In light of the annual adjustment of ticket prices, we have compiled questions and answers that we often receive about the ticket prices.

Who sets the ticket prices for Ruter?

Ticket prices are determined by the politicians in the Akershus county municipality and Oslo municipality.

Ruter adjusts ticket prices in line with the inflation in society, but it is the elected officials who make the final decision on what the specific price will be.

What do the politicians decide and what does Ruter decide?

The politicians decide: The price level, discount schemes, zoning, and overarching principles for ticket pricing.

Routes are determined: Practical implementation, technical solutions, product design within the political framework, and provides professional recommendations.

How are ticket prices determined?

This is a political process where Ruter prepares proposals based on cost development in society, traffic growth, and political directives. The proposal is sent for political consideration in the county municipalities and Oslo municipality, which set the prices, usually in connection with the budget process.

How often do ticket prices change?

We change the prices on the third Sunday of the year, every year. In 2026, this is Sunday, January 25th.

There may also be other price adjustments besides the fixed one in January, but these are agreed upon by the politicians.

What does the annual price increase entail?

The basis for the annual price adjustment is the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is intended to cover increased operating costs such as wages, energy, maintenance, and inflation. In 2025, this price increase was 3.5% and lays the foundation for the price adjustment on January 25th.

Are prices adjusted several times a year?

You might have read that the city council in Oslo wants to reduce the prices of monthly passes in Oslo - so why are the prices increasing?

The price change occurring on January 25th is a fixed annual price adjustment where prices are increased in accordance with the cost development in society. In addition to this, there may be other price changes in 2026, but there is no set time for when these changes might take place. It is up to the politicians to agree on this.

Does Ruter benefit from changing ticket prices?

No, Ruter is a non-commercial company owned by Akershus County Municipality and Oslo Municipality. Ruter does not make money from ticket revenues, and all income is reinvested into the public transport services. Therefore, by using public transport, you are helping to finance future public transport. Annual price adjustments are necessary to cover increased costs in society and maintain the public transport services in the region.

What percentage of Ruter's revenues comes from ticket sales?

Typically, ticket revenues cover about half of the operating costs. The rest is financed by public funds from Oslo Municipality and Akershus County Municipality.

How much is public transportation subsidized by the government?

About half of the operating costs are covered by public grants. In addition, there are investments in infrastructure (subway, tram, bus terminals) which are largely publicly financed.

How are the costs distributed between ticket revenues and public support?

The distribution varies somewhat from year to year, but the goal is a balance where users pay a fair share while society subsidizes the remainder to keep prices affordable and encourage the use of public transportation.

Why does it cost money to use public transportation?

Even though the ticket may seem expensive, the alternative of using your own car is often more costly when you take into account all expenses such as insurance, maintenance, fuel, parking, and tolls.

It is important to remember that public transportation requires large investments: procurement of vehicles and new infrastructure, personnel salary costs, and continuous maintenance and operation of an extensive route network. Therefore, public transportation is also expensive to operate.

An example of why public transportation is costly is that in Oslo we have bus lines that run every fourth or fifth minute during the busiest times. Lines 20, 21, and 37 are examples of bus lines with the most frequent departures during rush hour in Oslo. Tram numbers 17 and 18 have five-minute frequencies.

If you still think the tickets are expensive, it might be good to remember that public transport is an important community service that allows everyone to travel together, regardless of who you are and where you come from, it also provides numerous environmental benefits, reduces traffic congestion, creates more space for people in the region, and results in cleaner air.