Passagem vs. tarifa vs. preço
When discussing the cost of a journey in Portuguese, the words tarifa, preço, and passagem generally overlap but carry distinct nuances. Passagem typically refers to the ticket or the right to travel, tarifa refers to the official calculated rate or category fixed by an authority, and preço is the general term for the monetary cost. Usage varies slightly between Brazil and Portugal, particularly in how they refer to public transport tickets.
Passagem
A2This word literally refers to the passage or the act of passing, but in the context of transport, it is the most common word for the ticket itself or the specific fare paid for a single journey (bus, airplane, or train). In Brazil, it is the standard word for fare, whereas in Portugal, it is used mostly for air travel, while bilhete is preferred for buses and trains.
Quanto custa a passagem de ônibus para o centro?
(How much is the bus fare to the waiting center?)
Eu preciso comprar minha passagem aérea com antecedência.
(I need to buy my airfare in advance.)
Você guardou a sua passagem de trem?
(Did you keep your train ticket?)
O valor da passagem aumentou este ano.
(The cost of the fare increased this year.)
Tarifa
B1This implies an official rate, a tariff, or a fee structure established by a government or a company. It often refers to a specific category of pricing (such as a student rate, a night rate for taxis, or a promotional rate for flights) rather than the physical ticket. It is used in both Brazil and Portugal to discuss regulated prices.
O taxista mudou para a tarifa dois porque já era noite.
(The taxi driver switched to fare two because it was already night.)
A tarifa do metrô vai sofrer um reajuste no próximo mês.
(The subway rate will undergo an adjustment next month.)
Esta companhia aérea tem uma tarifa especial para crianças.
(This airline has a special fare for children.)
Estamos procurando uma tarifa mais econômica para viajar.
(We are looking for a more economical rate to travel.)
Preço
A1This is the generic word for price or cost. It is the most neutral term and is often used in combination with other words, such as preço da passagem (price of the ticket) in Brazil or preço do bilhete in Portugal. It focuses purely on the amount of money required.
Qual é o preço da viagem de Lisboa ao Porto?
(What is the price of the trip from Lisbon to Porto?)
O preço do bilhete de metrô é muito alto nesta cidade.
(The price of the subway ticket is very high in this city.)
Eles reclamaram do preço cobrado pelo transporte.
(They complained about the price charged for the transport.)
O preço varia dependendo do horário da partida.
(The price varies depending on the departure time.)
Summary
To summarize, use passagem when talking about the ticket or the classic concept of a fare (especially in Brazil for buses and everywhere for planes). Use tarifa when discussing the official regulated rate, tax, or a specific pricing category (like a night rate or student fee). Use preço as a general term to ask for the monetary value or cost of the journey.