People who rely on Germany’s popular Deutschlandticket should prepare for another fare increase next year, with current projections suggesting the nationwide public transport pass will rise from €63 per month to between €66.40 and €66.80 per month from the start of 2027.
The estimate comes from calculations by public broadcaster WDR, the German Environmental Aid association (DUH) and reporting by Tagesspiegel.
But the final figure hasn’t been officially confirmed, meaning passengers will have to wait a little longer to know the exact price.
Only an estimate
This year marks the first time that the Deutschlandticket price will no longer be set through political negotiations alone.
Instead, a new calculation method agreed by Germany's transport ministers earlier this year will be used to calculate future price adjustments.
Using the new formula, DUH calculated a 2027 price of around €66.40. WDR, which incorporated more recent data on energy costs, arrived at a slightly higher estimate of €66.80.
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The difference between the two figures can be explained by the fact that the calculation depends on economic data including energy prices and inflation indicators – which could still change before the final decision is made.
How is the price calculated?
The new system is designed to reflect the actual costs faced by transport operators while also taking account of public subsidies. The formula combines two main elements: a cost index and a value factor.
The cost index measures how much key operating expenses have increased. These include staff wages, energy costs such as diesel and electricity, and other operating expenses. Personnel costs carry the greatest weight in the calculation.
The value factor looks at the relationship between government support and ticket revenue. Federal and state governments each contribute €1.5 billion per year to support the scheme.
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The number of tickets sold also plays a role. In general, higher sales can help keep future increases lower.
According to WDR, rising diesel prices is among the main reasons the projected increase for 2027 is higher than earlier estimates suggested.
Why was the system introduced?
The pricing mechanism forms part of efforts to secure the future of the Deutschlandticket through to at least 2030.
After approving legislation in late 2025, Germany’s federal government and the 16 states committed to continuing annual subsidies of €3 billion in total.
The Deutschlandticket was originally introduced in May 2023 as the successor to Germany’s temporary €9 ticket. It allows unlimited travel on local and regional public transport nationwide for a single monthly fee.
The ticket launched at €49 per month, rose to €58 in 2025 and then increased to €63 in 2026.
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