In This Guide
Melbourne taxi fares are set by the state government under the Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Act. Every licensed taxi and pre-booked commercial passenger vehicle must charge within the regulated rate. This guide gives you the exact figures so you know what to expect before you travel.
How Melbourne Taxi Fares Work
The regulated fare structure as at 2026:
- Booking fee (flag fall): $9.90
- Per kilometre on weekdays: $2.20
- Minimum fare: $39.90
- Night surcharge (10 pm to 4 am): 20% on top of the base fare
- Maxi cab surcharge: $16 on top of the sedan fare for the same trip
Road tolls are added to metered taxi fares. With Book Melbourne Taxi, all tolls are included in the quoted fixed fare. There are no extras at the end of the trip.
How Much Is a Taxi from Melbourne Airport to the CBD?
A taxi from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) to the CBD costs $65 fixed with Book Melbourne Taxi. This includes all CityLink tolls. The trip is approximately 23 km and takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
For a maxi cab carrying a group, the same trip is $81 for the whole vehicle, regardless of how many passengers up to 11.
See our airport transfers page for the full suburb-by-suburb airport fare table and details on flight tracking and free waiting time.
Airport Fares from Every Major Melbourne Suburb
These are the fixed fares from Book Melbourne Taxi for a sedan to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine). All tolls included.
| Suburb | Distance to Airport | Sedan Fare | Maxi Cab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne CBD | 23 km | $65 | $81 |
| Southbank / Docklands | 24 km | $65 | $81 |
| South Yarra / Toorak | 27 km | $75 | $91 |
| St Kilda | 29 km | $75 | $91 |
| Essendon | 14 km | $65 | $81 |
| Brunswick / Preston | 19 to 22 km | $65 | $81 |
| Brighton / Sandringham | 35 to 38 km | $75 | $91 |
| Box Hill / Doncaster | 24 to 30 km | $65 to $75 | $81 to $91 |
| Camberwell | 28 km | $75 | $91 |
| Glen Waverley | 33 km | $75 | $91 |
| Caulfield | 30 km | $75 | $91 |
| Clayton | 31 km | $75 | $91 |
| Dandenong | 43 km | $90 | $106 |
| Narre Warren / Berwick | 52 to 58 km | $105 | $121 |
| Frankston | 62 km | $105 | $121 |
| Cranbourne | 64 km | $120 | $136 |
| Pakenham | 72 km | $120 | $136 |
| Werribee / Hoppers Crossing | 30 to 34 km | $75 | $91 |
| Point Cook | 33 km | $75 | $91 |
| Melton | 38 km | $75 | $91 |
| Ringwood / Croydon | 40 to 41 km | $90 | $106 |
| Lilydale | 50 km | $105 | $121 |
| Wallan | 52 km | $105 | $121 |
| Kilmore | 60 km | $105 | $121 |
CBD Fares from Key Suburbs
Estimated fixed fares for a trip from each suburb to the Melbourne CBD.
| Suburb | Distance to CBD | Estimated Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Brunswick | 4 km | $39.90 minimum |
| Fitzroy / Collingwood | 3 km | $39.90 minimum |
| Richmond | 4 km | $39.90 minimum |
| South Yarra | 5 km | $39.90 minimum |
| St Kilda | 6 km | $39.90 minimum |
| Essendon | 8 km | $39.90 minimum |
| Preston / Northcote | 8 km | $39.90 minimum |
| Brighton | 11 km | $44 |
| Box Hill | 14 km | $51 |
| Doncaster | 14 km | $51 |
| Caulfield | 10 km | $42 |
| Bentleigh | 13 km | $49 |
| Sandringham | 16 km | $55 |
| Clayton | 19 km | $52 |
| Glen Waverley | 20 km | $54 |
| Ringwood | 26 km | $67 |
| Dandenong | 29 km | $74 |
| Frankston | 41 km | $101 |
| Werribee | 32 km | $81 |
| Melton | 36 km | $89 |
Maxi Cab Fares
A maxi cab carries up to 11 passengers and costs the standard sedan fare plus $16 for the same trip. There is no charge per passenger. The $16 is a flat surcharge whether you have 5 passengers or 11.
For a group of 8 flying from Dandenong, the maxi cab fare to the airport is $106, which works out to $13.25 per person. That is less than most individual ride share fares for the same route.
Night Surcharge Explained
The regulated night surcharge applies between 10 pm and 4 am and adds 20% to the standard fare. A $65 CBD to airport fare at 2 am becomes $78. The maxi surcharge and the night surcharge both apply when you book a maxi cab during those hours.
There is no weekend surcharge in the standard regulated structure. A Saturday afternoon trip costs exactly the same as a Tuesday afternoon trip at the same time of day.
With Book Melbourne Taxi, the fare quoted at booking already includes the night surcharge if your pickup falls in that window. You will not see any adjustment at the end of the trip.
Check the Fare for Your Route
The tables above cover common routes. If your suburb is not listed, or you want a confirmed price for a specific trip, use our fare estimator. Enter your pickup and drop-off address and get an instant confirmed fare. Then call 0422 333 880 or book online and we confirm the price before dispatching your driver.
A few other things that can help:
- For groups of 5 or more, always ask about a maxi cab. It is usually cheaper per person than booking multiple sedans
- For airport trips, book the night before. Early morning airport runs are the most common time people overpay on ride share apps due to demand spikes
- If you need a child seat, mention it when booking. We include baby and child seats at no extra cost with any advance booking
- For NDIS, TAC, or WorkSafe travel, we can bill your plan or claim directly. See our NDIS transport page for details