How much is 1 km in a taxi?

It depends on where you are: 1 km in a metered taxi typically costs the equivalent of about $0.20–$3.00 USD in distance charges, but your final fare also includes a base flagfall, time charges in traffic, and local surcharges. Put simply, the “price per kilometer” is only one part of the bill; the first kilometer in many cities costs close to the minimum fare even if the distance component is low.

What actually determines the price per kilometer

Several components—set by regulators or companies—combine to produce what you pay for 1 km. Understanding them helps you estimate a realistic total for very short trips.

• Flagfall/minimum fare: A fixed start amount that often covers the first segment of distance/time.
• Distance rate: The meter’s per‑km charge once the initial included distance is used up.
• Time rate: A per‑minute charge when crawling in traffic or below a set speed.
• Surcharges: Extras for peak hours, late nights, airports, congestion zones, tolls, booking fees, or card payments (where applicable).
• Regulated minimums: Some cities enforce a minimum total fare that can exceed the meter for very short rides.

Taken together, these mean a 1 km ride can cost closer to the city’s minimum fare than to the per‑km rate—especially in dense or high‑surcharge areas.

Typical per‑km taxi prices by city (2025)

The figures below are current approximations for regulated street-hail taxis as of 2025. They show the meter’s distance component per km (local currency) plus key extras. Final 1 km costs will be higher once flagfall, time, and surcharges are included.

• New York City: About $2.17 per km (derived from $0.70 per 1/5 mile); flagfall $3.00; add $0.50 MTA tax + $1.00 improvement surcharge; $2.50 congestion surcharge for trips south of 96th St; possible $0.50 night or $1.00 weekday peak surcharge.
• London (Black Cabs): Roughly £2.00–£2.40 per km depending on tariff; flagfall about £3.80; higher evening/weekend tariffs and time-based increments apply.
• Paris: About €1.10–€1.60 per km depending on tariff (A/B/C); flagfall ~€2.60; citywide minimum fare ~€7.30 often sets the floor for very short trips.
• Berlin: ~€2.30 per km for the first 7 km, then ~€2.10; flagfall ~€4.00; waiting-time charges apply.
• Sydney (NSW): About A$2.19 per km; flagfall ~A$4.20; waiting ~A$0.94 per min; night or public-holiday surcharges may apply.
• Dubai (RTA): ~AED 1.9–2.2 per km depending on time; flagfall AED 5 for street hail; airport flagfall AED 25; booking fees may apply.
• Singapore: Effective ~S$0.90–S$1.00 per km after the initial included distance; flagdown typically S$4.10–S$4.50; peak (usually +25%) and late-night surcharges (+25% to +50%) and location surcharges (CBD/airport) are common.
• Tokyo (23 wards): Base ~¥500 covering roughly the first 1.0–1.1 km; thereafter ~¥320–¥420 per km depending on company; ~20% late-night surcharge after 10 pm.
• Toronto: About C$1.80–C$2.00 per km; flagfall ~C$4.25; time ~C$0.60+ per minute in slow traffic.
• Mumbai (black‑and‑yellow): Around ₹18–₹20 per km after a base that covers the first ~1.5–1.6 km at ~₹28; +25% night surcharge.
• Johannesburg: Typically R10–R16 per km for metered taxis; flagfall R20–R35; wide variation by company and area.

These local meter rates show that per‑km charges vary widely—but your out‑the‑door price for 1 km will also hinge on minimum fares, time in traffic, and surcharges.

How to estimate the cost of a 1 km ride where you are

You can get a realistic estimate in a minute if you know your city’s tariff card or regulator’s published rates.

1. Find the flagfall and any minimum fare for your city.
2. Check the per‑km distance rate and whether the flagfall covers an initial included distance.
3. Add the distance component for 1 km (if not already covered by the base).
4. Include likely surcharges (airport, congestion zone, late night/peak, booking, tolls).
5. If travel will be slow, add expected time‑based charges (or a buffer of a minute or two).

For very short trips, remember the minimum fare or base-plus-surcharges often dominates, so your 1 km estimate will typically cluster near that minimum.

Worked examples (2025)

New York City (below 96th St): $3.00 flagfall + $0.50 MTA + $1.00 improvement + $2.50 congestion + distance ~$2.17 ≈ $9.17 before any time-in-traffic, tip, or night/peak surcharges. Expect roughly $9–$11.

London (daytime, Tariff 1): £3.80 flagfall + ~£2.2 for 1 km ≈ £6.0, plus any time-based increments in congestion. Expect ~£5–£7.

Paris: Minimum fare applies, so even though 1 km distance might be ~€1.3, you generally pay the ~€7.30 minimum for a short hop.

Berlin: ~€4.00 flagfall + ~€2.30 for 1 km ≈ €6.30, before waiting time. Expect ~€6–€7.

Sydney: A$4.20 flagfall + A$2.19 for 1 km ≈ A$6.39; add any waiting time or night surcharge. Expect ~A$6–A$8.

Dubai (city, non-airport, daytime): AED 5 flagfall + ~AED 2.0 for 1 km ≈ AED 7; from airport, the AED 25 flagfall makes a 1 km ride about AED 27.

Singapore (off‑peak): Flagdown ~S$4.30 typically covers the first part of the distance; a 1 km hop often costs around S$4–S$5 before surcharges; during peak/late night, expect ~S$5–S$7.

Tokyo (23 wards): The initial ~¥500 covers about the first kilometer; a 1 km ride is ~¥500 (or ~¥600 late night).

Toronto: C$4.25 flagfall + ~C$1.83 ≈ C$6.08; add time if traffic is heavy. Expect ~C$6–C$7.

Mumbai: Minimum covers ~1.5–1.6 km at ~₹28, so a 1 km ride generally costs ₹28 (₹35 at night).

Alternatives and tips

If your 1 km trip looks pricey due to minimum fares or surcharges, a few options can reduce costs or uncertainty.

• Compare ride‑hail apps (they may be cheaper off‑peak, but can surge at busy times).
• Walk or use micromobility for sub‑1.5 km trips where safe and practical.
• Check for fixed‑fare zones (airports, CBDs) and whether they beat the meter for short hops.
• Avoid peak/late‑night starts if surcharges are steep and timing is flexible.
• Ask drivers about card fees or preferred payment methods to avoid surprises.

Small changes in timing, route, or mode can significantly affect very short‑trip costs, especially in cities with high base fares or fixed surcharges.

Summary

There’s no single global price for 1 km in a taxi: distance rates cluster around the equivalent of $0.20–$3.00 USD per km, but your actual fare hinges on flagfall, traffic time, and surcharges. In many major cities, expect the first kilometer to cost roughly the local minimum fare—often $4–$10 USD equivalent—rising with peak, night, airport, and congestion fees. Checking your city’s tariff card and adding the relevant extras will give the most accurate estimate.

Do taxis charge per mile or time?

Once your journey goes over six miles, the price per mile increases slightly for Tariffs 1 and 2, and decreases a bit on Tariff 3. Your final fare is based on either distance or time whichever results in a higher charge. So yes, if you’re stuck in traffic, your fare creeps up.

Do taxis charge by time or mile?

Are Taxi Rates Based on Time or Distance? Taxi rates are based on both time, and distance traveled.

How do taxis calculate cost?

Calculation of the amount
If the vehicle is traveling below the speed limit, then the taximeter calculates the fare based on the time elapsed. To do this, it multiplies the distance traveled by the rate per kilometer and the time elapsed by the rate per minute.

How much is a taxi for 1km?

The normal prices are: First two kilometers: ¥ 730 ( US$ 4.95) Price per additional kilometer: ¥ 320 ( US$ 2.17) Each hour of wait time: ¥ 3,085 ( US$ 20.95)