Taxi & cab meter calculator · how the meter works

Official 2026 meter rates
8 states & territories
Verified weekly

See exactly what the taxi meter will read for your trip, on the official 2026 regulated rates. In Australia, a cab and a taxi are the same vehicle — both are licensed, metered, and governed by the same state transport regulator, so the meter reads identically either way. Type a pickup and destination, pick a time, and the meter calculator returns the legal maximum a rank-or-hail cab can charge — flagfall, per-kilometre rate, night and peak tariffs — with the full breakdown and source on every result.

Cab vs taxi · is there a difference?

No. In Australian regulation, a “cab” and a “taxi” are the same vehicle. Both must display a state-issued taxi plate, run a sealed regulated meter, and charge no more than the maximum tariff published by the state transport regulator. The words are used interchangeably in everyday speech — “I hailed a cab,” “I called a taxi.” Operators sometimes use “cab” in their brand (13cabs, Yellow Cabs), but the fare ceiling does not change.

That means the sealed meter reads identically whether you call it a cab or a taxi — the meter calculator above shows exactly what it will charge. It is the same fare engine you’ll find on the taxi fare calculator — pinned to the official 2026 schedule for 21 major Australian cities and all 8 states and territories.

How much does a cab cost in Australia?

A cab charges the same regulated meter as a taxi: a flagfall when the meter starts, a per-kilometre rate for the distance, and a per-minute waiting rate when traffic drops below walking pace. On top of the meter you may see tolls (passed through at cost), an airport access fee, a small booking fee if you ordered by phone or app, and a card surcharge capped at 5%. Enter a pickup and destination in the calculator above for the exact cab charge, or see the full regulated schedule by state.

“Cab charge” can mean two things in Australia: the fare a metered cab charges (above), or Cabcharge — the account and card payment system most cabs accept. Either way the underlying fare is the same regulated maximum; Cabcharge is simply how the bill is paid.

Do different cab companies charge different fares?

No — for a rank-or-hail trip, every licensed Australian cab charges the same state-regulated maximum, whatever the brand on the door. 13cabs, Silver Service, Yellow Cabs, Swan Taxis, Black & White Cabs and Legion Cabs all run the same sealed meter set by the state transport regulator, so a “cheap cab” street-hail is a myth — the meter is identical. A price difference only appears when you book through an app that sets a fixed quote (allowed in some states), or when you choose a larger maxi cab — never from the company name alone.

Frequently asked about Australian cab fares

Short, sourced answers to the most common questions about how cab fares work in Australia — flagfall, peak rates, card surcharges, airport access fees and the cab-vs-rideshare price question.

Is a cab the same thing as a taxi in Australia?

"Cab" and "taxi" are the same vehicle in Australia — both refer to a licensed, metered rank-or-hail vehicle. The terms are used interchangeably. The fare is set by the same state regulator and the meter charges the same regulated maximum either way.

Is this a cab meter calculator, a cab rate calculator or a cab cost estimator?

All of those — they are the same tool. A cab meter calculator, cab rate calculator, cab cost calculator, cab price estimator and cab fare estimator all describe the one thing: working out what the regulated meter will read for your trip. Enter a pickup and destination and it applies the current flagfall, per-kilometre rate and time-of-day tariff to estimate the exact cab fare, the same way the sealed meter in the cab does.

How is a cab fare calculated?

Every Australian state publishes a regulated maximum cab tariff with three parts: a flagfall (the amount the meter starts at), a per-kilometre rate, and a per-minute waiting rate that kicks in below a slow-speed threshold (around 21–26 km/h). On top of that, tolls, the airport access fee and a small Passenger Service Levy are added at cost. The calculator above runs every cab fare against the current 2026 schedule.

Why does a cab fare change at night and on weekends?

Most states define a night band (typically 10pm–6am) with a higher flagfall and per-km rate. NSW and Victoria additionally add a Friday/Saturday-night peak hire charge or peak tariff. The calculator picks the right tariff for the pickup time you enter.

Is a cab cheaper than Uber in Australia?

It depends on the time. A street-hail cab charges the regulated meter — a fixed published maximum — while Uber and other rideshare apps charge an operator-set quoted price that can surge 1.5×–3× during peak demand. In quiet periods rideshare is often cheaper; during peak nights, public holidays, weather events or large events a regulated cab fare is usually the lower number.

Why do airport cabs cost more?

Most major airports charge cabs an access fee to use the rank (typically A$3–A$5), passed through on the meter. Sydney Airport is special: a rank-or-hail cab from Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD is a regulated fixed fare of A$60 (A$80 for a maxi cab) that bundles the access fee into one number. The calculator detects this automatically.

Can I pay for a cab with a card? Is there a surcharge?

Yes — every licensed Australian cab accepts at least one form of card payment. Most states cap the card surcharge at 5% of the bill (Victoria caps debit/credit at 4%). Toggle the "card" option in the calculator to see the surcharge applied.

How accurate is this cab fare estimator?

The calculator applies the official 2026 regulated maximum tariff for the state and time of day, plus tolls from Google's Routes API. The figure is the legal ceiling a metered cab can charge. Drivers can charge less (rare in practice), but never more. Every result links to the regulator's published source.

Are there cheap cab fares or fixed cab fares anywhere in Australia?

The only regulated fixed cab fare currently in force is Sydney Airport → Sydney CBD at A$60. Outside that, all fares run on the regulated meter. "Cheap cab" companies advertise the same regulated maximum as everyone else — the price difference comes from booked-app pricing rules in some states, not a cheaper meter.