Is the Tokyo Subway Ticket or Suica cheaper?

The Tokyo Subway Ticket 72h (¥1,500) is cheaper than Suica pay-per-ride when you take 8 or more subway rides over 3 days. Each Tokyo Metro/Toei subway ride costs ~¥200 with Suica. At 8 rides = ¥1,600 — more than the ¥1,500 72h ticket. Fewer than 8 rides: Suica wins.

How much should I budget for Tokyo transport?

Budget ¥1,000–2,000 per day for Tokyo transport. Active sightseers: ¥1,500–2,000/day. Budget travelers: ¥800–1,200/day. Add ¥3,070–3,250 for the N'EX airport transfer if flying in/out of Narita (or ¥1,000–1,300 for the airport bus).

Calculator · Tokyo Transport

Tokyo Daily Transport Cost Calculator

Q: How much does Tokyo transport cost per day?

The average tourist in Tokyo spends ¥800–1,500 per day on transport using a Suica IC card (pay per ride). Heavy sightseers taking 8+ rides per day can reach ¥1,600–2,400. The Tokyo Subway Ticket 72h (¥1,500) breaks even at 8 subway rides over 3 days — averaging about 2.7 rides per day.

Enter your days, daily rides, and airport situation. Get your total cost and the cheapest ticket combination instantly.

Your Tokyo Trip

Days in Tokyo

Number of full days (not counting travel days)

Subway / Metro rides per day

Tokyo Metro + Toei Subway rides (¥170–320 each avg ¥200)

JR local rides per day (Yamanote etc.)

JR Yamanote, Chuo, Sobu lines (¥160–210 each avg ¥190)

Airport transfer (Narita)

Round trip cost added to your total

Travelers

Your Cost Comparison

Subway avg fare ¥200 · JR local avg fare ¥190 · All prices per person unless stated. Airport transfer costs not included in per-person pass comparison.

Tokyo Subway Ticket Break-Even Reference

Ticket Type	Price	Break-even (subway rides)	Best for
24h Subway Ticket	¥800	4 rides in 24h	Heavy single-day sightseers
48h Subway Ticket	¥1,200	6 rides in 48h	2-day Tokyo focus
72h Subway Ticket	¥1,500	8 rides in 72h	3-day city itinerary
Suica (pay per ride)	~¥200/ride	Always accurate	Light riders or spontaneous plans

Tokyo Subway Ticket covers Tokyo Metro (9 lines) + Toei Subway (4 lines) only. JR Yamanote and private railways require Suica separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Tokyo transport cost per day?

The average tourist in Tokyo spends ¥800–1,500 per day on local transport using a Suica IC card. Heavy sightseers taking 8–10 rides per day can reach ¥1,600–2,400/day. The Tokyo Subway Ticket 72h (¥1,500) caps subway costs for 3 days regardless of how many rides you take.

Is the Tokyo Subway Ticket worth it?

The 72h Subway Ticket (¥1,500) is worth it when you take 8 or more subway rides over 3 days — averaging 2.7 rides/day. Each Tokyo Metro or Toei Subway ride costs ~¥200 with Suica; 8 rides = ¥1,600. If you are covering multiple Tokyo sightseeing areas by subway daily, the ticket usually pays off.

Does this calculator include the Yamanote Line?

Yes — the "JR local rides" slider covers JR Yamanote Line, Chuo Line, Sobu Line, and similar JR trains within Tokyo at an average fare of ¥190. These are not covered by the Tokyo Subway Ticket — always use Suica for JR rides.

What is the cheapest way to get around Tokyo?

For most trip lengths, Suica pay-per-ride is cheapest if you take fewer than 8 subway rides per 3 days. Once you exceed that, add the 72h Subway Ticket (¥1,500). Walking between nearby attractions (Shinjuku→Shibuya, Asakusa→Ueno) can meaningfully reduce your daily transit cost and is often pleasant.

Calculator uses average fares (subway ¥200 · JR local ¥190) checked June 2026. Actual fares vary by route. Verify at tokyometro.jp and jreast.co.jp.

Tokyo Daily Transport Cost Calculator

Your Tokyo Trip

Your Cost Comparison

Tokyo Subway Ticket Break-Even Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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