Municipal buses in Rio de Janeiro stopped accepting cash payments for fares on Sunday, June 28, 2026 [1].
The transition aims to modernize the city's fare collection system and increase the adoption of electronic payments. By removing cash transactions, the municipal government intends to streamline tariff-integration benefits, which are now available exclusively to users of electronic payment methods [1, 2].
Passengers can now pay for their trips using the Jaé application, the Jaé physical card, or PIX [2]. The city has seen a significant shift toward these digital tools, with more than 200,000 new Jaé registrations recorded since the change was first announced [1].
According to municipal data, 96% of all trips are already conducted using electronic payment methods [2]. However, some discrepancies remain regarding the finality of the transition. While several reports confirm the June 28 deadline [1, 3], other reports suggest the measure may serve as a test phase with a final cutoff date of Oct. 30, 2026 [4].
Earlier data indicated that approximately 9.2% of users still relied on cash for their daily commutes [4]. The administration led by Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere is pushing for a fully digital system to reduce the logistical burdens and security risks associated with handling physical currency on public transit [1, 3].
Under the new rules, those who do not use electronic methods will be unable to access the integrated fare discounts that allow passengers to transfer between different modes of transport for a lower cost [2].
“Municipal buses in Rio de Janeiro stopped accepting cash payments for fares on Sunday, June 28, 2026.”
The shift to a cashless system reflects a broader trend of digital transformation in Brazilian urban infrastructure. By tying tariff-integration benefits exclusively to electronic payments, the city is using financial incentives to force the remaining minority of cash users into the digital ecosystem. This move reduces the overhead of cash management but risks marginalizing low-income residents who may lack smartphones or stable access to digital banking.
