These words describe an amount of money that needs to be paid – but they’re used
in different situations.
Fare is used only for transportation:
▶️ The bus fare is the cost of the bus ticket
▶️ The train fare is the cost of the train ticket
▶️ The taxi fare is the cost of taking a taxi
▶️ Airfare is the cost of a plane ticket
Fee can describe:
▶️ The money charged for some professional service. You pay a fee for
lawyers, counselors, maids, etc.
▶️ The money charged by an institution or for administration:
o Schools charge tuition fees.
o When you do something official like get a driver’s license or register a
marriage, you may need to pay an administrative fee for the
paperwork to be processed.
o When you apply to colleges or schools, you often have to pay an
application fee.
The word tax refers to the money you need to pay the government. Most countries
have an income tax – meaning a part of your salary is paid to the government. Tax
money helps pay for public projects and infrastructure.