Skip to main content
CalculateTaxiFare

Chicago · US · verified Apr 20, 2026

Taxi Fare in Chicago

Real OpenStreetMap routing meets the official Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) tariff. See the base fare, every surcharge and a min–median–max range so you know what to expect on the meter.

Base fare
$3.25
Per mile
$2.25
Per minute
$0.20
Currency
USD

01Definition

What is a taxi fare in Chicago?

A taxi fare in Chicago is the metered price of a regulated for-hire car ride within the city limits. Chicago taxi rates are set by Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and combine three components: a base fare of $3.25 (the amount on the meter when the trip begins), a distance rate of $2.25 per mile, and a slow-traffic rate of $0.20 per minute that applies when the cab is stopped or moving slowly. Surcharges, taxes and tip can shift the final amount by another 10–30%.

02Attributes

Chicago taxi tariff at a glance

Below is the live Chicago taxi tariff exactly as published by Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). Every figure is dated; the most recent verification was on 2026-04-20. Use the calculator above to apply these numbers to your specific trip.

Chicago taxi tariff attributes
Base fare
$3.25
On the meter when the ride begins
Per-mile rate
$2.25 / mile
Charged for distance travelled
Per-minute rate
$0.20 / min
Slow-traffic switch speed: 17 km/h
Minimum fare
Not specified
Floor that the meter cannot fall below
Currency
USD
Distance unit
mile
Timezone
America/Chicago
Vehicle classes
1
standard

03Calculator

Calculate your fare in Chicago

Type any pickup and destination inside Chicago. We pull the real OpenStreetMap distance and apply the tariff above.

Calculate a fare in Chicago

Local addresses, the Chicago tariff applied automatically.

05Airport routes

Chicago airport ↔ city centre

Airport ↔ city-centre rides are the most predictable taxi trips in Chicago because their distance is fixed. Where the regulator imposes a flat fare, the meter is bypassed and the price is locked. Otherwise the standard tariff applies and the estimate below reflects realistic departure-hall waiting plus the metered ride.

06Vehicle classes

Chicago vehicle classes and rates

Chicago licenses 1 vehicle class (standard). Larger vehicles command higher base or per-mile rates because their fuel and licensing costs are higher. Ride-sharing apps also offer parallel categories (UberXL, Lyft XL) that compete with the licensed taxi minivan tier.

Vehicle classes and rates in Chicago
Vehicle classBasePer milePer minMin fare
Standard sedan
City of Chicago BACP rates. $3.25 flag pull + $2.25/mi + $0.20 per 36s waiting.
$3.25$2.25$0.20—

07Surcharges & taxes

Every extra charge on a Chicago taxi fare

On top of the base meter, Chicago taxi fares can include an extra-passenger fee, city or state taxes. Every charge below is reproduced verbatim from Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), with the trigger condition (time, day, equipment) shown alongside.

Surcharges, taxes and fees on Chicago taxi fares
ChargeWhen it appliesAmountCategory
Extra passengerEach passenger beyond the first$1.00Fee
Airport / Convention departure taxApplied to base fare only$4.00Tax
Flat fare ORD ↔ DOWNTOWNRegulator-imposed, bypasses the meter$50.00Flat fare
Flat fare MDW ↔ DOWNTOWNRegulator-imposed, bypasses the meter$35.00Flat fare

08Tipping

Tipping etiquette in Chicago

Basic

15%

Functional service — you got there.

Standard

18%

What most riders give for ordinary service.

Excellent

20%

Helpful with bags, smooth driving, knew the route.

Tipping is expected in Chicago. The conventional range is 15% (basic), 18% (standard) and 20% (excellent service). A tip line is built into card terminals; for cash, simply round up to a convenient amount.

09Side by side

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft in Chicago

Rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft and local equivalents) compete with metered taxis in Chicago on price, but their tariffs swing with surge multipliers. A taxi’s price is fixed by the meter and the regulator — there is no surge. For routine rides our data typically shows rideshare 10–25% cheaper than taxi outside surge windows, and 20–60% more expensive at peak. Airport routes are the exception: many cities (including Chicago where applicable) cap airport ↔ centre as a flat fare that beats both.

Reference ride: a 8 km / 15-minute trip in Chicago. Numbers below combine the live tariff (taxi) and crowdsourced per-city rate sheets (rideshare). Apps surge in real time, so we surface min · median · max.

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft fare comparison in Chicago
ServiceProductMedianRange
Metered taxiStandard cab$19.18$18.43$23.27
UberUberX$12.17$11.56$19.48
LyftLyft$11.92$11.33$19.08

10Public transit

Public transit alternative in Chicago

For short city-centre trips, public transit in Chicago is consistently cheaper than a taxi — a single fare typically costs less than the taxi base alone. The trade-off is travel time: transit is slower door-to-door, runs on a fixed schedule, and may not serve every airport hour. The dedicated transit fare calculator below estimates a single-leg fare on the local subway, metro or bus network using the published zone or flat structure.

Public transit in Chicago

For trips inside the central zones, a single transit fare is typically a fraction of even the lowest taxi estimate. The trade-off is travel time and route flexibility.

See transit fares

11FAQ

Chicago taxi fare — frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi in Chicago?
Chicago taxis charge a $3.25 base fare plus $2.25 per mile of distance and $0.20 per minute of slow-traffic time. A typical 5-mile ride costs roughly $15.10 excluding surcharges and tip.
What is the base fare for a Chicago taxi?
The drop charge — the amount on the meter when your ride begins — is $3.25. This is set by Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and is identical for every licensed cab in the city.
Are Chicago taxi fares metered or negotiated?
Chicago taxis are metered. The regulator requires drivers to use the meter on every trip; negotiating off-meter is generally illegal and unwise. Flat fares apply only on a small list of pre-approved airport routes (see the airport routes section above).
Do I tip taxi drivers in Chicago?
Tipping is expected in Chicago. The conventional range is 15% (basic), 18% (standard) and 20% (excellent service). A tip line is built into card terminals; for cash, simply round up to a convenient amount.
How do night and weekend rates work in Chicago?
Chicago does not impose an explicit night surcharge — the meter rate is the same 24/7.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Chicago?
In free-flow conditions, Uber and Lyft are usually 10–25% cheaper than Chicago taxis. During peak demand, surge pricing can push rideshare 20–60% above the metered taxi fare. For airport runs, regulated taxi flat fares often beat both. Use the rideshare comparison above to see today's typical numbers.
Can I trust the calculator above?
Yes. We compute distance and duration from real OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) and apply the published Chicago tariff straight from Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). We always show a min–median–max range so you see how traffic affects the final price.
How long does a 5-mile taxi ride take in Chicago?
In free-flow traffic, a 5-mile ride in Chicago takes roughly 13 minutes on average city streets. Heavy traffic can double that, which is why our maximum estimate uses a 60% slow-time assumption.
Are credit cards accepted in Chicago taxis?
Card acceptance varies by operator. Many regulated taxis in Chicago accept major credit and debit cards; always carry cash as a backup, particularly for short journeys. Confirm with your driver before starting the trip, and contact Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) for the current official requirement.
Where do I find the official Chicago taxi rates?
The authoritative rate sheet is published by Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bacp/supp_info/city_of_chicagotaxifareinformation.html (last verified 2026-04-20). Every figure on this page is reproduced from that source.
Is there a flat airport taxi fare in Chicago?
Yes. The route ORD ↔ DOWNTOWN has a regulator-mandated flat fare of $50.00 (excluding tip and tolls). Other airport pairs in Chicago default to the metered tariff.

12Sources & verification

Sources, last verified

Every figure on this page is reproduced from Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), the recognised authority that sets Chicago taxi rates. We re-verify each record at least every 180 days; the timestamp below confirms when this page was last reconciled with the primary source.

Primary source

Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)

Last verified
April 20, 2026
Verification cadence
Every 180 days
Routing data
OpenStreetMap via OSRM

Editorial notes

First extra passenger $1, each additional $0.50.

Spotted an inaccuracy? Report it and we will reconcile within 48 hours.