Starting January 1st, 2025, Yerevan’s municipal authorities will raise public transportation fares by 1.5 to 3 times, making it increasingly difficult for the average citizen to afford daily commutes. The new fare structure includes several options for using all modes of transportation:
- 1-day ticket: 880 drams (about $2.20 or €2.10)
- 7-day pass: 4,800 drams (about $12 or €11.50)
- 30-day pass: 8,800 drams (about $22 or €21)
- 90-day pass: 23,600 drams (about $59 or €57)
- Annual pass: 88,000 drams (about $220 or €213)
While the daily ticket, priced at 280 drams for 90 minutes, remains affordable, the 1-day and 7-day tickets are limited to 8 and 30 rides, respectively. The annual pass, offering unlimited rides, will cost users an average of 243 drams (about $0.61 or €0.59) per trip, which is 2.4 times more expensive than current rates.
Public transportation is vital for segments of the population who cannot afford private vehicles, including students, pensioners, and low-income citizens. These fare hikes place an additional financial burden on these vulnerable groups, who are unlikely to have the means to spend 88,000 to 90,000 drams per month on transportation.
The minimum monthly salary in the Republic of Armenia remains unchanged at AMD 75,000 for 2024. The last adjustment to this figure occurred in 2023, when the minimum wage was increased from AMD 68,000 to AMD 75,000. This change was made through an amendment to Article 1 of Law HO-66-N, dated December 17, 2003, which established the current minimum wage.
Notably, Armenia’s elderly receive a minimum pension of 36,000 drams (about $95), making affordable public transportation essential, as pensioners are among its most frequent users.
Experts argue that there is no valid justification for such a significant price increase. Municipal authorities attribute the hikes to a reduction in subsidies, but they have not provided details about the current subsidy levels or the expected reduction percentages. Moreover, a bill proposing discounts for social groups was supposed to be presented by September but has yet to materialize.
It’s also important to note that physical tickets will cost more than electronic ones: 900, 5,000, 9,000, 24,000, 90,000, and 300 drams, respectively.
While Yerevan’s municipal authorities have made comparisons to European capitals, these comparisons fail to account for the differences in income levels and social support systems in European cities. When comparing to Tbilisi, however, the disparities are more apparent:
In Tbilisi, transportation costs are significantly lower:
- Single trip: 1 lari (about 142 drams, $0.37, or €0.34)
- 7-day pass: 20 lari (about 2,840 drams, $7.40, or €6.80)
- Monthly pass: 40 lari (about 5,680 drams, $14.80, or €13.60)
- Yearly pass: 250 lari (about 35,500 drams, $92.50, or €85)
In comparison:
- Yerevan’s single trip costs more than Tbilisi’s (1 lari or about 142 drams).
- Yerevan’s 1-day ticket (880 drams) is significantly more expensive than Tbilisi’s (3 lari or 426 drams).
- Yerevan’s 7-day pass (4,800 drams) is almost twice the cost of Tbilisi’s weekly pass (2,840 drams).
- Yerevan’s 90-day and annual passes (23,600 drams and 88,000 drams, respectively) are substantially more expensive than Tbilisi’s.
This comparison underscores the fact that public transportation in Yerevan is becoming prohibitively expensive, especially for long-term commuters.
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The fare increases have triggered protests from residents, prompting former mayor Hayk Marutyan to gather signatures against the hikes. Marutyan criticized the current administration, pointing out the inconsistency in budget allocations. He questioned the logic of raising transportation prices while spending millions on luxury expenses, such as purchasing an 87-million-dram Mercedes, instead of investing in public services. He also highlighted the discrepancy between importing 311 Zhong Tong buses during his tenure and the administration’s resistance to these buses, despite them being brought in after he left office.
The fare hikes have exacerbated socio-economic disparities, with public transport users – primarily students, pensioners, and low-income citizens – facing an increased financial burden. The lack of transparency about subsidy reductions and the absence of proposed discounts for vulnerable groups have only fueled dissatisfaction and mistrust. The comparison to Tbilisi’s more affordable transport system makes it clear that Yerevan’s authorities must reconsider their pricing strategy to ensure public transportation remains accessible to all citizens.
This situation calls for greater accountability from local government officials and a focus on developing a public transportation system that serves the needs of everyone, not just the economically privileged. The ongoing protests may serve as a catalyst for necessary reforms in Yerevan’s public transportation policies, ensuring that the city’s residents are not priced out of access to essential services.
