Just arrived in Canada? Sorting out your transit card is the first step before riding the SkyTrain or buses.
In Vancouver you use Compass Card, for use in Toronto Presto Card—the two cards are different, and so are the rules. And in 2026 both cities are seeing major changes, so older guides are already out of date.
Vancouver Compass Card (TransLink)
What is a Compass Card?
The Compass Card is the TransLink stored-value transit card for Metro Vancouver, and you can use it on:
- SkyTrain: the Expo Line, Millennium Line, and Canada Line
- SeaBus (passenger ferry, North Vancouver)
- Bus (the vast majority of city buses)
- West Coast Express
- HandyDART (accessible door-to-door service)
Fare increase on July 1, 2026 (important!)
TransLink has announced a fare increase of about 5% effective July 1, 2026:
| Monthly pass type | Before June 2026 | Starting July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 monthly pass (adult) | $111.50 | $117.20 |
| Zone 2 monthly pass (adult) | $149.00 | $156.70 |
| Zone 3 monthly pass (adult) | $201.50 | $211.65 |
| One-way Zone 1 (peak) | $3.10 | $3.25 |
| Single ride Zone 2 (peak) | $4.25 | $4.45 |
? Money-saving tip:The difference between a monthly pass and stored value: if you commute every day (weekdays), a monthly pass is usually a better deal than paying per ride with stored value. Here's how to figure it out: monthly pass ÷ 22 working days = cost per trip, then compare that to the single-ride fare.
About the zone system
Vancouver's TransLink is divided into three zones:
- Zone 1:Downtown Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and parts of Richmond
- Zone 2:Delta, North Van, West Van, Surrey (partial), Coquitlam
- Zone 3:The outermost areas (Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows)
When a single trip crosses several zones, the fare is based on the highest number of zones traveled. During off-peak hours (after 3 PM Monday to Friday, or all day on weekends), the discounted fare counts as just one zone.
How do I get a Compass Card?
Three ways:
- The CVM (Compass Vending Machine) at SkyTrain stations:Available at every station, with a $6 CAD deposit (refundable), payable by cash or credit card
- 7-Eleven, Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs:Sold at select stores, with the same $6 CAD deposit
- TransLink Customer Service Centre (Stadium–Chinatown Station):You can buy monthly passes, discount cards, or get your deposit refunded
⚠️ Pitfall:The Compass Card deposit is refundable, but you'll need to go to a Customer Service Centre to do it—it can't be refunded at a machine.
Compass Concession (discounted fare)
The following groups qualify for discounted fares (around 50% off):
- Age 65 and over (senior fare)
- Ages 5–13 (child ticket)
- Recipients of social assistance receiving BC income support
You'll need to apply for a discounted Compass Card at a Customer Service Centre and provide supporting documents.
How do I load value and buy a monthly pass?
- Online:Go to compasscard.ca Register your card and top it up — you can set up auto-reload
- CVM machine:Top up directly with cash or a credit card
- App:You can also manage your Compass Card through the official TransLink app
Tap on / Tap off
With the Compass Card you need to tap both when you board and when you get off (Tap on / Tap off). If you only Tap on without tapping off, the system charges the maximum fare. At SkyTrain stations and the SeaBus, there are readers at both the entrance and exit; on buses you only need to Tap on (no tap required when exiting).
Toronto Presto Card (TTC / GO Transit)
What is a Presto Card?
The Presto Card is the universal stored-value transit card for the Greater Toronto Area, accepted on:
- TTC (Toronto downtown subway, buses, and streetcars)
- GO Transit (regional rail)
- UP Express (Airport Express)
- Surrounding areas: Mississauga MiWay, Brampton Züm, York Region Transit, Durham Region Transit, and more
Major reform in September 2026: monthly passes switch to a Fare Cap
⚠️ Very important update:The TTC has announced that starting September 1, 2026,Abolishing the traditional Monthly Pass, changed to Fare Capping.
About the new system:
- CAD 3.30 is deducted per TTC ride
- Once you reach 47 rides in a month, every ride after that is automatically free (effectively a fare cap)
- Fare cap: 47 × $3.30 = $155.10 CAD (comparable to the current $156 monthly pass)
- The count resets automatically on the 1st of every month
? Impact on new immigrants:If you don't commute every day (for example, with hybrid work), the new system is more economical—you only pay for the rides you actually take, with no need to buy a full monthly pass.
Presto Card current fares (before September 2026)
- TTC adult monthly pass: $156 CAD/month
- TTC single ride (Presto stored value): $3.30 CAD
- GO Transit: priced by distance, starting at around $3.50+
- UP Express (Pearson ↔ Union Station): $12.35 CAD one-way
How do you get a Presto Card?
- Apply online on the Presto website:prestocard.ca, mailed to your door, free
- TTC subway station ticket machines:$6 CAD deposit
- Shoppers Drug Mart:Sold at various stores across Toronto
- GO Transit stations:Ticket machines are available at all major stations
Digital Presto (card-free option)
Since 2023, Presto has rolled out a digital version that you can link directly to a credit card or Google/Apple Pay, with no physical card needed:
- Download the Presto App and set up a payment method
- Tap with your phone's NFC when boarding
- Fares are calculated the same as for the physical card
? Great for newcomers who don't have a local credit card yet—you can simply tap with Apple Pay linked to your home-country credit card to start.
Presto discounted fare
- Senior ticket:Ages 65 and over, monthly pass $128 CAD (switching to a cap system after September 2026)
- Student ticket:Ages 13–19, monthly pass CAD 128 (for enrolled high school students)
- Children:Free for children under 12
Montreal Transit Card — STM OPUS Card
Montreal's public transit is operated by STM (Société de transport de Montréal)managed by, and the transit card is called OPUS Card.
OPUS Card Basics
- Card purchase fee:$6 CAD (refundable)
- Where to buy:the ticket machines at STM metro stations, or the Espace client website
- Monthly pass (Mensuel Tous Modes):About $104.50 CAD (2026) — covers unlimited metro + bus rides for the whole month
- Single ticket:$3.75 CAD (using OPUS stored value)
- Découverte day pass:CAD 10 (unlimited rides that day)
STM service area
- Metro 4 lines: Orange Line, Green Line, Blue Line, Yellow Line
- Bus network covering all districts of Montreal
- Transfer rule: transferring from metro to bus or bus to metro is free within 90 minutes (same journey)
| type | cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OPUS Card fee | $6 CAD | Refundable |
| Monthly pass (unlimited all month) | ~$104.50 CAD | Covers metro + bus |
| Single-ride ticket (OPUS top-up) | $3.75 CAD | Free transfers within 90 minutes |
| Student monthly pass | ~$55 CAD | Requires verification of current student enrollment |
⚠️ A note on French:Montreal is a French-speaking city, so STM service is primarily in French, with a limited English interface. We recommend downloading the STM App (available in English/French) to look up routes.
Calgary transit card — Calgary Transit My Fare
For use in Calgary Calgary Transit, which previously used a stored-value card and is now mainly promoting My Fare (mobile app)Pair it with contactless payment.
My Fare basics
- Download:Calgary Transit My Fare App (iOS/Android)
- Payment:Link a credit card and tap at the gate
- Fare Cap:Once your spending hits the cap within 30 days it automatically switches to unlimited rides, roughly $112 CAD
- Single ride:$3.70 CAD (adult)
Calgary Transit service area
- CTrain (light rail): Red Line + Blue Line, running through downtown
- Downtown (Free Fare Zone): the CTrain is free to ride at certain downtown stations
- Bus network covers the whole city
| type | cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | $3.70 CAD | Transfer valid for 90 minutes |
| Monthly pass cap (30-day Fare Cap) | ~$112 CAD | Free for the rest of the month once you hit the cap |
| Student monthly pass | ~$56 CAD | Requires proof of enrollment |
| Free fare zone on the downtown CTrain | $0 | City Centre free zone |
Edmonton transit card — Edmonton Transit Arc Card
Edmonton's public transit is called ETS (Edmonton Transit Service), using Arc Card.
Arc Card basics
- Card purchase fee:$5 CAD
- Where to buy:Edmonton City Hall, Transit Centres, or the ETS App
- Monthly Pass:About $102 CAD
- Single ticket:$3.50 CAD (Arc Card stored value)
- Daily spending cap (Daily Cap):Free for the rest of the day after 2 single-ride fares
ETS service area
- LRT (light rail): Capital Line (north–south), Metro Line (connecting the university), Valley Line (east–west, new line)
- Buses cover every part of the city
- Transfers: free transfers within 90 minutes (same journey)
| type | cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arc Card card fee | $5 CAD | One-time |
| Monthly Pass | ~$102 CAD | Unlimited rides all month |
| Single ticket | $3.50 CAD | Free transfers within 90 minutes |
| Student monthly pass | ~$69 CAD | University/high school students |
Ottawa transit card — OC Transpo Presto
Ottawa's public transit is called OC Transpo, also using Presto Card(the same system as Toronto's TTC), so you can share the same card.
OC Transpo Presto information
- Shares the Presto Card with Toronto(the same card can be used in both cities)
- Monthly pass (Équipass / Monthly):約 $131 CAD(OC Transpo monthly pass cap)
- Single ticket:$3.80 CAD (Presto top-up)
- Day Pass:$10 CAD (unlimited for the day)
OC Transpo service area
- O-Train Confederation Line (LRT Red Line): runs east-west across the city
- O-Train Trillium Line (north-south)
- Buses cover the whole city, including suburban routes
- Ottawa city employees (civil servants): some receive a subsidized monthly transit pass
| type | cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Presto Card card fee | $6 CAD | Same as Toronto |
| Monthly pass (Presto Monthly Cap) | ~$131 CAD | Free for the rest of the month once you hit the cap |
| Single ticket | $3.80 CAD | Free transfers within 90 minutes |
| Day Pass | $10 CAD | Unlimited for the day |
Transit Card Fare Comparison for Six Major Cities
| City | Transit card | Monthly fee/cap | Single ticket | Card fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | Compass Card | $117-$211 (Zone monthly pass) | $3.25–$6.55 | $6 CAD |
| Toronto | Presto (TTC) | Monthly Cap system | $3.30 CAD | $6 CAD |
| Montreal | OPUS Card | $104.50 CAD | $3.75 CAD | $6 CAD |
| Calgary | My Fare (App) | $112 CAD cap | $3.70 CAD | No card needed |
| Edmonton | Arc Card | $102 CAD | $3.50 CAD | $5 CAD |
| Ottawa | Presto (OC Transpo) | $131 CAD cap | $3.80 CAD | $6 CAD |
? Conclusion:Edmonton has the cheapest monthly pass ($102) and Ottawa the most expensive ($131). Montreal's monthly pass is the best fixed-rate value; Calgary and Ottawa use a "fare cap" system—less hassle but no savings—so for occasional rides you're better off buying single tickets.
A detailed comparison of Vancouver vs. Toronto transit
| project | Vancouver Compass | Toronto Presto |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | $6 CAD (refundable) | $6 CAD (refundable) |
| Monthly pass system | Zone monthly passes, $117–$211 starting in July | Switches to a fare-capping system starting in September |
| Digital/mobile tap | Support (Google/Apple Pay) | Support (Presto App) |
| Online top-up delay | Up to 90 minutes | Up to 24 hours |
| Lost card | Freeze it online, and the balance can be transferred | Freeze it online, and the balance can be transferred |
Money-saving tips, rounded up
- Vancouver:Travel during off-peak hours (Monday to Friday 9:30am–3pm and after 6:30pm, all day on weekends) and the fare drops to a single zone.
- Vancouver:Buying a monthly pass online is cheaper than buying it from a machine, and you can enjoy auto-renew
- Toronto:Topping up with Presto is cheaper than paying cash (cash fare $3.35 vs Presto $3.30)
- Toronto:Under the new rules starting in September, non-daily commuters don't need to buy a monthly pass
- Both places:Plan your commute route well and try to travel outside the peak-hour windows.
FAQ
Q: Can a Compass Card be used in Toronto, and vice versa?
No. The Compass Card and the Presto Card are separate systems and aren't interchangeable. When traveling to Toronto, you'll need to get a Presto card or buy single-ride TTC tickets separately.
Q: If I don't have enough balance, can I still keep riding?
The Compass Card allows up to a CAD 5 overdraft (credit) before it's declined, but you'll need to cover the overdraft amount the next time you reload. With Presto, the card usually won't tap through when your balance is too low.
Q: What should I do if I lose my Compass Card?
After you register your card at compasscard.ca, you can freeze it online if it's lost. If your card is registered, your balance and monthly pass can be transferred to a new card. If an unregistered card is lost, the balance can't be recovered.
Q: Can I use the same Presto Card to transfer between the GO Train and the TTC?
Yes — the Presto Card works everywhere. Some routes offer transfer discounts (for example, the GO + TTC combined fare).
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