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CalculateTaxiFare

São Paulo · BR · verified Mar 30, 2026

Taxi Fare in São Paulo

Real OpenStreetMap routing meets the official Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP) tariff. See the base fare, every surcharge and a min–median–max range so you know what to expect on the meter.

Base fare
R$5.50
Per km
R$3.00
Per minute
R$0.62
Currency
BRL

01Definition

What is a taxi fare in São Paulo?

A taxi fare in São Paulo is the metered price of a regulated for-hire car ride within the city limits. São Paulo taxi rates are set by Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP) and combine three components: a base fare of R$5.50 (the amount on the meter when the trip begins), a distance rate of R$3.00 per km, and a slow-traffic rate of R$0.62 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

São Paulo taxi tariff at a glance

Below is the live São Paulo taxi tariff exactly as published by Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP). Every figure is dated; the most recent verification was on 2026-03-30. Use the calculator above to apply these numbers to your specific trip.

São Paulo taxi tariff attributes
Base fare
R$5.50
On the meter when the ride begins
Per-km rate
R$3.00 / km
Charged for distance travelled
Per-minute rate
R$0.62 / min
Slow-traffic switch speed: 17 km/h
Minimum fare
R$5.50
Floor that the meter cannot fall below
Currency
BRL
Distance unit
km
Timezone
America/Sao_Paulo
Vehicle classes
1
standard

03Calculator

Calculate your fare in São Paulo

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

Calculate a fare in São Paulo

Local addresses, the São Paulo tariff applied automatically.

05Airport routes

São Paulo airport ↔ city centre

Airport ↔ city-centre rides are the most predictable taxi trips in São Paulo 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

São Paulo vehicle classes and rates

São Paulo licenses 1 vehicle class (standard). Larger vehicles command higher base or per-km 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 São Paulo
Vehicle classBasePer kmPer minMin fare
Standard sedan
Bandeira 1 (segunda a sábado 06:00–20:00). Comum / Bandeira 2 +30% à noite e domingos.
R$5.50R$3.00R$0.62R$5.50

07Surcharges & taxes

Every extra charge on a São Paulo taxi fare

On top of the base meter, São Paulo taxi fares can include a night surcharge. Every charge below is reproduced verbatim from Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP), with the trigger condition (time, day, equipment) shown alongside.

Surcharges, taxes and fees on São Paulo taxi fares
ChargeWhen it appliesAmountCategory
Night surcharge20:00 → 06:00, every day+30%Surcharge

08Tipping

Tipping etiquette in São Paulo

Tipping is not customary for taxis in São Paulo. A small round-up to the nearest convenient amount is appreciated for good service but never obligatory.

09Side by side

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft in São Paulo

Rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft and local equivalents) compete with metered taxis in São Paulo 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 São Paulo where applicable) cap airport ↔ centre as a flat fare that beats both.

Reference ride: a 8 km / 15-minute trip in São Paulo. 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 São Paulo
ServiceProductMedianRange
Metered taxiStandard cabR$31.83R$29.50R$40.34
UberUberXR$15.90R$15.10R$25.44

10FAQ

São Paulo taxi fare — frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi in São Paulo?
São Paulo taxis charge a R$5.50 base fare plus R$3.00 per km of distance and R$0.62 per minute of slow-traffic time. A typical 8-km ride costs roughly R$31.36 excluding surcharges and tip.
What is the base fare for a São Paulo taxi?
The drop charge — the amount on the meter when your ride begins — is R$5.50. This is set by Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP) and is identical for every licensed cab in the city.
Are São Paulo taxi fares metered or negotiated?
São Paulo 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.
Do I tip taxi drivers in São Paulo?
Tipping is not customary for taxis in São Paulo. A small round-up to the nearest convenient amount is appreciated for good service but never obligatory.
How do night and weekend rates work in São Paulo?
A night surcharge of 30% applies between 20:00 and 06:00 every day, including weekends.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in São Paulo?
In free-flow conditions, Uber and Lyft are usually 10–25% cheaper than São Paulo 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 São Paulo tariff straight from Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP). We always show a min–median–max range so you see how traffic affects the final price.
How long does a 8-km taxi ride take in São Paulo?
In free-flow traffic, a 8-km ride in São Paulo 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 São Paulo taxis?
Card acceptance varies by operator. Many regulated taxis in São Paulo 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 Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP) for the current official requirement.
Where do I find the official São Paulo taxi rates?
The authoritative rate sheet is published by Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP) at https://www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/cidade/secretarias/mobilidade/dtp/ (last verified 2026-03-30). Every figure on this page is reproduced from that source.

11Sources & verification

Sources, last verified

Every figure on this page is reproduced from Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP), the recognised authority that sets São Paulo 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

Prefeitura de São Paulo — Departamento de Transportes Públicos (DTP)

Last verified
March 30, 2026
Verification cadence
Every 180 days
Routing data
OpenStreetMap via OSRM

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