Cool MateFare vs Price
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fare
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Price
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Most common: Price
| Fare | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/feə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fer/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/praɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praɪs/"]/ |
| Meaning | The money you pay for a journey on public transport. | The amount of money you need to pay for something. |
| Example | The bus fare to downtown is $2.50. | The price of the book is ten dollars. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | expensive, high, cheap, pay, charge, increase, cost (somebody) something, start at something, start from something, hike, increase, rise, at…fare, an increase in fares, a rise in fares, a reduction in fares, pick up, gourmet, rich, plain, offer, serve, sample | exorbitant, high, inflated, command, fetch, go for, climb, double, go up, level, range, hike, at a/the price, in price, a drop in price, a fall in price, a reduction in price |
| Antonyms | discount, rebate | free, costlessness |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'fare' with 'fair' which refers to justice or an exhibition., Using 'fare' in expressions about food (e.g., 'dinner fare' is correct but can confuse learners). | Confused with 'prize' which is a reward for winning., Using 'price' as a verb when it should be a noun., Mixing up 'price' with 'value', which can have different meanings. |
| Usage notes | Use 'fare' when talking about the cost of buses, taxis, or trains. It's not commonly used for other types of payments. Avoid using it in very casual contexts. | Used in everyday conversations about buying and selling. Not typically used in very formal writing, which might prefer 'cost'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fare vs Price
What's the difference between Fare and Price?
Fare: The money you pay for a journey on public transport. Price: The amount of money you need to pay for something.
Which is more common: Fare and Price?
Price is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Fare and Price?
Fare is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Fare and Price the same CEFR level?
Fare: B2, Price: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Fare and Price?
Fare: noun, Price: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Fare: The bus fare to downtown is $2.50. Price: The price of the book is ten dollars.
Can I use Fare and Price interchangeably?
Not always. Fare and Price are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.