays in 30 days to qualify.\n\n## 7\\. Cycle or use a PMD\nFed up with ever-increasing public transport fares and want to reduce your reliance on public transport altogether?\n\nThen take advantage of the expanded cycling path and park connector network to cycle as much as possible, whether to get the groceries, commute to work or hit your favourite leisure spots.\n\nIf cycling sounds like too much work, you can also look into alternative forms of transportation or Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) like electric scooters. Just be aware that PMDs are not allowed on footpaths and need to be registered with the LTA.\n\n## 8\\. Earn Ez-link rewards\nIf you’re paying your fares using vanilla Ez-Link, you’re missing out on some of the advantages we mentioned earlier, so the least you can do is to sign up for the Ez-Link rewards programme.\n\nIt lets you earn 1 point for every \\$0.10 spent using the Ez-link mobile app. The programme rewards you not only for transport fares, but also any other payments made through Ez-Link, Ez-Link charms, Ez-Link Wallet and Ez-Link Pay by Wallet with Mastercard. These include SMRT and TransCab taxis, certain convenience stores like 7-11 and Cheers, and certain eateries like Koufu and KFC.\n\nAdmittedly, this isn’t exactly the world’s most attractive rewards programme, but it’s better than nothing and can save you a few bucks here and there on certain purchases.\n\n**Found this article useful? Share it with your bargain-hunting friends & family.**","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://blog.moneysmart.sg/transportation/bus-mrt-fares-public-transport/
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Boilerpipe Text	Public transport fares in Singapore have gone up by 7%, and for obvious reasons, nobody is pleased. Each journey is going to cost 10 to 11 cents more from 23 December 2023. The local news media insists that the 7% hike is still well below the maximum allowable hike of 22.6%, but we’re not buying that. In a time when everyone is struggling with inflation, this fare increase is as welcome as another GST hike. The average Singaporean spent 1.7% of their monthly income on public transport in 2022, according to the Public Transport Council, while lower-income households in the 11th to 20th percentile spent about 2.4%. That doesn’t sound like much, but when added to all the other rising expenses we’re facing, this is still bad news. So, what can Singaporeans do? Tighten our belts once again, that’s what. Here are a few ways you can save money on your commute: 1. Take the MRT before 7:45am They say the early bird catches the worm. Here’s one such incentive for early risers: Tapping into the MRT before 7.45am will earn you $0.50 off your MRT fares. Of course, the cheapest way to commute to work is to work from home, if your employer allows that. But if you need to be at work, and your job allows for flexible working hours, then you might as well start and end your day earlier. If you’re consistent in being early, the savings do add up. Assuming 22 working days a month, you’d be saving $11 a month — enough to pay for a couple of meals in Singapore. 2. Tap in & out within 45 minutes If you’ve got a quick errand to run, you can make the round trip count as one journey by tapping in and out within 45 minutes. This only applies to bus/rail transfers. You can’t use this trick to enter and exit at the same MRT station. For example, you can take the MRT from Bishan to Serangoon, buy whatever you need from Nex, then transfer to bus 53 to go back to Bishan (within 45 minutes of tapping out at Serangoon MRT). You can also make multiple MRT transfers without incurring additional charges if you tap in and out within 15 minutes. Use this trick for transferring between MRT lines to save time. 3. Earn credit card rebates with SimplyGo With the introduction of SimplyGo in April 2019, you can now completely bypass the EZ-Link card, and use your credit card to pay for public transport. There are quite few credit cards that can earn you some pretty neat rebates on public transport. We won’t go into the full list here, but these are the 2 more popular credit cards for public transport: While both credit cards offer high rebates (5% or 8%) on your bus and MRT rides, note that you need to spend at least $600 ( DBS Live Fresh ) or $800 ( Maybank Family & Friends ) a month to earn them. If you’re not very keen on having to hit a minimum spend, perhaps the Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card might do the trick for you. Enjoy 6% cashback in equivalent Rewards Points on your everyday spend including your daily commute (Bus/MRT). 4. Prefer EZ-Link? Use the Citibank SMRT Card You may prefer to stick to the tried-and-true EZ-Link for bus and MRT rides. Well, there’s a credit card for that too: the Citibank SMRT Card. The Citi SMRT Card is one of the best for public transport — it doubles up as an EZ-Link card that can auto-reload. By doing this, you can earn 5% rebates on your public transport spending provided you meet the minimum spend of $500 a month. It also rewards you for groceries and online spending, so consolidating your expenses on this card shouldn’t be too difficult. 5. Get a public transport concession card (maybe) I’ll just put it out there: Singaporeans and PRs can get an Adult Concession Card that costs $128 for one month’s worth of unlimited bus and MRT rides. You’ll need to travel A LOT to actually benefit from it so it’s probably not worth it for most people, unless you have a daily cross-country commute. Not sure how much you spend on public transport in a given month? You can calculate your fares with the MRT fare calculator and bus fare calculator to see if the concession card is worthwhile. Note that there’s also a one-time fee of $8.10 (includes $5 card cost and $3.10 personalisation fee) if you’re getting this travel pass for the first time. 6. Take advantage of the Travel Smart Journey scheme The Travel Smart Journey (TSJ) scheme is applicable to those who take the North East Line to work. Since the NEL is packed like sardines in the morning, the TSJ is trying to get commuters on this route to switch to taking the bus. As a reward, you’ll earn $1.50 worth of SimplyGo points per trip, which can later be redeemed for transport vouchers. If you start your weekday commute between 7am to 9am at Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok or Hougang, you can earn your $1.50 per trip by switching to bus services 43e, 654, 660, 666, 671 or 672. You need to do this for at least four weekdays in 30 days to qualify. 7. Cycle or use a PMD Fed up with ever-increasing public transport fares and want to reduce your reliance on public transport altogether? Then take advantage of the expanded cycling path and park connector network to cycle as much as possible, whether to get the groceries, commute to work or hit your favourite leisure spots. If cycling sounds like too much work, you can also look into alternative forms of transportation or Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) like electric scooters. Just be aware that PMDs are not allowed on footpaths and need to be registered with the LTA. 8. Earn Ez-link rewards If you’re paying your fares using vanilla Ez-Link, you’re missing out on some of the advantages we mentioned earlier, so the least you can do is to sign up for the Ez-Link rewards programme. It lets you earn 1 point for every $0.10 spent using the Ez-link mobile app. The programme rewards you not only for transport fares, but also any other payments made through Ez-Link, Ez-Link charms, Ez-Link Wallet and Ez-Link Pay by Wallet with Mastercard. These include SMRT and TransCab taxis, certain convenience stores like 7-11 and Cheers, and certain eateries like Koufu and KFC. Admittedly, this isn’t exactly the world’s most attractive rewards programme, but it’s better than nothing and can save you a few bucks here and there on certain purchases. Found this article useful? Share it with your bargain-hunting friends & family.
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Each journey is going to cost 10 to 11 cents more from 23 December 2023. The local news media insists that the 7% hike is still well below the maximum allowable hike of 22.6%, but we’re not buying that. In a time when everyone is struggling with inflation, this fare increase is as welcome as another GST hike. The average Singaporean spent 1.7% of their monthly income on public transport in 2022, according to the Public Transport Council, while lower-income households in the 11th to 20th percentile spent about 2.4%. That doesn’t sound like much, but when added to all the other rising expenses we’re facing, this is still bad news. So, what can Singaporeans do? Tighten our belts once again, that’s what. Here are a few ways you can save money on your commute: ## 1\. Take the MRT before 7:45am They say the early bird catches the worm. Here’s one such incentive for early risers: Tapping into the MRT before 7.45am will earn you \$0.50 off your MRT fares. Of course, the cheapest way to commute to work is to work from home, if your employer allows that. But if you need to be at work, and your job allows for flexible working hours, then you might as well start and end your day earlier. If you’re consistent in being early, the savings do add up. Assuming 22 working days a month, you’d be saving \$11 a month — enough to pay for a couple of meals in Singapore. ## 2\. Tap in & out within 45 minutes If you’ve got a quick errand to run, you can make the round trip count as one journey by tapping in and out within 45 minutes. This only applies to bus/rail transfers. You can’t use this trick to enter and exit at the same MRT station. For example, you can take the MRT from Bishan to Serangoon, buy whatever you need from Nex, then transfer to bus 53 to go back to Bishan (within 45 minutes of tapping out at Serangoon MRT). You can also make multiple MRT transfers without incurring additional charges if you tap in and out within 15 minutes. Use this trick for transferring between MRT lines to save time. ## 3\. Earn credit card rebates with SimplyGo With the introduction of SimplyGo in April 2019, you can now completely bypass the EZ-Link card, and use your credit card to pay for public transport. There are quite few credit cards that can earn you some pretty neat rebates on public transport. We won’t go into the full list here, but these are the 2 more popular credit cards for public transport: [![DBS logo](https://photos.cdn-moneysmart.com/credit_cards/uploads/products/images/image_url_2021-05-18_DBS%20Live%20Fresh%20Card%20$Front$%20$1$.jpg)](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/dbs-live-fresh-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=cash-back&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=dbs-live-fresh-card&provider_slugs=dbs&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) Online Promo Shopping and Transportation [DBS Live Fresh Card](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/dbs-live-fresh-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=cash-back&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=dbs-live-fresh-card&provider_slugs=dbs&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) on Shopping & Transport Spend Up to 6% cashback Cashback Cap Up to S\$70 Min. Spend per month S\$800 [Apply Now](https://iss.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/dbs-live-fresh-card/redirect?affiliate_category=transportation&provider_slugs=dbs&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1&category_slug=cash-back) [More Details]() ### Cash Back Features - Get 0.3% unlimited cashback on All Spend - Get up to 6% cashback on Shopping and Transport Spend with a minimum spend of S\$800 for each calendar month. - Minimum Spend Requirement Terms & Conditions: Eligible transaction(s) include retail, recurring bill payments, and refunds in both local and foreign currency that is charged to your DBS Live Fresh Card per calendar month. General exclusions, such as instalments, cash advances, fees charged by DBS and bill payments via internet banking, apply. - Cashback Terms & Conditions: Cashback is capped at S\$50 on eligible Shopping spend and S\$20 on eligible Transport spend for each calendar month. Refunded transactions will be deducted from the computation of Minimum Spend Requirement and computation of Cashback in the same month that the refunded transactions occurred. Cashback is computed to the nearest 2 decimal places per transaction. - Cashback will be awarded to the Principal Cardmember’s Card Account (that is of good standing) by the end of the following calendar month. Cashback awarded will be reflected in the monthly Card Account statement. - Cashback will automatically be applied to pay part of the billed amount for that statement month. [See all card details](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/dbs-live-fresh-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=cash-back&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=dbs-live-fresh-card&provider_slugs=dbs&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) [![Maybank logo](https://photos.cdn-moneysmart.com/credit_cards/uploads/products/images/image_url_2024-10-04_maybank%20ff%20Medium.jpeg)](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/maybank-family-friends-mastercard?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=maybank-family-friends-mastercard&provider_slugs=maybank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) Earn up to 8% Cashback [Maybank Family & Friends Card](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/maybank-family-friends-mastercard?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=maybank-family-friends-mastercard&provider_slugs=maybank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) globally on 5 preferred cashback categories Up to 8% Cashback on Malaysian Ringgit and Indonesia Rupiah spend Up to 8% Cashback Cashback Per Month \* or Up to S\$1,800 Cashback Yearly Up to S\$150 [Read More](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/maybank-family-friends-mastercard?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=maybank-family-friends-mastercard&provider_slugs=maybank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) [More Details]() ### Key Features - Earn 8% cashback globally on your 5 preferred cashback categories - Up to 8% cashback in local and overseas restaurant dining and Online Food Delivery (e.g. Foodpanda and Deliveroo) - Up to 8% cashback on petrol and passenger transportation services such as contactless bus and train rides, taxi, private hire rides (e.g. SimplyGO, Grab rides, ComfortDelGro etc.) - Up to 8% cashback on online local and overseas groceries (e.g. Redmart, FairPrice Online) - Up to 8% cashback on data communication & online TV streaming - Earn 8% cashback on all Malaysian Ringgit and Indonesian Rupiah spend on top of your 5 preferred cashback categories - Unlimited 0.3% cashback on all other spend - 3 years annual fee waived; spend min. S\$12,000 per year to get subsequent waiver - Be empowered with the choice of card design that best represents you! Select your preferred card design from the 3 designs offered by Maybank\! [See all card details](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/maybank-family-friends-mastercard?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=maybank-family-friends-mastercard&provider_slugs=maybank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) While both credit cards offer high rebates (5% or 8%) on your bus and MRT rides, note that you need to spend at least \$600 ([DBS Live Fresh](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/dbs-live-fresh-card-review/)) or \$800 ([Maybank Family & Friends](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/maybank-family-friends-card-review/)) a month to earn them. If you’re not very keen on having to hit a minimum spend, perhaps the [Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card-moneysmart-review/) might do the trick for you. Enjoy 6% cashback in equivalent Rewards Points on your everyday spend including your daily commute (Bus/MRT). [![Standard Chartered logo](https://photos.cdn-moneysmart.com/credit_cards/uploads/products/images/image_url_2021-09-29_SC_Card_Smart_AssetA_v3-min-min.png)](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=standard-chartered-smart-credit-card&provider_slugs=standard-chartered&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) Earn up to 10% Bonus Cashback [Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=standard-chartered-smart-credit-card&provider_slugs=standard-chartered&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) on spends above S\$1,500 on Bonus Categories 10% Bonus Cashback on spends above S\$800 on Bonus Categories 8% Bonus Cashback on eligible spends below S\$800 0\.5% Cashback [Read More](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=standard-chartered-smart-credit-card&provider_slugs=standard-chartered&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) [More Details]() ### Key Features - Get up to 10% bonus cashback on 3 bonus categories: Smart Dining, Smart Streaming and Smart Transport - Smart Dining merchants: McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Toast Box, Starbucks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and many more\! - Smart Streaming merchants: Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Viu, iQiyi, HBO GO - Smart Transport: Bus & MRT commute via SimplyGo, Electric Vehicle Charging - Enjoy 1% cashback on all other eligible spends (for card spend above S\$1,500) - No cap on your cashback - Enjoy SmartDelay - complimentary access to selected airport lounges worldwide in event of flight delay (effective 15 Jan 2025 onwards) - At MoneySmart, we strive to keep our information accurate and up to date. This information may be different from what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or specific product site. MoneySmart shall not be liable to compensate the Customer should the information is not as updated as our Partner. [See all card details](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=standard-chartered-smart-credit-card&provider_slugs=standard-chartered&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) ## 4\. Prefer EZ-Link? Use the Citibank SMRT Card You may prefer to stick to the tried-and-true EZ-Link for bus and MRT rides. Well, there’s a credit card for that too: the Citibank SMRT Card. [![Citibank logo](https://photos.cdn-moneysmart.com/credit_cards/uploads/products/images/image_url_2025-01-02_SMRT-Visa_1397x885-$Name$%20Medium.jpeg)](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card&provider_slugs=citibank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) MoneySmart Exclusive FASTER REWARD FULFILMENT \\| EARN UP TO 5% SMRT\$ [Citi SMRT Card](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card&provider_slugs=citibank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) on Online Purchases, Groceries, Taxi, Ride-hailing, SimplyGo & Malaysia Ringgit Spend 5% Savings on Other Retail Spend 0\.3% Savings Min. Spend per statement month to earn max rebates S\$500 MoneySmart Exclusive: For a limited time only, get a GUARANTEED S\$20 CASH BONUS on top of S\$400 Cash Reward or [6,140 SmartPoints](https://www.moneysmart.sg/store) (worth up to S\$499 of Gifts) when you charge a min. of S\$500 within 30 days! [T\&Cs apply](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f-xjj4N5gBagpyMkqUdMgl-jubTuh_CA/view?usp=sharing). Valid until 17 Apr 2026 ![](https://photos.cdn-moneysmart.com/campaigns/uploads/images/credit-card-citi-130426_image_1775985578800.png) [Apply Now](https://iss.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card/redirect?affiliate_category=transportation&provider_slugs=citibank&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1&category_slug=best-credit-cards) [More Details]() ### Key Features - No monthly rebates cap, although rebates are capped at 600 SMRT\$ per year - Minimum spend of S\$500 per statement month to earn maximum rebates across groceries, online shopping, taxi rides (including private hire operators such as Grab and Gojek), SimplyGo transactions and Malaysian Ringgit Spend - Earn 5% savings on Malaysian Ringgit Spend (Applies to both eligible retail and online spend). Valid from 1 Sept 2025 to 28 Feb 2026 - Earn up to 5% SMRT\$ on groceries \[0.3% (base rate) + 4.7% (bonus rate)\] - Earn up to 5% SMRT\$ on online shopping \[0.3% (base rate) + 4.7% (bonus rate)\] - Earn up to 5% on taxis and private hire cars \[0.3% (base rate) + 4.7% (bonus rate)\] - Earn up to 5% SMRT\$ for SimplyGo (tap to pay) transactions \[0.3% (base rate) + 4.7% (bonus rate)\] - Earn 0.3% SMRT\$ on all other retail spends - Enjoy 2 year annual fee waiver - At MoneySmart, we strive to keep our information accurate and up to date. This information may be different from what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or specific product site. MoneySmart shall not be liable to compensate the Customer should the information is not as updated as our Partner. [See all card details](https://www.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card?country_code=sg&affiliate_category=transportation&category_slug=best-credit-cards&channel=credit-cards&locale=en&product_slug=citibank-smrt-platinum-visa-card&provider_slugs=citibank&toggle=&forceTest=test&widget_type=inline-widget&affiliate_id=1) The Citi SMRT Card is one of the best for public transport — it doubles up as an EZ-Link card that can auto-reload. By doing this, you can earn 5% rebates on your public transport spending provided you meet the minimum spend of \$500 a month. It also rewards you for groceries and online spending, so consolidating your expenses on this card shouldn’t be too difficult. ## 5\. Get a public transport concession card (maybe) I’ll just put it out there: Singaporeans and PRs can get an Adult Concession Card that costs \$128 for one month’s worth of unlimited bus and MRT rides. You’ll need to travel A LOT to actually benefit from it so it’s probably not worth it for most people, unless you have a daily cross-country commute. Not sure how much you spend on public transport in a given month? You can calculate your fares with the MRT fare calculator and bus fare calculator to see if the concession card is worthwhile. Note that there’s also a one-time fee of \$8.10 (includes \$5 card cost and \$3.10 personalisation fee) if you’re getting this travel pass for the first time. ## 6\. Take advantage of the Travel Smart Journey scheme The Travel Smart Journey (TSJ) scheme is applicable to those who take the North East Line to work. Since the NEL is packed like sardines in the morning, the TSJ is trying to get commuters on this route to switch to taking the bus. As a reward, you’ll earn \$1.50 worth of SimplyGo points per trip, which can later be redeemed for transport vouchers. If you start your weekday commute between 7am to 9am at Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok or Hougang, you can earn your \$1.50 per trip by switching to bus services 43e, 654, 660, 666, 671 or 672. You need to do this for at least four weekdays in 30 days to qualify. ## 7\. Cycle or use a PMD Fed up with ever-increasing public transport fares and want to reduce your reliance on public transport altogether? Then take advantage of the expanded cycling path and park connector network to cycle as much as possible, whether to get the groceries, commute to work or hit your favourite leisure spots. If cycling sounds like too much work, you can also look into alternative forms of transportation or Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) like electric scooters. Just be aware that PMDs are not allowed on footpaths and need to be registered with the LTA. ## 8\. Earn Ez-link rewards If you’re paying your fares using vanilla Ez-Link, you’re missing out on some of the advantages we mentioned earlier, so the least you can do is to sign up for the Ez-Link rewards programme. It lets you earn 1 point for every \$0.10 spent using the Ez-link mobile app. The programme rewards you not only for transport fares, but also any other payments made through Ez-Link, Ez-Link charms, Ez-Link Wallet and Ez-Link Pay by Wallet with Mastercard. These include SMRT and TransCab taxis, certain convenience stores like 7-11 and Cheers, and certain eateries like Koufu and KFC. Admittedly, this isn’t exactly the world’s most attractive rewards programme, but it’s better than nothing and can save you a few bucks here and there on certain purchases. Found this article useful? Share it with your bargain-hunting friends & family. *** ![MoneySmart](https://blog-cdn.moneysmart.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/small-M.png) ## About MoneySmart MoneySmart Group is a personal finance platform helping millions across Southeast Asia make smarter moves with their money. Between fine print, endless options, and financial jargon, managing money can feel like a full-time job. MoneySmart cuts through the noise and make complex decisions—from picking the perfect credit card to finding the right insurance—simple, clear, and (dare we say it) even a little enjoyable. Across the region, our trusted platforms, MoneySmart.sg in Singapore and MoneySmart.hk in Hong Kong guide every earning, spending, saving, and investing decision. ## Related Articles [What Is SimplyGo (Formerly ABT) & Should You Ditch Your EZLink Card?](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/transportation/transitlink-simplygo-abt/) [EZ-Link Card Singapore Guide: 7 Nifty Features You Probably Didn’t Know About](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/transportation/ezlink-fun-facts/) [Is the Citi SMRT Card Singapore’s Most Underrated Cashback Card? (MoneySmart Review 2025)](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/citibank-smrt-card-review/) Tags: [Budgeting](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/tag/budgeting/) Popular Articles [01Best Fixed Deposit Rates in Singapore (Apr 2026)—Minimum Deposits From \$500, Rates Up To 1.55%](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/fixed-deposits/best-fixed-deposit-accounts-singapore/) [02Taking the Train from SG to JB? 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Readable Markdown	Public transport fares in Singapore have gone up by 7%, and for obvious reasons, nobody is pleased. Each journey is going to cost 10 to 11 cents more from 23 December 2023. The local news media insists that the 7% hike is still well below the maximum allowable hike of 22.6%, but we’re not buying that. In a time when everyone is struggling with inflation, this fare increase is as welcome as another GST hike. The average Singaporean spent 1.7% of their monthly income on public transport in 2022, according to the Public Transport Council, while lower-income households in the 11th to 20th percentile spent about 2.4%. That doesn’t sound like much, but when added to all the other rising expenses we’re facing, this is still bad news. So, what can Singaporeans do? Tighten our belts once again, that’s what. Here are a few ways you can save money on your commute: ## 1\. Take the MRT before 7:45am They say the early bird catches the worm. Here’s one such incentive for early risers: Tapping into the MRT before 7.45am will earn you \$0.50 off your MRT fares. Of course, the cheapest way to commute to work is to work from home, if your employer allows that. But if you need to be at work, and your job allows for flexible working hours, then you might as well start and end your day earlier. If you’re consistent in being early, the savings do add up. Assuming 22 working days a month, you’d be saving \$11 a month — enough to pay for a couple of meals in Singapore. ## 2\. Tap in & out within 45 minutes If you’ve got a quick errand to run, you can make the round trip count as one journey by tapping in and out within 45 minutes. This only applies to bus/rail transfers. You can’t use this trick to enter and exit at the same MRT station. For example, you can take the MRT from Bishan to Serangoon, buy whatever you need from Nex, then transfer to bus 53 to go back to Bishan (within 45 minutes of tapping out at Serangoon MRT). You can also make multiple MRT transfers without incurring additional charges if you tap in and out within 15 minutes. Use this trick for transferring between MRT lines to save time. ## 3\. Earn credit card rebates with SimplyGo With the introduction of SimplyGo in April 2019, you can now completely bypass the EZ-Link card, and use your credit card to pay for public transport. There are quite few credit cards that can earn you some pretty neat rebates on public transport. We won’t go into the full list here, but these are the 2 more popular credit cards for public transport: While both credit cards offer high rebates (5% or 8%) on your bus and MRT rides, note that you need to spend at least \$600 ([DBS Live Fresh](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/dbs-live-fresh-card-review/)) or \$800 ([Maybank Family & Friends](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/maybank-family-friends-card-review/)) a month to earn them. If you’re not very keen on having to hit a minimum spend, perhaps the [Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card](https://blog.moneysmart.sg/credit-cards/standard-chartered-smart-credit-card-moneysmart-review/) might do the trick for you. Enjoy 6% cashback in equivalent Rewards Points on your everyday spend including your daily commute (Bus/MRT). ## 4\. Prefer EZ-Link? Use the Citibank SMRT Card You may prefer to stick to the tried-and-true EZ-Link for bus and MRT rides. Well, there’s a credit card for that too: the Citibank SMRT Card. The Citi SMRT Card is one of the best for public transport — it doubles up as an EZ-Link card that can auto-reload. By doing this, you can earn 5% rebates on your public transport spending provided you meet the minimum spend of \$500 a month. It also rewards you for groceries and online spending, so consolidating your expenses on this card shouldn’t be too difficult. ## 5\. Get a public transport concession card (maybe) I’ll just put it out there: Singaporeans and PRs can get an Adult Concession Card that costs \$128 for one month’s worth of unlimited bus and MRT rides. You’ll need to travel A LOT to actually benefit from it so it’s probably not worth it for most people, unless you have a daily cross-country commute. Not sure how much you spend on public transport in a given month? You can calculate your fares with the MRT fare calculator and bus fare calculator to see if the concession card is worthwhile. Note that there’s also a one-time fee of \$8.10 (includes \$5 card cost and \$3.10 personalisation fee) if you’re getting this travel pass for the first time. ## 6\. Take advantage of the Travel Smart Journey scheme The Travel Smart Journey (TSJ) scheme is applicable to those who take the North East Line to work. Since the NEL is packed like sardines in the morning, the TSJ is trying to get commuters on this route to switch to taking the bus. As a reward, you’ll earn \$1.50 worth of SimplyGo points per trip, which can later be redeemed for transport vouchers. If you start your weekday commute between 7am to 9am at Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok or Hougang, you can earn your \$1.50 per trip by switching to bus services 43e, 654, 660, 666, 671 or 672. You need to do this for at least four weekdays in 30 days to qualify. ## 7\. Cycle or use a PMD Fed up with ever-increasing public transport fares and want to reduce your reliance on public transport altogether? Then take advantage of the expanded cycling path and park connector network to cycle as much as possible, whether to get the groceries, commute to work or hit your favourite leisure spots. If cycling sounds like too much work, you can also look into alternative forms of transportation or Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) like electric scooters. Just be aware that PMDs are not allowed on footpaths and need to be registered with the LTA. ## 8\. Earn Ez-link rewards If you’re paying your fares using vanilla Ez-Link, you’re missing out on some of the advantages we mentioned earlier, so the least you can do is to sign up for the Ez-Link rewards programme. It lets you earn 1 point for every \$0.10 spent using the Ez-link mobile app. The programme rewards you not only for transport fares, but also any other payments made through Ez-Link, Ez-Link charms, Ez-Link Wallet and Ez-Link Pay by Wallet with Mastercard. These include SMRT and TransCab taxis, certain convenience stores like 7-11 and Cheers, and certain eateries like Koufu and KFC. Admittedly, this isn’t exactly the world’s most attractive rewards programme, but it’s better than nothing and can save you a few bucks here and there on certain purchases. Found this article useful? Share it with your bargain-hunting friends & family.
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