Provided are a method and an apparatus for transmitting a positioning reference signal (PRS) in a wireless communication system. A terminal obtains positioning subframe configuration information to determine at least one positioning subframe among a plurality of downlink subframes in a wireless frame, obtains downlink subframe configuration information to determine the type of each downlink subframe in the wireless frame, receives PRSs in at least one positioning subframe from a plurality of cells, and reports measured time differences between the PRSs received from the plurality of the cells. The type of each downlink subframe of the wireless frame is classified into a 1st type subframe and a 2nd type subframe, and the type of at least one positioning subframe is either the 1st type subframe or the 2nd type subframe. In addition, the PRSs are mapped into at least one positioning subframe on the basis of a single PRS pattern.