Melbourne Taxi Fares Explained

Use the calculator below to get a suburb-to-suburb Melbourne taxi estimate based on the real Victorian tariff structure, not a generic guess. Most fare pages only quote a flagfall figure — this one works through the actual per-kilometre rate and tariff period that applies to your trip.

Calculate Your Melbourne Taxi Fare

Enter your pickup and drop-off addresses for a route map and fare estimate. A guide only — actual fares depend on traffic, time of day, tolls and vehicle type.

Estimate based on Victorian regulated taxi tariffs. Tolls, airport fees and card surcharge (up to 5%) are additional.
Enter addresses above to see your route

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

A typical Melbourne taxi fare starts from a base of $6.65, which combines the $5.40 day flagfall with the $1.25 CPV levy, before any distance is travelled. From there, the day tariff adds $2.10 per kilometre at a flat rate for the entire trip, with no distance threshold or split like some other cities apply. In practice this means a short 1-3km trip typically runs $8-$15, a medium 4-8km trip $14-$27, and longer trips of 9km or more start from around $23, before tolls, waiting time or overnight and peak tariffs are factored in.

How Melbourne Taxi Fares Are Calculated

Every Melbourne taxi fare is built from a metered flagfall, a per-kilometre rate, and a mandatory levy, with the rate depending on which tariff period the trip falls into. Victoria runs three tariffs: the day tariff (9am-5pm) charges $5.40 flagfall and $2.10/km; the overnight tariff (5pm-9am) charges $6.75 flagfall and $2.30/km; and the peak tariff — which applies 10pm-4am Friday and Saturday nights, plus Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, and from 6pm New Year’s Eve to midnight New Year’s Day — charges $8.00 flagfall and $2.55/km. Unlike Sydney, there’s no distance threshold that changes the rate partway through a trip — whichever per-km rate applies, it applies flat for the whole journey. A $1.25 CPV levy is added to every trip regardless of tariff. Waiting time is charged whenever the vehicle’s speed drops below 21km/h, which covers everything from red lights to gridlocked traffic.

  • Flagfall (varies by tariff period)
  • Per-kilometre rate (flat, no distance threshold)
  • $1.25 CPV levy on every trip
  • Waiting time below 21km/h
  • $18.35 high-occupancy fee for 5 or more passengers
  • Card surcharge: 4% standard, 6% for CPV-specific devices like Cabcharge

Melbourne Taxi Fare Per Km

Trip length Typical fare (day rate)
Short trips (1-3km) $8-$15
Medium trips (4-8km) $14-$27
Longer trips (9km+) from $23

Day-tariff estimates. Overnight and peak tariffs run higher — see below.

What Increases a Melbourne Taxi Fare?

The metered fare structure means most cost increases come down to time, timing, or route rather than a fixed add-on. Key factors include:

  • Traffic congestion — waiting time is charged whenever the vehicle drops below 21km/h, so slow-moving traffic adds up even over a short distance
  • Peak tariff periods — late-night Friday and Saturday, plus Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve overnight, all carry a higher flagfall and per-km rate
  • Tolls — CityLink and EastLink charges are only added if the passenger requests a tolled route; an untolled alternative can usually be requested instead
  • Longer or diverted routes — since the per-km rate is flat, any extra distance adds directly to the fare
  • Groups of 5 or more passengers — a $18.35 high-occupancy fee applies

Night and Peak Taxi Rates in Melbourne

Victoria’s taxi tariffs are split into three distinct periods, and it’s worth noting the day tariff finishes earlier than many people expect. The day tariff runs 9am-5pm, charging $5.40 flagfall and $2.10/km. As soon as 5pm hits, the overnight tariff takes over — $6.75 flagfall and $2.30/km — and stays in place right through until 9am the next morning. On top of that, a peak tariff applies during the busiest and most contested hours: 10pm-4am on Fridays and Saturdays, plus Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, and from 6pm New Year’s Eve through to midnight on New Year’s Day. Peak tariff charges $8.00 flagfall and $2.55/km. All three tariffs use a flat per-km rate for the whole trip, and the $1.25 CPV levy and waiting-time rule apply regardless of which tariff is in effect.

Taxi vs Uber and DiDi Cost in Melbourne

Uber operates fully across Melbourne and Victoria and remains the dominant rideshare option, with DiDi running as a genuine second choice. The core difference between taxis and rideshare in Melbourne isn’t availability — it’s how the price is set.

  • Taxis run on a fixed, regulated metered tariff with no surge pricing, so the rate per kilometre is the same whether it’s a quiet Tuesday afternoon or a busy Friday night
  • Uber and DiDi use dynamic pricing, meaning quoted fares can rise sharply during high demand, bad weather, or major events
  • Taxi fares are predictable in advance using the published tariff bands; rideshare fares are only known once a quote is generated at that moment
  • For off-peak, well-planned trips rideshare can undercut a taxi; during surge periods a metered taxi can end up the cheaper, more predictable option

Melbourne Taxi Prices Explained

Searches for Melbourne taxi fares usually come down to one question: what will the meter actually show at the end of the trip? Victorian taxi rates are set by a regulated tariff structure rather than a flat per-suburb price, so Melbourne cab prices move with the time of day, the distance travelled, and whether tolls are involved. During the day, the rate is $2.10 per kilometre on top of the flagfall; overnight and on weekend peak periods, both the flagfall and per-km rate step up. Because Victorian taxi rates apply a single flat per-kilometre charge for the entire trip — rather than splitting the fare after a set distance — the maths stays relatively simple once you know which tariff period you’re travelling in. Add the $1.25 CPV levy, any waiting time in traffic, and optional tolls, and that’s the full picture of how a Melbourne taxi fare is built up from the meter rather than quoted as a single flat number.

Is a Melbourne Taxi Worth It?

  • Door-to-door travel without needing to book or track a driver through an app
  • Carrying luggage — useful for airport transfers or interstate travel connections
  • Predictable, no-surge pricing based on published tariffs rather than real-time demand
  • Groups, where a taxi’s flat metered fare (plus the high-occupancy fee for 5 or more) can work out simpler than splitting a rideshare quote
  • Taxi ranks and hailing, where a taxi can be quicker than waiting for a rideshare pickup

For short, well-served inner-city trips or solo off-peak travel, a rideshare quote or public transport may work out cheaper — it’s worth comparing before you commit.

Popular Melbourne Taxi Routes