What we know so far about the Deutschlandticket’s €9 price hike

Transport users with the €49 monthly public transport pass – the Deutschlandticket – face a significant price hike. Here’s what we know about the forthcoming plans for the €58 ticket.

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People living in Germany or those who’ve visited in the last few years may remember the €9 ticket. 
For three months over the summer of 2022, travelling on public transport all over Germany (although not high speed trains) cost just €9 per month – and even tourists could take advantage of the offer. It made its mark at the time, sparking a renewed interest in public transport travel and a lively debate on whether it was genius or madness (the jury is still out).
Then in May 2023, the €49 ticket came along and was dubbed the ‘Deutschlandticket’. The concept was similar – again, people could use buses, trams, the U-Bahn and even regional trains all over the country for just under €50 per month. But a subscription system was launched, making it harder for tourists to use the offer. 
Now things are changing again.

How much will the Deutschlandticket cost?
The ticket – which has around 13 million subscribers – is going up in price by almost €10, and will set customers back €58 per month from January 1st 2025. 
“The agreement reached at the special conference of transport ministers shows that the federal states want to hold on to the successful Deutschlandticket model and develop it further,” said North Rhine-Westphalia transport minister Oliver Krischer, of the Greens, following a meeting with his state counterparts on Monday.
“With this price, we will be able to keep the ticket attractive and put its financing on a more solid footing.”
READ ALSO: Germany’s Deutschlandticket to see jump in price from 2025
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But even the €58 price tag feels uncertain in the long run. Some state ministers hope that the price will remain unchanged into 2026. However, this is conditional on renewed financial support from the federal government amounting to €1.5 billion – and this has not yet been agreed for 2026.
This back-and-forth between the states and the government over funding for the ticket has been one of the most controversial aspects of the travel pass.
“We need the federal government on board now so that the funds are secured,” said Schleswig-Holstein’s transport minister Claus Ruhe Madsen.

A passenger holds a smartphone with a digital Deutschlandticket in his hand at a subway station. The well-know 49 euro price could be set in increase as early as next year. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Marcus Brandt
Why is it going up?
The €9 price hike – which is an 18.3 percent increase – is essential to keep the offer afloat, state ministers say. They cite inflation and rising operating costs as the main factors behind the change.
It is a “moderate price increase in view of what is on offer” and still a “very affordable offer” for using all public transport throughout Germany, said state transport minister Krischer.
“We deliberately opted for the €58 in order to cover our costs,” he said. “That’s not too much and not too little either.”
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What is the reaction?
It will no doubt be a disappointment to the millions of customers in Germany who will have to dig deeper into their pockets from next year.
According to the passenger association Pro Bahn, the increase is too steep. “A jump to €54 would have been fine, but a jump to €58 seems too high to me,” said national chairman Detlef Neuß.
“If the number of passengers goes down because the costs are too high, we have gained nothing.”
A study commissioned by the government and states predicted that a price increase of €10 could cause 10.3 to 21.1 percent of Deutschlandticket customers to drop out. No scenarios were calculated for a price increase of €9 but it doesn’t look great.

A sign for Germany’s Deutschlandticket. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sebastian Gollnow
What does it mean for special tickets?
The discounted variants of the Deutschlandticket are also getting more expensive.
The ‘job ticket’, which currently costs €34.30 per month, will go up to €40.60 per month from January. If companies give their employees a discount of at least 25 percent on the subscription, the government will add a further five percent.
And in future, students will pay €34.80 instead of €29.60 for their semester ticket. However, the new price will not apply to them until the 2025/2026 winter semester.
READ ALSO: Which workers will get a discount on Germany’s €49 ticket?
Is there anything else I should know?
A special offer for annual season ticket holders is being called for, which could benefit some holders if it goes ahead.
Following the decision by state transport ministers, the SPD and the Greens spoke out in favour of setting a special price for people who buy an annual ticket, rather than paying month to month.
Stefan Gelbhaar from the Greens spoke out in favour of retaining the price of €49 per month for annual subscribers.

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People living in Germany or those who’ve visited in the last few years may remember the €9 ticket. 
For three months over the summer of 2022, travelling on public transport all over Germany (although not high speed trains) cost just €9 per month – and even tourists could take advantage of the offer. It made its mark at the time, sparking a renewed interest in public transport travel and a lively debate on whether it was genius or madness (the jury is still out).
Then in May 2023, the €49 ticket came along and was dubbed the ‘Deutschlandticket’. The concept was similar – again, people could use buses, trams, the U-Bahn and even regional trains all over the country for just under €50 per month. But a subscription system was launched, making it harder for tourists to use the offer. 
Now things are changing again.
How much will the Deutschlandticket cost?
The ticket – which has around 13 million subscribers – is going up in price by almost €10, and will set customers back €58 per month from January 1st 2025. 
“The agreement reached at the special conference of transport ministers shows that the federal states want to hold on to the successful Deutschlandticket model and develop it further,” said North Rhine-Westphalia transport minister Oliver Krischer, of the Greens, following a meeting with his state counterparts on Monday.
“With this price, we will be able to keep the ticket attractive and put its financing on a more solid footing.”
READ ALSO: Germany’s Deutschlandticket to see jump in price from 2025
But even the €58 price tag feels uncertain in the long run. Some state ministers hope that the price will remain unchanged into 2026. However, this is conditional on renewed financial support from the federal government amounting to €1.5 billion – and this has not yet been agreed for 2026.
This back-and-forth between the states and the government over funding for the ticket has been one of the most controversial aspects of the travel pass.
“We need the federal government on board now so that the funds are secured,” said Schleswig-Holstein’s transport minister Claus Ruhe Madsen.

Why is it going up?
The €9 price hike – which is an 18.3 percent increase – is essential to keep the offer afloat, state ministers say. They cite inflation and rising operating costs as the main factors behind the change.
It is a “moderate price increase in view of what is on offer” and still a “very affordable offer” for using all public transport throughout Germany, said state transport minister Krischer.
“We deliberately opted for the €58 in order to cover our costs,” he said. “That’s not too much and not too little either.”
What is the reaction?
It will no doubt be a disappointment to the millions of customers in Germany who will have to dig deeper into their pockets from next year.
According to the passenger association Pro Bahn, the increase is too steep. “A jump to €54 would have been fine, but a jump to €58 seems too high to me,” said national chairman Detlef Neuß.
“If the number of passengers goes down because the costs are too high, we have gained nothing.”
A study commissioned by the government and states predicted that a price increase of €10 could cause 10.3 to 21.1 percent of Deutschlandticket customers to drop out. No scenarios were calculated for a price increase of €9 but it doesn’t look great.

What does it mean for special tickets?
The discounted variants of the Deutschlandticket are also getting more expensive.
The ‘job ticket’, which currently costs €34.30 per month, will go up to €40.60 per month from January. If companies give their employees a discount of at least 25 percent on the subscription, the government will add a further five percent.
And in future, students will pay €34.80 instead of €29.60 for their semester ticket. However, the new price will not apply to them until the 2025/2026 winter semester.
READ ALSO: Which workers will get a discount on Germany’s €49 ticket?
Is there anything else I should know?
A special offer for annual season ticket holders is being called for, which could benefit some holders if it goes ahead.
Following the decision by state transport ministers, the SPD and the Greens spoke out in favour of setting a special price for people who buy an annual ticket, rather than paying month to month.
Stefan Gelbhaar from the Greens spoke out in favour of retaining the price of €49 per month for annual subscribers.