PairMee vs Public transport
When the train runs, take it. PairMee exists for everything around that: Shabbat, weekday nights, and any hour you would rather not travel alone.
Updated July 2026 · We publish the losses too
Side by side
| Dimension | PairMee | Public transport | Who wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price to Jerusalem | ~70 to 165 ₪, your share of one taxi | ~20 ₪ by train, when it runs | Public transport |
| Friday afternoon to Saturday night | Works; people land on Shabbat too | No trains, no intercity buses | PairMee |
| Late-night coverage | Any hour there are people landing | Hourly night trains toward Tel Aviv on weekdays; Jerusalem line sleeps; buses thin out | PairMee |
| Door to door with luggage | One vehicle to the address | Station, then light rail, bus, or taxi anyway | PairMee |
| Traveling alone at 2am | You ride with people you saw and approved | Empty platforms and a last mile on your own | PairMee |
Count: PairMee 4, Public transport 1. We publish the losses too; instant availability is a real advantage of dispatch, and we would rather you trust the table.
The honest verdict
When the train runs and your destination sits near a station, take the train: around 20 shekels to Jerusalem is unbeatable, and we say so on every guide we publish. PairMee exists for everything around that: Friday afternoon to Saturday night when nothing runs, weekday nights when the Jerusalem line sleeps and buses thin out, the hour you would rather not travel alone, and the landing where you are simply in a hurry with luggage. A shared taxi is door to door at any hour, and splitting it keeps the price in the same neighborhood as 2 or 3 bus tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Is the train cheaper than sharing a taxi?
Yes, when it runs: around 20 shekels to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Sharing a taxi 4 ways is the closest a door-to-door option gets to that, and it is one of the cheapest door-to-door options left at night on the Jerusalem corridor and on Shabbat.
Is there public transport from Ben Gurion on Shabbat?
No. Trains and intercity buses stop from Friday afternoon until Saturday night. The options that remain are taxis, pre-booked transfers, and splitting a taxi with other people landing in the same window.
I do not feel comfortable on public transport alone at night. Is that what PairMee is for?
It is one of the main reasons people use it. You see profiles, approve who joins, ride together, and there are women-only rides for anyone who prefers them.
More comparisons: PairMee vs Gett, PairMee vs Yango, PairMee vs Uber, PairMee vs Lyft, PairMee vs Ride pooling, PairMee vs Carpool boards. Or see how PairMee works and the airport guides.
Same ride, split the cost
Post your ride window for free and approve the people who join.