Public transportation (OV) in the Netherlands turns out to be screamingly expensive – RESEARCH
Top three most expensive OV countries
Research firm Compare the Market mapped OV fares from 99 different countries around the world. The survey shows that Switzerland has the most expensive public transport. A single trip there costs an average of $3.97 and for a monthly pass you pay $88.26. Holland is also screamingly expensive with an average one-way ticket price of $3.65 and $87.51 for a monthly pass. Australia completes the top three with an average one-way ticket price of $2.93 and a monthly pass of $106.93.
Expensive cities in the Netherlands
Switzerland is known as a very expensive place to live, so it is not very surprising that the country charges the highest fares for public transportation. In Zurich, public transport is the most expensive, costing $4.85 for an average one-way trip. The Netherlands also appears to have expensive public transport. Perhaps that is why so many Dutch prefer to travel by bicycle? So in which cities is OV above average in the Netherlands? Consider Eindhoven (average $4.83 for a one-way ticket), Rotterdam ($4.29) and The Hague ($4.29).
The most expensive OV countries
| Country | AVG ticket price (USD) | AVG monthly pass price (USD) | Index score (/10) |
| Switzerland | $3.97 | $88.26 | 9.80 |
| Netherlands | $3.65 | $87.51 | 9.69 |
| Australia | $2.93 | $106.93 | 9.49 |
| Norway | $3.61 | $72.15 | 9.33 |
| Ireland | $2.36 | $118.04 | 9.29 |
| Sweden | $3.24 | $77.22 | 9.28 |
| United Kingdom | $3.09 | $82.10 | 9.28 |
| Denmark | $3.46 | $72.01 | 9.18 |
| Germany | $3.22 | $74.05 | 9.18 |
| New Zealand | $2.12 | $106.41 | 9.13 |
Cheapest OV countries
The countries with the cheapest public transport are Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal. In Sri Lanka, a one-way ticket costs an average of $0.17 and for a monthly pass you pay $5.79. Pakistan follows in second place with $0.18 for a one-way ticket and $7.01 for a monthly pass. In Nepal, you pay an average of $0.19 for a one-way ticket and are $7.57 for a monthly pass.
| Country | AVG ticket price (USD) | AVG monthly pass price (USD) | Index score (/10) |
| Sri Lanka | $0.17 | $5.79 | 0.05 |
| Pakistan | $0.18 | $7.01 | 0.15 |
| Nepal | $0.19 | $7.57 | 0.30 |
| Algeria | $0.18 | $9.21 | 0.31 |
| Uzbekistan | $0.13 | $10.00 | 0.41 |
| Tunisia | $0.24 | $9.69 | 0.61 |
| Egypt | $0.19 | $11.17 | 0.71 |
| Vietnam | $0.30 | $8.52 | 0.81 |
| India | $0.30 | $9.69 | 0.92 |
| Azerbaijan | $0.24 | $11.76 | 0.97 |