Authorities in Brazil's two biggest cities have given in to mass protests by doing a u-turn on increasing fares for public transport.

It marks a major victory for tens of thousands of peole who marched in Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro over increases in ticket prices for the metro, train and buses.

The Sao Paulo State Governor Geraldo Alckmin told reporters that fares would revert to $1.35 from $1.44 from next Monday, while Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said bus fares would go back to $1.24 from $1.33.

The fare increases may seem modest, but they were seen as a major burden by many, in a country where the minimum monthly wage is currently $306.