The city has about 40 urban bus lines, and several short-distance lines that serve the whole metropolitan area. The urban buses charge a relatively small fee (owing to the national government's heavy subsidies on fuel for public transportation), pre-paid by means of a disposable paper card with a magnetic stripe which can be bought from post offices, automatic vending machines, and private businesses. For emergencies, a larger fee can be deposited in cash, using a coin machine in the bus unit. The interurban lines have differential fees and some allow payment in cash only.

The urban bus fleet was partially renewed during the recovery of the national economy, since 2003; as of 2005 the average age of the buses is 5 years and 11 months. The better economic context has also induced an increased use of public transportation, and comparatively less use of bicycles.

Rosario has a medium-sized taxi fleet, with units painted black and outlined in yellow. Some belong to radio-taxi companies and can be reserved by telephone; others only in the streets. As the economy of Argentina recovers, the capacity of the taxi fleet has been strained by higher usage. In September 2005, the Deliberative Council approved a moderate rise in taxi fees and the compulsory installation of radio-call systems in all taxi units.

As a curiosity, Rosario has a large number of vehicles which run on natural gas, as it happens also in Argentina as a whole, and all gas stations provide it. Its price is quite low compared to the alternatives. The idea to transform all buses to this system did not prosper; most buses run on cheap (subsidized) diesel, and one line uses electricity from an aerial network.