A Greenpeace review of long-term public transport tickets across 30 European capitals and major cities has found fares have climbed sharply since 2023, with some capitals hiking prices by more than half. For anyone planning a city break or scouting a base as a digital nomad, the findings double as a handy cost-of-living cheat sheet.
The steepest rise was in Nicosia, where tickets jumped 67%, followed by Amsterdam (+55%), Madrid (+50%), Bratislava (+32%), Berlin (+29%) and Vienna (+26%). Copenhagen, Bucharest, Brussels, Vilnius, London, Stockholm, Paris and Helsinki all saw significant increases too.
On outright cost, London tops the table at €162 for a monthly ticket — comfortably above Amsterdam (€107), Paris (€77) and Stockholm (€64). Yet price alone isn't the whole story: when Greenpeace factored in availability, affordability and inclusivity of long-term tickets, Paris, London and Amsterdam ranked as the worst three in Europe, sitting at #28, #29 and #30 respectively.
At the bargain end, Prague offers the cheapest long-term ticket at just €15 a month, with Rome (€21) and Sofia (€25) close behind — and three capitals let you ride entirely free: Luxembourg City, Tallinn and Valletta. Four cities actually got cheaper since 2023, with Dublin's fares falling a striking 43%, alongside cuts in Oslo, Bern and Budapest. Twelve capitals held prices steady.
Greenpeace's point goes beyond tourist budgets. The group argues that up to 6% of Europeans can't afford to use public transport at all, while up to 15% find it a heavy financial burden — a barrier to moving people out of cars at a time of heatwaves, droughts and a cost-of-living squeeze. Its answer is a "climate ticket": a single affordable pass valid on all public transport across a country or region, similar in spirit to Germany's Deutschlandticket. Whether that happens, the group says, comes down to political will.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is simple: transport costs vary wildly between European capitals, and they're shifting fast. If you're choosing between similar cities for a longer stay, the difference between a €15 monthly pass in Prague and a €162 one in London can reshape your whole budget. And if a city has recently cut fares — Dublin is the standout — that's worth factoring in before you book.
