According to fare compliance data released this week from Transport for NSW, buses operating from Kiama to Wollongong has the highest percentage of fare evaders.

The November 2017 survey found 93.6 per cent of passengers on these buses were doing the right thing.

This compared to 94.2 per cent for buses running between Wollongong and Thirroul and 96.5 per cent for those from Wollongong to Stanwell Park and Helensburgh.

The survey estimated fare evasion in the southern suburbs cost taxpayers $148,000 in the six months to December 2017.

Wollongong-Thirroul fare evaders accounted for $31,000 in lost revenue, while those travelling between the city and Helensburgh just $4000.

A factor in the high amount of fare evasion in the southern suburbs compared to the north could be the greater number of bus routes south of Wollongong.

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Overall the compliance level across buses in all three regions of the Illawarra were among the best in the outer Sydney metropolitan region.

The survey considers fare evasion as those who do not buy a ticket, those who do not tap on at the start of their journey and those travelling on a concession for which they are not eligible.

The eastern suburbs of Sydney are the worst in NSW for bus fare evasion, racking up more than $6 million in lost revenue.

When it comes to rail commuters on the South Coast line, 94.5 per cent are paying the right fare.

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However, fare dodgers have caused a shortfall of more than $1 million dollars in the six months to December last year.

That places the South Coast line in sixth place out of the 11 rail lines in NSW when it comes to fare evaders.

The worst rail line for fare dodgers is the T1 rail line, which runs from Parramatta to the salubrious North Shore

Fare evasion on that line cost the government a whopping $6.6 million in just six months.