Fare news
2026 taxi fare changes: every state
Australian taxi fares are set by each state and territory regulator and reviewed on a rolling annual cycle, so the regulated maximum changes at a different time in each jurisdiction rather than all at once. As of 2026 the daytime flagfall ranges from A$2.90 in South-East Queensland to A$6.15 in the ACT, and daytime per-kilometre rates run from about A$1.90 in the Northern Territory to A$2.69 in South-East Queensland. Here is the current 2026 schedule for every state, when it took effect, and what it means if you catch a cab this year.
How Australian taxi fares are set — and why they change
Taxi fares in Australia are regulated maximums: each state or territory sets the most a metered taxi may charge, and reviews it roughly once a year against operating costs and inflation. Because the reviews are staggered — Western Australia early in the year, the ACT and Tasmania around April, others mid-year — the "2026 fare" for your city depends on when its regulator last reset the schedule.
The number a meter shows is a legal ceiling, not a company price. Booked-app fares can differ, but a ranked or hailed taxi cannot charge above the regulated tariff for the time of day. Every figure below is the daytime rate; night, late-night and public-holiday tariffs are higher again.
2026 taxi rates by state
| State / territory | Day flagfall | Day per km | Latest schedule from |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW (urban) | A$5.00 | A$2.52 | 1 Jul 2025 |
| VIC (metro) | A$5.25 | A$2.04 | 23 Sep 2025 |
| QLD (South-East) | A$2.90 | A$2.69 | 1 Jul 2025 |
| WA (Perth) | A$5.40 | A$2.13 | 1 Jan 2026 |
| SA (metro) | A$4.00 | A$2.30 | 27 Nov 2025 |
| ACT | A$6.15 | A$2.65 | 10 Apr 2026 |
| NT (Darwin) | A$5.70 | A$1.90 | 1 Jul 2025 |
| TAS (mainland) | A$5.40 | A$2.47 | 22 Apr 2026 |
Per-kilometre alone understates Victoria and Queensland, where the meter also charges a per-minute time rate concurrently, so their totals run higher than the km figure suggests. Regional zones in QLD, NSW, SA and TAS carry their own (usually higher) rates. Use the calculator for an exact fare on your route.
Which states updated their fares most recently?
The most recent 2026 resets have been in the smaller jurisdictions and the west; the eastern mainland states last moved in mid-to-late 2025 and are due for review again through 2026.
- Western Australia — new Perth rank-or-hail fares from 1 January 2026.
- ACT — updated schedule effective 10 April 2026 (the highest flagfall in the country at A$6.15).
- Tasmania — mainland fares reset 22 April 2026.
- South Australia — metro fares from 27 November 2025.
- Victoria — maximum metro fares from 23 September 2025.
- NSW, Queensland and the NT — last reset from 1 July 2025 and reviewed annually.
What the 2026 rates mean for passengers
For a typical short city trip the flagfall dominates, so the ACT, NT, WA and Tasmania feel dearer to get in; on longer runs the per-kilometre rate dominates, which pushes South-East Queensland, Tasmania and NSW up. The practical takeaways:
- Check the tariff band — night and public-holiday rates add materially to every figure above.
- Budget from the regulated maximum, then treat anything lower as a bonus (lighter traffic, a shorter route).
- On the one regulated fixed-fare route — Sydney Airport → CBD (A$60) — traffic can’t inflate the price.
- Compare with rideshare off-peak: Uber and DiDi undercut the meter in quiet periods but surge above it on busy nights.
Will taxi fares rise again in 2027?
Almost certainly — every regulator runs an annual or biennial review and adjustments track operating costs and CPI, which have been positive. Expect the mid-year states (NSW, QLD, NT) to publish revised schedules around July, and the autumn states (ACT, Tasmania) to move again in the first half of the year. We update these figures against each regulator’s source as soon as a new schedule takes effect.
Frequently asked
How much did taxi fares go up in 2026?
There is no single national figure — each state and territory sets and reviews its own regulated maximum on a rolling schedule. In 2026, Western Australia (from 1 January), the ACT (10 April) and Tasmania (22 April) published fresh schedules, while NSW, Queensland and the NT still run their mid-2025 rates pending the next annual review. See the table above for the current flagfall and per-kilometre figures.
Which Australian state has the most expensive taxi fares?
It depends on trip length. The ACT has the highest daytime flagfall (A$6.15), so short trips cost the most to start there; South-East Queensland has the highest per-kilometre rate (A$2.69), so long trips add up fastest in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The Northern Territory has the lowest per-kilometre rate (A$1.90).
When do taxi fares change in Australia?
On a staggered annual cycle set by each regulator — there is no common date. Recent examples: Western Australia in January, the ACT and Tasmania in April, South Australia in November, and NSW, Queensland and the NT from 1 July. We re-verify every state schedule against its regulator and update as soon as a change takes effect.
Are 2026 taxi fares regulated or can drivers charge what they want?
They are regulated maximums. A ranked or hailed taxi cannot charge more than the published tariff for the time of day, and the meter must be used on request. Booked-app fares are set by the operator and can differ, but the metered maximum still applies to street and rank trips.