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Master TTC & GO: Save $100s on Transit as a GTA Newcomer.

  • Writer: Chidi Ijeh
    Chidi Ijeh
  • 13 minutes ago
  • 3 min read

You’ve landed in the GTA. You’ve learned “eh,” you’re navigating the snow, and now you’re trying to get around the city without spending half your salary on transit. Welcome. Let’s break down how to move around the GTA confidently and cheaply, using TTC, GO Transit, local buses, and Ontario’s new One Fare program.


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The Transit Jungle: TTC, GO, and Regional Systems

  • TTC covers subways, streetcars, and buses inside Toronto.

  • GO Transit connects the GTA with regional trains and buses.

  • 905-area transit systems (MiWay, Brampton Transit, YRT, DRT, etc.) handle your local neighbourhood rides.


Before 2024, switching between these systems meant paying twice. Now? Not anymore.


Ontario’s One Fare Program: Your New Money-Saving Superpower


Launched in early 2024, the One Fare Program lets riders transfer between TTC, GO Transit, and most 905 transit systems using only one fare when you tap with the same PRESTO card or the same contactless debit or credit card.


What One Fare means in real life

  • Start on TTC or a 905 bus, transfer to GO, and you only pay the single TTC or local fare.

  • Start on GO Transit, then transfer to TTC or another bus system, and you don’t pay a second fare.

  • Works with PRESTO cards, PRESTO in mobile wallets, or contactless cards.

  • Saves commuters hundreds of dollars every year, especially newcomers who cross city boundaries for work or school.

It is basically the first time transit across the GTA feels like one connected system.


TTC Basics: Fares, PRESTO, and Passes

If you stay mostly inside Toronto:

  • Single adult fare with PRESTO: $3.30

  • Monthly pass: $156 (or cheaper with the 12-month plan)

But if you also ride GO Transit or a suburban agency, a TTC-only monthly pass might not be the smartest choice because One Fare benefits apply only to regular pay-as-you-go taps.

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GO Transit + Local Transit: When It Makes the Most Sense

If you live in Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Durham, or York Region and commute to work or school in Toronto:

  • Tap onto GO Transit with PRESTO or a contactless card

  • When you transfer to TTC or a local 905 bus, you pay nothing extra

  • GO Transit has a longer transfer window and often gets you downtown faster

Suburban riders who travel into Toronto daily can easily save $1,500 or more per year compared to the old system.


Your Situation

Best Strategy

You live in Toronto and ride daily

TTC PRESTO pay-as-you-go or monthly pass

You live in the suburbs and commute downtown

GO Transit plus local transit with One Fare

Your schedule is unpredictable

Pay-as-you-go with PRESTO

You’re a newcomer exploring jobs, errands, and social life across the GTA

One Fare plus PRESTO tap-only trips

You are on a tight budget

Use One Fare and avoid multiple paid transfers

 Important Things to Know

  • One Fare only works with PRESTO or contactless tap payments. Cash fares, paper transfers, and old TTC tokens do not qualify.

  • Transfer windows are usually two hours for local transit and three hours if your trip starts on GO Transit.

  • You must tap with the same card or payment method throughout your trip to receive the One Fare discount.

  • TTC retired tokens, tickets, and day passes, so PRESTO is your one-stop shop.


The Welcome Party Guide for Maximizing Savings

  • Get a PRESTO card as soon as you arrive

  • If you live in the suburbs and work downtown, GO Transit plus One Fare will save you the most

  • If you rarely ride transit, avoid passes and pay per trip

  • If you explore different cities on weekends, One Fare helps you move between regions affordably

  • Don’t buy a monthly TTC pass unless your trips are strictly inside Toronto and you ride almost every day


Conclusion: Move Smart, Spend Less

Getting around the GTA can feel overwhelming, but once you understand how the systems connect, transit becomes one of the easiest ways to save money as a newcomer.TTC helps you navigate Toronto, GO Transit opens the region, and Ontario’s One Fare Program finally makes the journey affordable.

Tap once, ride confidently, save money, and explore your new home without worrying about paying extra every time you switch vehicles.

Welcome to the GTA. Your transit strategy is officially upgraded.

 
 
 

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