Melbourne commuters are now paying half-price on public transport every day, after the Victorian Government's cost-of-living measure took effect on 1 June and runs until the end of 2026. Under the change, a full daily fare is capped at $5.70 to travel anywhere across the state — down from $11.40 — the state government says.
The discount applies "every day, for everyone," with no peak-hour carve-outs or eligibility tests. For a regular commuter, the government estimates the change will save the average daily traveller more than $850 between 1 June and the end of the year.
The half-price fares cover the full network — trains, trams and buses, both metro and V/Line — meaning regional commuters travelling into Melbourne benefit alongside city passengers. The government has described the measure as immediate relief for "every Victorian."
The half-price period followed two months of entirely free public transport, which was extended until the end of May before the discounted fares began. Passengers who hold myki passes are also covered: reimbursements are available for people who bought passes at the full rate.
Some groups keep travelling for nothing. Public transport remains permanently free for under-18s, and free on weekends for seniors, carers and disability support pensioners — concessions that sit on top of the half-price fares available to everyone else.
The measure is part of the Victorian Budget's cost-of-living package, which the government has framed around easing household pressures as global conditions push up prices at home. Half-price public transport was one of the headline relief measures, alongside spending on other affordability initiatives.
For Melburnians, the practical effect is straightforward: a day of unlimited travel on trams through the city, trains across the suburbs, or buses to the outer growth areas now tops out at $5.70 rather than $11.40, whether or not you travel at peak times. The saving is largest for daily five-day-a-week commuters, but applies to occasional and weekend travellers too.
Passengers do not need to do anything to receive the discounted fare — it is applied automatically at the lower rate when travelling with myki. The government has said the half-price rate runs until the end of 2026.
