SBB GA vs. Half-Fare (Halbtax) in 2026: prices and exact break-even
Updated · 2 sources
Direct answer
In 2026, an adult 2nd-class SBB GA costs CHF 3,995 per year and a Half-Fare Travelcard (Halbtax) costs CHF 190 for new customers or CHF 170 on seamless renewal. The Halbtax pays for itself after CHF 340–380 of full-fare travel, while the GA beats the Halbtax once your annual full-fare travel exceeds CHF 7,610 (or CHF 3,805 in half-fare tickets).
Key facts
- Adult Halbtax: CHF 190 (first year) / CHF 170 (seamless renewal)
- Adult GA: CHF 3,995/yr (2nd class) / CHF 6,520/yr (1st class)
- Youth GA (under 25): CHF 2,780/yr (2nd class); Senior GA: CHF 3,040/yr (2nd class)
- Adult 2nd-class GA break-even vs. Halbtax: CHF 7,610 full-fare spend/yr
The break-even formula
Let F be your annual public transport spend at full-price single tickets. With a Halbtax, your total annual cost is the card price plus 0.5 × F. Therefore, the Halbtax breaks even against buying full-fare tickets as soon as 0.5 × F equals the Halbtax price — just CHF 380 in year one or CHF 340 on renewal (equivalent to roughly two round-trips between Zurich and Geneva).
To compare the GA against the Halbtax, solve Halbtax + 0.5 × F = GA. For an adult in 2nd class (GA CHF 3,995, renewal Halbtax CHF 170), 0.5 × F = CHF 3,825, which means F = CHF 7,650 in full-fare tickets (or CHF 3,825 actually spent on half-price tickets).
When Halbtax PLUS beats the GA
If you spend between CHF 1,500 and CHF 3,500 per year on half-fare tickets, SBB's Halbtax PLUS credit packages (e.g. paying CHF 800 for CHF 1,000 of ticket credit, or CHF 2,100 for CHF 3,000 of credit) often cost less than upgrading to a full GA.
FAQ
- How much does the SBB GA cost in 2026?
- For adults: CHF 3,995 per year in 2nd class and CHF 6,520 in 1st class. For youth (16–25): CHF 2,780 in 2nd class. For seniors (64/65+): CHF 3,040 in 2nd class.
- How much does the SBB Halbtax cost in 2026?
- CHF 190 for the first year and CHF 170 per year if renewed seamlessly without interruption (CHF 120 / CHF 100 for youth under 25).
- When is the SBB GA worth it?
- For an adult in 2nd class, the GA is cheaper than a Halbtax once you spend more than CHF 3,805–3,825 per year on half-price tickets (CHF 7,610–7,650 at full fare).