Fare vs. Price — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 28, 2023
"Fare" typically refers to the cost of travel or transportation, while "Price" is the amount of money expected or required in exchange for something. Both indicate cost, but "Fare" is specific to modes of transport.
Difference Between Fare and Price
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Fare" and "Price" are terms used to denote the amount of money associated with a service or product. However, their usage and contexts differ. While "Fare" is often reserved to describe the cost associated with transportation, such as bus, train, or taxi fares, "Price" is a broader term used to indicate the monetary value of virtually anything.
For instance, if one talks about the "Fare" of a subway ride, they're specifically addressing the cost to travel on that subway. In contrast, the "Price" could relate to any commodity, from the cost of a loaf of bread to the price tag on a new car or house.
Interestingly, "Fare" can also have connotations beyond just cost in transportation; it can reference food (as in "table fare") or how someone progresses in a particular situation. On the other hand, "Price" remains firmly grounded in the concept of monetary value and doesn't typically branch out into other meanings.
Comparison Chart
Definition
The cost of travel or transportation.
The amount of money required for a product or service.
Context
Primarily transportation and travel.
Any product, service, or commodity.
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Usage Frequency
Specific to modes of transport and occasional other contexts.
Ubiquitous in various contexts.
Etymology
Derived from Old English 'faru', meaning "journey".
Derived from Latin 'pretium', meaning "value".
Synonyms
Charge, toll, ticket.
Cost, charge, value, rate, amount.
Compare with Definitions
Fare
A fee for services, especially the transportation kind.
The bus fare increased by ten cents.
Price
The cost at which something is obtained.
The price of fame can be high.
Fare
A range of food; types or kinds.
The fare at the new restaurant is diverse and tasty.
Price
The odds in betting.
The price on the horse was 10 to 1.
Fare
A fare is the fee paid by a passenger for use of a public transport system: rail, bus, taxi, etc. In the case of air transport, the term airfare is often used.
Price
To ascertain or discover the monetary value of.
She priced the antique vase.
Fare
The money paid for a journey on public transport
We should go to Seville, but we cannot afford the air fare
Price
A price is the (usually not negative) quantity of payment or compensation given by one party to another in return for one unit of goods or services. In some situation, the price of production has a different name.
Fare
A range of food of a particular type
Traditional Scottish fare
Price
The amount as of money or goods, asked for or given in exchange for something else.
Fare
Perform in a specified way in a particular situation or over a particular period
The party fared badly in the elections
Price
The cost at which something is obtained
Believes that the price of success is hard work.
Fare
Travel
A knight fares forth
Price
The cost of bribing someone
Maintained that every person has a price.
Fare
To get along
How are you faring with your project?.
Price
A reward offered for the capture or killing of a person
A felon with a price on his head.
Fare
To happen or develop
How does it fare with you?.
Price
(Archaic) Value or worth.
Fare
To travel; go.
Price
To fix or establish a price for
Shoes that are priced at sixty dollars.
Fare
To dine; eat.
Price
To find out the price of
Spent the day pricing dresses.
Fare
A transportation charge, as for a bus.
Price
The cost required to gain possession of something.
Fare
A passenger transported for a fee.
Price
The cost of an action or deed.
I paid a high price for my folly.
Fare
Food and drink; diet
Simple home-cooked fare.
Price
Value; estimation; excellence; worth.
Fare
(obsolete) A going; journey; travel; voyage; course; passage.
Price
(transitive) To determine the monetary value of (an item); to put a price on.
Fare
(countable) Money paid for a transport ticket.
Train fare
Bus fare
Taxi fare
Price
To pay the price of; to make reparation for.
Fare
(countable) A paying passenger, especially in a taxi.
Price
To set a price on; to value; to prize.
Fare
(uncountable) Food and drink.
Price
To ask the price of.
To price eggs
Fare
(uncountable) Supplies for consumption or pleasure.
The television channel tended to broadcast unremarkable downmarket fare.
Price
The sum or amount of money at which a thing is valued, or the value which a seller sets on his goods in market; that for which something is bought or sold, or offered for sale; equivalent in money or other means of exchange; current value or rate paid or demanded in market or in barter; cost.
We can afford no more at such a price.
Fare
A prostitute's client.
Price
Value; estimation; excellence; worth.
Her price is far above rubies.
New treasures still, of countless price.
Fare
To go, travel.
Behold! A knight fares forth.
Price
Reward; recompense; as, the price of industry.
'T is the price of toil,The knave deserves it when he tills the soil.
Fare
(intransitive) To get along, succeed (well or badly); to be in any state, or pass through any experience, good or bad; to be attended with any circumstances or train of events.
Price
To pay the price of.
With thine own blood to price his blood.
Fare
To eat, dine.
Price
To set a price on; to value. See Prize.
Fare
To happen well, or ill.
We shall see how it will fare with him.
Price
To ask the price of; as, to price eggs.
Fare
(intransitive) To move along; proceed; progress; advance
We will continue to monitor how the hurricane fares against projected models.
Price
The amount of money needed to purchase something;
The price of gasoline
He got his new car on excellent terms
How much is the damage?
Fare
To go; to pass; to journey; to travel.
So on he fares, and to the border comesOf Eden.
Price
The property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold);
The fluctuating monetary value of gold and silver
He puts a high price on his services
He couldn't calculate the cost of the collection
Fare
To be in any state, or pass through any experience, good or bad; to be attended with any circummstances or train of events, fortunate or unfortunate; as, he fared well, or ill.
So fares the stag among the enraged hounds.
I bid you most heartily well to fare.
So fared the knight between two foes.
Price
Value measured by what must be given or done or undergone to obtain something;
The cost in human life was enormous
The price of success is hard work
What price glory?
Fare
To be treated or entertained at table, or with bodily or social comforts; to live.
There was a certain rich man which . . . fared sumptuously every day.
Price
The high value or worth of something;
Her price is far above rubies
Fare
To happen well, or ill; - used impersonally; as, we shall see how it will fare with him.
So fares it when with truth falsehood contends.
Price
A reward for helping to catch a criminal;
The cattle thief has a price on his head
Fare
To behave; to conduct one's self.
She ferde [fared] as she would die.
Price
Cost of bribing someone;
They say that every politician has a price
Fare
A journey; a passage.
That nought might stay his fare.
Price
United States operatic soprano (born 1927)
Fare
The price of passage or going; the sum paid or due for conveying a person by land or water; as, the fare for crossing a river; the fare in a coach or by railway.
Price
Determine the price of;
The grocer priced his wares high
Fare
Ado; bustle; business.
The warder chid and made fare.
Price
Ascertain or learn the price of;
Have you priced personal computers lately?
Fare
Condition or state of things; fortune; hap; cheer.
What fare? what news abroad ?
Price
The amount of money given or set as consideration for the sale of a specified thing.
The price of the dress was $100.
Fare
Food; provisions for the table; entertainment; as, coarse fare; delicious fare.
Price
The cost of bribing someone.
Every person has their price.
Fare
The person or persons conveyed in a vehicle; as, a full fare of passengers.
Fare
The catch of fish on a fishing vessel.
Fare
An agenda of things to do;
They worked rapidly down the menu of reports
Fare
The sum charged for riding in a public conveyance
Fare
A paying (taxi) passenger
Fare
The food and drink that are regularly consumed
Fare
Proceed or get along;
How is she doing in her new job?
How are you making out in graduate school?
He's come a long way
Fare
Eat well
Fare
A paying passenger, especially in a taxi.
The taxi driver had four fares in one hour.
Fare
To perform in a specified way in a situation.
He fared well in the competition.
Fare
To experience certain conditions or treatment.
Travelers fared poorly during the storm.
Common Curiosities
How is "Fare" used in relation to taxis?
It can denote the cost of the ride or refer to a passenger.
Can "Price" refer to intangible costs?
Yes, like in the phrase "the price of freedom."
Why is "Fare" used for transportation costs?
It's etymological roots imply a journey or expedition.
Is "Fare" only used in the context of transportation?
Mostly, but it can also refer to types of food or how one performs in a situation.
Is "Price" always monetary?
Typically, but it can metaphorically denote the cost or consequence of something.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
