City Hall to Paya Lebar by MRT

Quick answer: Take the East West Line (towards Pasir Ris) to Paya Lebar. That is 5 stops with no change of train, about 15 minutes on the train, and the adult card fare is S$1.59.

Step by step from City Hall to Paya Lebar

At City Hall board the East West Line towards Pasir Ris and ride 5 stops to Paya Lebar.

This is a direct ride on one line, so once you are on the train you can stay seated until Paya Lebar. Station codes: City Hall is EW13/NS25 and Paya Lebar is CC9/EW8. See the interactive MRT map to check the route on the network.

Fare from City Hall to Paya Lebar

Fare type	Adult card fare
Standard adult fare (card, contactless or phone wallet)	S$1.59
Early bird, tapping in before 7.45am on a weekday	S$1.09
From 26 December 2026, after the announced fare rise	S$1.72

The fare is based on the 6.1 km shortest rail distance between the two stations and is the same whichever route you take. Seniors, students and children pay concession fares that are much lower. Pay with a contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, or an EZ-Link card; the gates do not take cash. More in the guide to paying for the MRT and the fare calculator.

How long does it take?

Allow about 15 minutes on the train from City Hall to Paya Lebar. That assumes roughly 2 to 3 minutes per stop, plus a few minutes waiting for the first train. Trains run every 2 to 3 minutes at peak times and every 5 to 7 minutes off-peak, so the wait is short. Add the walk at either end: most city-centre stations have several exits and the right one can save 5 minutes.

First and last trains

The East West Line runs from about 5:19 AM until about 11:23 PM at its first station. Times at City Hall itself depend on how far it is from the end of the line, and the last connecting train at an interchange leaves earlier than the last train of the night, so for a trip after 11.30pm check the first and last train times before you set off. Services start about half an hour later on Sundays and public holidays.

Return journey: Paya Lebar to City Hall

At Paya Lebar board the East West Line towards Tuas Link and ride 5 stops to City Hall.

The return trip takes about 15 minutes and costs the same S$1.59.

Arriving at Paya Lebar

Paya Lebar station sits at the heart of a busy commercial and retail district in eastern Singapore. The area is anchored by several shopping malls including Paya Lebar Square and Tanjong Katong Complex, drawing shoppers and office workers throughout the day. A number of food centres nearby also serve the surrounding residential community.

Close to the station:

Kopitiam (food centre, about 1 min on foot)
Cantine (food centre, about 2 min on foot)
Paya Lebar Square (shopping mall, about 2 min on foot)
Malaysia Chiak! (food centre, about 3 min on foot)
Tanjong Katong Complex (shopping mall, about 4 min on foot)

The Paya Lebar station guide lists every exit, the lines it serves and first and last trains; the City Hall station guide does the same for the start of the trip.

Places to visit at either end

Frequently asked questions

How many MRT stops from City Hall to Paya Lebar?

5 stops on the East West Line with no change.

How much is the MRT fare from City Hall to Paya Lebar?

S$1.59 for an adult paying by card or phone, S$1.09 before 7.45am on weekdays, and S$1.72 from 26 December 2026.

How long is the train ride?

About 15 minutes, not counting the walk to and from the stations.

Do I need to change trains?

No. Stay on the East West Line all the way.

Which platform do I need at City Hall?

Follow the signs for the East West Line platform towards Pasir Ris. The platform screens show the next train and its destination.

More routes from City Hall and Paya Lebar

All station pairs are on the MRT routes hub, and the fare calculator covers any pair of stations.