【Kaohsiung News】
In consideration of rising price levels and the continuous increase in the minimum wage in recent years, the current urban bus fare structure no longer reflects actual operating costs. In order to maintain the sustainable operation of urban bus services and improve service quality, the Kaohsiung City Bus Commercial Association proposed an adjustment to urban bus fares to the City Government in 2025. After reviewing 18 categories of reasonable operating costs for bus operators and referencing bus fares in the six special municipalities, the Transportation Bureau will adjust the discounted fares for section-based urban bus services (including medical shuttle buses, demand-responsive taxis operating as buses, and Happiness Buses) starting March 1, 2026. The new discounted fares will be NT$15 for a full fare and NT$8 for a half fare. Student fares paid with electronic cards will remain at NT$10, while cash payment will follow the full fare rate of NT$15.
The Transportation Bureau explained that Kaohsiung City announced the section-based urban bus fare structure in 2015 as “NT$18 for a full fare, NT$15 for a student fare, and NT$9 for a half fare.” However, at that time urban bus services had just entered the early stage of privatization. In order to encourage citizens to continue using public transportation, the City Government adopted a discounted fare policy, under which the actual fares charged were NT$12 for a full fare, NT$10 for a student fare (NT$12 for cash payment), and NT$6 for a half fare. These discounted fares have remained unchanged for more than 36 years since 1989.
However, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the index increased from 93.30 in 2015 to 110.25 in December 2025, representing an increase of approximately 17%. Meanwhile, the monthly minimum wage increased from NT$20,008 in 2015 to NT$29,500 in 2026, representing an increase of approximately 50%. Bus operating costs have also risen significantly. As fares have remained unchanged for a long period, urban bus revenues have been insufficient and operating losses have gradually expanded year by year. In addition, with the recovery of ridership and passenger demand after the pandemic, bus operators have long faced challenges such as driver shortages and workforce aging, which have affected the expansion of routes and service frequency. These factors have become major operational challenges for urban bus services. The purpose of this fare adjustment is therefore to better reflect operating costs and improve the operating environment for bus operators.
Director Chang Shu-chuan of the Transportation Bureau stated that Kaohsiung City was the first in Taiwan to introduce the TPASS commuter monthly pass in 2023, including the NT$399 Kaohsiung urban commuter pass and the NT$999 Southern Kaohsiung–Pingtung commuter pass. Since its launch, the program has been widely supported by commuters and students, and most users have developed the habit of purchasing and using the monthly pass. Monthly sales have now stabilized at more than 100,000 passes. In addition, for residents registered in Kaohsiung City who are aged 65 or above, as well as persons with disabilities, the Social Affairs Bureau provides social welfare cards and welfare points that allow them to ride urban buses free of charge or at discounted rates. Student fares paid with electronic cards will also remain unchanged at NT$10. Therefore, the three major groups of urban bus users in Kaohsiung—senior citizens, commuting and student passengers, and frequent urban bus users—will not be affected by this fare adjustment.
The Transportation Bureau further noted that the adjusted fares will be the same as those in the Taipei metropolitan area, while still remaining lower than those in most other cities and counties. The additional fare revenue will be fully used to improve driver salaries and employment benefits. In line with the City Government’s policy support, urban bus drivers will receive an additional monthly salary increase of NT$5,000 this year. The City Government also hopes that citizens will continue to make greater use of public transportation and green mobility, working together to build a safe, sustainable, and net-zero city.
The new discounted bus fare scheme is summarized in the table below:
Payment Method | Full Fare | Student Fare | Half Fare | Notes |
Cash Payment | NT$15 | NT$15 | NT$8 | 1.Half-fare eligibility applies to seniors aged 65 or above, persons with disabilities (and one necessary companion), and children aged 6 to under 12. Passengers purchasing a half fare must present relevant identification. |
Electronic Ticketing and Mobile Payment | NT$15 | NT$10 | NT$8 | 1. Student fares apply to digital student IDs with photo and valid expiration date, the Kaohsiung Student Identity Card, and when points on the Kaohsiung Low-income households Student Card are exhausted. |
Kaohsiung Social Welfare Cards | — | Kaohsiung Low-income households Student Card:1 point per section | Kaohsiung Disabled Card:8 points per section | 1. Eligibility and benefits for social welfare cards such as Senior Cards, Low-income households Student Cards, and Disabled Cards can be found on the Social Affairs Bureau website or via the Social Affairs Bureau hotline. |
