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CalculateTaxiFare

Sydney · AU · verified Apr 12, 2026

Taxi Fare in Sydney

Real OpenStreetMap routing meets the official NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares tariff. See the base fare, every surcharge and a min–median–max range so you know what to expect on the meter.

Base fare
A$3.60
Per km
A$2.29
Per minute
A$0.96
Currency
AUD

01Definition

What is a taxi fare in Sydney?

A taxi fare in Sydney is the metered price of a regulated for-hire car ride within the city limits. Sydney taxi rates are set by NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares and combine three components: a base fare of A$3.60 (the amount on the meter when the trip begins), a distance rate of A$2.29 per km, and a slow-traffic rate of A$0.96 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

Sydney taxi tariff at a glance

Below is the live Sydney taxi tariff exactly as published by NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares. Every figure is dated; the most recent verification was on 2026-04-12. Use the calculator above to apply these numbers to your specific trip.

Sydney taxi tariff attributes
Base fare
A$3.60
On the meter when the ride begins
Per-km rate
A$2.29 / km
Charged for distance travelled
Per-minute rate
A$0.96 / min
Slow-traffic switch speed: 17 km/h
Minimum fare
A$3.60
Floor that the meter cannot fall below
Currency
AUD
Distance unit
km
Timezone
Australia/Sydney
Vehicle classes
1
standard

03Calculator

Calculate your fare in Sydney

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

Calculate a fare in Sydney

Local addresses, the Sydney tariff applied automatically.

05Airport routes

Sydney airport ↔ city centre

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

Sydney vehicle classes and rates

Sydney 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 Sydney
Vehicle classBasePer kmPer minMin fare
Standard sedan
NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) maximum tariff. AU$3.60 + AU$2.29/km daytime.
A$3.60A$2.29A$0.96A$3.60

07Surcharges & taxes

Every extra charge on a Sydney taxi fare

On top of the base meter, Sydney taxi fares can include a night surcharge, city or state taxes. Every charge below is reproduced verbatim from NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares, with the trigger condition (time, day, equipment) shown alongside.

Surcharges, taxes and fees on Sydney taxi fares
ChargeWhen it appliesAmountCategory
Night surcharge22:00 → 06:00, every day+20%Surcharge
Phone-booking feeBooked by phone or radio dispatchA$2.50Fee
GST (10%)Applied to total fare+10%Tax

08Tipping

Tipping etiquette in Sydney

Tipping is not customary for taxis in Sydney. 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 Sydney

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

Reference ride: a 8 km / 15-minute trip in Sydney. 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 Sydney
ServiceProductMedianRange
Metered taxiStandard cabA$33.69A$28.93A$46.39
UberUberXA$20.65A$19.62A$33.04
BoltBoltA$19.00A$18.05A$30.40

10FAQ

Sydney taxi fare — frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi in Sydney?
Sydney taxis charge a A$3.60 base fare plus A$2.29 per km of distance and A$0.96 per minute of slow-traffic time. A typical 8-km ride costs roughly A$24.80 excluding surcharges and tip.
What is the base fare for a Sydney taxi?
The drop charge — the amount on the meter when your ride begins — is A$3.60. This is set by NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares and is identical for every licensed cab in the city.
Are Sydney taxi fares metered or negotiated?
Sydney 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 Sydney?
Tipping is not customary for taxis in Sydney. 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 Sydney?
A night surcharge of 20% applies between 22:00 and 06:00 every day, including weekends.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Sydney?
In free-flow conditions, Uber and Lyft are usually 10–25% cheaper than Sydney 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 Sydney tariff straight from NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares. 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 Sydney?
In free-flow traffic, a 8-km ride in Sydney 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 Sydney taxis?
Card acceptance varies by operator. Many regulated taxis in Sydney 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 NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares for the current official requirement.
Where do I find the official Sydney taxi rates?
The authoritative rate sheet is published by NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares at https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Transport/Reviews/Taxi-Fares (last verified 2026-04-12). Every figure on this page is reproduced from that source.

11Sources & verification

Sources, last verified

Every figure on this page is reproduced from NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares, the recognised authority that sets Sydney 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

NSW IPART — Maximum taxi fares

Last verified
April 12, 2026
Verification cadence
Every 180 days
Routing data
OpenStreetMap via OSRM

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