Learn Hardcore Chinese: dìtiě de piào bú guì, gōngjiāochē de piào gèng piányi. - Subway tickets are not expensive; bus tickets are even cheaper.

In Chinese, adjectives act like stative verbs and can be predicates by themselves. You normally don’t use 是 before an adjective. So 地铁的票不贵 is correct. With positive statements you often add a degree word like 很: 地铁的票很贵. With negation (不), you don’t need a degree word: 不贵.

Why use 不 and not 没 to negate 贵?

Use 不 to negate adjectives and to talk about general/habitual situations. 没/没有 negates past/perfective actions or existence/possession. 不贵 = not expensive (in general). You wouldn’t say 没贵.

Why is 不 pronounced bú here?

Tone sandhi: 不 (bù) changes to bú before a fourth-tone syllable. Since 贵 (guì) is fourth tone, you say bú guì. Otherwise it stays bù (e.g., bù máng).

What does 的 do here? Why 的 and not 得 or 地?

的 links a modifier to a noun (attributive): 地铁的票 = the subway’s ticket(s).
得 follows a verb/adjective to introduce a complement: 说得很好.
地 turns adjectives/adverbs into adverbials before verbs: 慢慢地走. Here, you’re linking a noun to another noun, so you need 的.

Can I say 地铁票 or 公交车票 instead of 地铁的票／公交车的票?

Yes. Both are natural:

地铁票, 公交车票 (compound nouns) are common and concise.
X 的票 also works, and can feel a bit more conversational or helpful when the modifier is long: 北京地铁的票.

Can I drop 票 and just say 地铁不贵?

You can, but it becomes ambiguous: it may mean the subway (as a mode of travel) isn’t expensive, without clearly saying you mean ticket prices. Clearer options:

地铁票不贵。
地铁票价不贵。 (ticket prices)
坐地铁不贵。 (riding the subway isn’t expensive)

How is the comparison expressed? Why 更 and not 比?

Two ways:

Context + 更 + adjective: The first clause sets the reference; the second uses 更 to mean “even more.” That’s what you have.
Explicit 比: 公交车的票比地铁的票更便宜。 or simply …比…便宜。 All are correct; 更 relies on the prior context, 比 states it explicitly.

Could I use other ways to say “cheaper,” like 便宜一点儿/一些/较便宜/更加便宜?

Yes:

更便宜 = even cheaper (strong, direct).
便宜一点儿/一些 = a bit cheaper.
较便宜 = relatively cheaper (more formal/written).
更加便宜 = even more cheap (more formal/emphatic than 更). Pick based on tone and formality.

What’s the nuance difference between 不贵 and 便宜?

不贵 = not expensive (acceptable/affordable; neutral).
便宜 = cheap/inexpensive (positively cheaper). So the sentence implies subway tickets are reasonably priced, and bus tickets are cheaper still.

What’s the correct pronunciation of 便宜?

As “cheap,” it’s commonly piányi (second tone + neutral). You’ll also hear piányí; both are accepted. The neutral tone on yi is very common in Mainland speech.

How do I pronounce 更 here?

For “even more,” it’s gèng (fourth tone). The reading gēng is a different word/meaning (e.g., “to change; watch of the night”) and not used for comparisons.

Do I need a measure word for tickets?

Only when counting. The measure word is 张:

一张地铁票, 三张公交车票. In your sentence, it’s a general statement, so no measure word is needed.

Is 票 singular or plural here?

Chinese nouns usually don’t mark number. 票 here is generic and can be understood as “tickets” (in general). Number is inferred from context or added with numbers/measure words if needed.

Why is there just a comma between the two clauses? Should I add 而且/但是?

A Chinese comma can link two related clauses without a conjunction. Here it’s like “..., and ...”. You could add 而且 (“and moreover”) or 但是/不过 (“but/however”), but 更 already conveys the comparative relation, so the comma is natural and concise.

Any regional wording differences for “subway” and “bus”?

Yes:

Mainland: 地铁 (subway), 公交车 (city bus).
Taiwan: 捷运 (MRT), 公车 (bus). Also, 车票 (ticket) is a common cover term for various transport tickets, and 票价 means ticket price.