Melbourne taxi fare calculator: instant estimate for any trip
Use our live Melbourne taxi fare calculator for an instant estimate. Enter your pickup, destination, date and time and it applies the official 2026 Safe Transport Victoria tariff, traffic time and any tolls. Or call 0421 807 027 and lock in a fixed price before you travel.
The most searched route: how much is a taxi from Melbourne Airport to the CBD? Typically $75 – $90 on the day tariff and $85 – $105 overnight, including the airport access fee and CityLink toll. See the Melbourne Airport taxi fare page for more airport routes, or book an airport taxi directly.
What a taxi costs in Melbourne — the most common fares
Instant answers before you scroll: these are the fares Melburnians look up most, calculated on the 2026 tariff from the Melbourne CBD. Day is 9am–5pm; overnight is 5pm–9am. Peak and toll routes are covered in the full table further down.
| Trip | Distance | Day fare | Overnight fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Airport to CBD | 23 km | $75 – $90 | $85 – $105 |
| CBD to St Kilda | 7 km | $24 – $33 | $28 – $38 |
| CBD to the MCG | 3 km | $14 – $20 | $16 – $23 |
| CBD to Box Hill | 15 km | $41 – $54 | $47 – $61 |
| CBD to Werribee | 32 km | $73 – $92 | $83 – $104 |
| CBD to Geelong | 75 km | $158 – $198 | $179 – $224 |
Get an instant fare estimate
Enter your pickup and destination below for a live Melbourne taxi fare estimate. The calculator applies the 2026 Victorian tariff for your date and time, adds tolls and the airport access fee where relevant, and lets you book or lock in a fixed price.
No payment now — our dispatcher calls you to confirm. Card, Cabcharge, MPTP and cash all accepted in the cab.
Metered fare with live tariff. Calculated using Victorian CPVV (Day Rate) tariffs plus live route data. Tolls passed through at cost.
Quick fare answers
These are the prices people search for most on the 2026 Victorian taxi tariff. All figures are metered estimates for a normal traffic run; a fixed-price quote locks the number before you travel. For an exact number, use the instant fare calculator.
- Melbourne Airport to CBD: $75 – $90 day, $85 – $105 overnight
- CBD to St Kilda: $24 – $33 day, $28 – $38 overnight
- CBD to Box Hill: $41 – $54 day, $47 – $61 overnight
- CBD to Geelong: $158 – $198 day, $179 – $224 overnight
- CBD to Ballarat: $230 – $265 day, $255 – $295 overnight
- CBD to Bendigo: $300 – $345 day, $335 – $380 overnight
How much is a taxi to Melbourne Airport?
A taxi from Melbourne Airport to the CBD is about 23 km via the Tullamarine Freeway and CityLink. On the 2026 metered tariff you can expect $75 – $90 during the day and $85 – $105 overnight. That includes the airport access fee and the CityLink toll. Peak periods (Friday and Saturday 10pm – 4am, plus specified holiday windows) push the total higher again.
The fastest way to a reliable number is the fare calculator — it reads your actual pickup address, terminal, date and time, then builds an instant estimate. If you prefer certainty, call 0421 807 027 and we will quote a fixed price before the car moves.
Melbourne Airport taxi fares to major suburbs
These estimated metered fares start at Melbourne Airport and include the airport access fee. Each range uses the distance and usual driving time for the destination; traffic, the exact address and the route taken can change the final meter. CityLink or EastLink tolls apply only when the trip uses those roads. Select a suburb for local pickup details, or enter both addresses above for a live estimate at your travel time.
| Airport to | Distance | Typical time | Day estimate | Overnight estimate | Common extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne CBD | 23 km | 25–40 min | $75 – $90 | $85 – $105 | Airport access fee + CityLink |
| Sunshine | 15 km | 18–28 min | $50 – $65 | $57 – $74 | Normally toll-free |
| Footscray | 18 km | 20–30 min | $55 – $70 | $62 – $80 | Normally toll-free |
| Point Cook | 40 km | 35–50 min | $105 – $130 | $118 – $148 | Route-dependent tolls |
| Werribee | 45 km | 35–50 min | $115 – $140 | $130 – $160 | Route-dependent tolls |
| Box Hill | 35 km | 35–50 min | $105 – $128 | $118 – $145 | CityLink; EastLink if used |
| Dandenong | 50 km | 45–65 min | $145 – $175 | $160 – $195 | CityLink + EastLink if used |
| Frankston | 60–62 km | 55–75 min | $175 – $210 | $195 – $235 | CityLink + EastLink if used |
| Geelong | 80–85 km | 60–80 min | $190 – $230 | $215 – $260 | Route-dependent tolls |
Estimates use the 2026 Victorian tariffs and normal traffic. Peak periods cost more. A fixed price agreed before pickup does not change with traffic; call 0421 807 027 or request one when booking.
2026 Victorian taxi tariff update at a glance
| Tariff | When it applies | Flagfall | Per km | Waiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 9am – 5pm | $5.25 | $1.685 / km | $0.433 / min |
| Overnight | 5pm – 9am | $6.55 | $1.871 / km | $0.476 / min |
| Peak | Fri & Sat 10pm – 4am, plus specified public holiday periods | $7.80 | $2.070 / km | $0.513 / min |
The figures above are the Safe Transport Victoria maximum rates under the Melbourne metropolitan “time and distance” fare structure for applicable unbooked taxi trips, effective 1 July 2026. They are ceilings, not set prices — an unbooked trip may be charged less. Booked-service fares are not regulated in the same way: phone and online bookings may be offered as an agreed fixed price quoted before you travel. Tolls, airport access fees, government levies, payment surcharges and other applicable extras can also affect the final price.
When each tariff applies: a visual guide
The meter picks the tariff in force when your trip starts. This timeline shows which rate applies across a typical week.
Monday – Friday
9am – 5pm
Standard flagfall $5.25 and $1.685/km.
Monday – Sunday
5pm – 9am
Higher flagfall $6.55 and $1.871/km.
Friday & Saturday
10pm – 4am
Highest flagfall $7.80 and $2.070/km.
Worked example: a 10 km trip with 6 minutes stopped
Same trip, three tariffs. Each total is the flagfall, plus 10 km at the per-kilometre rate, plus 6 minutes of waiting time — the way the meter actually builds a fare, before any tolls, airport access fee or card surcharge.
| Tariff | Flagfall | 10 km | 6 min waiting | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | $5.25 | $16.85 | $2.60 | $24.70 |
| Overnight | $6.55 | $18.71 | $2.86 | $28.12 |
| Peak | $7.80 | $20.70 | $3.08 | $31.58 |
Calculated from the maximum rates above and rounded to the nearest cent. More time stopped in traffic means a higher total on the same distance.
How much is a taxi from Melbourne CBD in 2026?
These are indicative metered totals for the trips people ask about most, worked out from the tariffs above plus typical traffic time. Traffic, route and roadworks move the real number, and tolls are added where the route uses CityLink or EastLink — but this is the ballpark to expect.
| From Melbourne CBD to | Distance | Typical time | Day (9am–5pm) | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Cross Station | 3 km | ~10 min | $14 – $20 | $16 – $23 |
| Marvel Stadium (Docklands) | 2 km | ~8 min | $12 – $17 | $14 – $20 |
| MCG (Jolimont) | 3 km | ~10 min | $14 – $20 | $16 – $23 |
| Richmond | 4 km | ~12 min | $16 – $23 | $19 – $27 |
| Footscray | 6 km | ~14 min | $19 – $27 | $22 – $31 |
| Brunswick | 6 km | ~16 min | $21 – $29 | $24 – $33 |
| St Kilda | 7 km | ~18 min | $24 – $33 | $28 – $38 |
| Sunshine | 13 km | ~22 min | $36 – $47 | $41 – $53 |
| Box Hill | 15 km | ~28 min | $41 – $54 | $47 – $61 |
| Chadstone Shopping Centre | 17 km | ~28 min | $45 – $58 | $51 – $66 |
| Werribee | 32 km | ~35 min | $73 – $92 | $83 – $104 |
| Point Cook | 23 km | ~30 min | $56 – $72 | $64 – $82 |
| Tarneit | 27 km | ~32 min | $64 – $82 | $73 – $93 |
| Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) | 23 km | ~30 min | $75 – $90 | $85 – $105 |
| Dandenong | 32 km | ~40 min | $74 – $95 | $84 – $107 |
| Pakenham | 57 km | ~55 min | $118 – $148 | $133 – $166 |
| Berwick | 42 km | ~45 min | $94 – $118 | $106 – $133 |
| Frankston | 43 km | ~50 min | $96 – $120 | $109 – $136 |
| Avalon Airport | 60 km | ~55 min | $128 – $160 | $145 – $180 |
| Geelong | 75 km | ~70 min | $158 – $198 | $179 – $224 |
| Ballarat | 115 km | ~1 hr 25 min | $230 – $265 | $255 – $295 |
| Bendigo | 150 km | ~1 hr 50 min | $300 – $345 | $335 – $380 |
| Warrnambool | 260 km | ~3 hr 10 min | $520 – $590 | $575 – $650 |
Estimates only, based on the regulated maximum tariffs and normal traffic. Airport trips include the airport access fee and CityLink toll. Peak tariff trips run higher again. For a number you can rely on, ask for a fixed price on 0421 807 027 or run your exact addresses through the fare calculator.
How a Melbourne taxi fare is calculated
Every metered trip starts with a flagfall — a fixed amount charged the moment the meter starts. From there the meter adds a per-kilometre rate while the car is moving, and a per-minute waiting rate whenever it is stopped or crawling in traffic. Those two never run at the same time: below a walking-pace threshold the meter switches from distance to time.
On top of the meter, you may see a booking fee, tolls, an airport access fee, government levies and a card surcharge. Nothing else should appear on the receipt. The maximum rates are set by Safe Transport Victoria for unbooked trips, which is why a metered taxi never surges on New Year's Eve or during a storm. Fares for booked services are not regulated in the same way — a phone or online booking may instead be offered as an agreed fixed price quoted before you travel.
Why distance alone does not tell you the fare
The meter charges per kilometre while the car is moving and per minute whenever it is stopped or crawling, and both apply across the same journey. A 12 km trip in light Sunday traffic costs noticeably less than the same 12 km in Friday peak, because the slow trip accrues far more time charges. Any fixed dollar example would need an assumed journey time to be honest — and real journey times vary too much for one number to be reliable.
That is why this page points you to the live calculator rather than a single example fare. Enter your actual pickup, destination, date and time and it applies the correct tariff with a realistic journey time for that route. For a number that cannot move at all, call and ask for a fixed price before the trip starts.
When does the Melbourne taxi tariff change?
There are three tariff windows and the meter picks the one that applies when your trip runs. Day covers 9am to 5pm. Overnight covers 5pm through to 9am the next morning. Peak covers Friday and Saturday nights between 10pm and 4am, plus the specified public holiday periods such as Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and New Year's Eve. During those peak periods, the peak rate replaces the normal overnight rate.
A trip that starts just before a tariff boundary is charged on the rate in force when the meter starts, so leaving at 4.55pm rather than 5.05pm can genuinely change what you pay on a longer run. If your trip straddles a boundary and you want certainty, ask for a fixed price when you book.
Fixed price or metered?
A metered fare is usually the cheapest option on short, direct trips at off-peak times, because you only pay for what the meter records. A fixed price is better when you want certainty: long airport runs, unfamiliar routes, trips that cross a tariff change at 5pm or 10pm, or when traffic is unpredictable.
We quote both. Enter your addresses in the calculator for a metered estimate, or call and we will lock a fixed price in before the trip starts.
Fixed-price examples on popular trips
A fixed price is agreed before the car moves and does not change if traffic slows or the route detours. As a guide, pre-booked fixed quotes on the routes people book most are typically: Melbourne Airport to the CBD around $80–$95 depending on terminal and time, CBD to St Kilda around $28–$38, CBD to Box Hill around $48–$60, and Werribee or Point Cook to the airport around $85–$110.
Long-distance fixed quotes are priced per trip and sit close to the upper end of the metered range in the table above, because the driver commits to the freeway time regardless of traffic: Melbourne to Geelong typically from around $180, Ballarat from around $250, Bendigo from around $320, and Warrnambool and other regional centres quoted individually. Call with your exact pickup, destination and travel time and the price is locked in before you travel.
Because booked-service fares are not regulated the way rank and hailed meters are, the fixed price you agree is the whole price for the trip — no surge, no tariff changes mid-ride. Tolls and the airport access fee are included in the quote when the route uses them, and the card surcharge is shown before you pay.
Payment, Cabcharge and MPTP
Card, debit, mobile wallets and cash are all accepted, with the card surcharge shown before you tap. Cabcharge accounts and corporate invoicing are available for business travel.
Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) members can use their card for the subsidised share of the fare. Bring the card with you — it must be present at the end of the trip for the subsidy to apply.
Extras that can appear on your fare
- Booking feeApplies to phone and online pre-bookings.
- Airport access feeCharged when departing Melbourne or Avalon Airport ranks.
- TollsCityLink, EastLink and the Sorrento ferry are passed on at cost.
- Card surchargeA capped percentage on card and mobile payments.
- Soiling feeOnly if the vehicle needs cleaning after the trip.
Standard vs premium taxi tariffs
For a rank or hailed trip, a premium sedan uses the same regulated metered tariff as a standard taxi — the meter rates above are the legal maximum either way. The difference appears on pre-booked trips, where fares are not regulated in the same way and are instead agreed as a fixed price before you travel.
| What you get | Standard taxi | Premium sedan |
|---|---|---|
| Rank or hailed trip | Regulated meter, 2026 tariff above | Same regulated meter and tariff |
| Pre-booked trip | Metered estimate or fixed price quoted upfront | Fixed price agreed before you travel |
| Vehicle | Late-model sedan, 4 passengers | Newer, larger sedan with more boot space |
| Best for | Everyday trips, short hops, rank pickups | Airport runs, client pickups, events, weddings |
| Surge pricing | None — tariffs are set, not demand-based | None — the agreed price does not move |
Prefer a premium car? See the premium taxi Melbourne page — a premium booking is quoted as a fixed price before you confirm, using the same Victorian tariff structure as its baseline.
Airport surcharges and tolls explained
Airport trips carry a couple of legitimate extras on top of the meter. They are set amounts, not driver discretion, and our fare ranges in this guide already include them.
| Charge | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Melbourne Airport access fee | Trips departing the airport taxi ranks at any terminal (T1–T4). Included in our Airport to CBD ranges. |
| Avalon Airport rank fee | Trips departing the Avalon Airport taxi rank. |
| CityLink toll | The standard route between Melbourne Airport and the CBD uses CityLink; the toll is added at cost. Ask for a toll-free route if you prefer — it is slower. |
| EastLink toll | Only on south-eastern routes that use EastLink, at cost. |
| Card surcharge | A capped percentage on card and mobile payments, shown before you tap. |
Common fare questions
Fares for specific trips
- Melbourne Airport taxi
- Melbourne Airport taxi fares
- Melbourne CBD taxi
- Taxi to Geelong
- Taxi to Frankston
- Taxi to Dandenong
- Regional Victoria transfers
- Book a fixed price by phone
Airport fares from your suburb
Airport trips are the fares people ask about most, and the distance from your own suburb matters more than anything else on the meter. These pages list the real distance, the usual route and the timing to allow for each area.
- Airport to Melbourne CBD (23 km)
- Airport to Sunshine (15 km)
- Airport to Footscray (18 km)
- Airport to Werribee (45 km)
- Airport to Point Cook (40 km)
- Airport to Tarneit (42 km)
- Airport to Dandenong (48 km)
- Airport to Berwick (60 km)
- Airport to Frankston (60 km)
- Airport to Geelong (85 km)