How Much Does a Taxi Cost From Melbourne Airport in 2026?

It is one of the first questions people ask before booking an airport transfer: how much will it actually cost?

The honest answer is that taxi fares from Melbourne Airport vary depending on where you are travelling to, which vehicle you need, and whether you book a metered taxi or a pre-booked fixed fare service. This guide covers all of it clearly so you know exactly what to expect before you travel.

Quick answer: Most Melbourne Airport taxi fares range from approximately $45 to $160 depending on destination, vehicle type, and distance from the airport. Nearby suburbs such as Mickleham and Craigieburn are usually under $60, while longer transfers to suburbs such as Frankston or Berwick are generally over $120. For an exact fare, use our Melbourne Airport Taxi Fare Estimator.

Having handled Melbourne Airport transfers since 2011, one thing we have learned is that most passengers are not looking for the absolute cheapest fare. They want to know the price before they travel and avoid surprises. The most common question we receive is not “What is the cheapest option?” It is “How much will I actually pay?” Fixed fares solve that problem by giving travellers certainty before the journey begins.

Prices shown in this guide are indicative and may change. Use our Fare Estimator for an exact current quote for your suburb.

Fixed Fares vs Metered Taxis — What Is the Difference?

Standard taxis in Melbourne use a metered fare regulated by the Victorian Government through Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV). The meter runs based on distance and time. For most airport trips, the metered fare is predictable — but it can increase in heavy traffic because the meter also charges for time spent stationary or moving slowly.

Pre-booked airport taxi services like Book Melbourne Cabs operate on fixed fares. Your fare is agreed before your trip begins and does not change regardless of traffic, time of day, or demand. What you are quoted is what you pay — no surprises at the end of the journey.

Melbourne Airport Taxi Fares by Suburb — 2026

Here are the current fixed fares for common Melbourne Airport transfer routes with Book Melbourne Cabs. These fares apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — no peak hour loading, no surge pricing.

Melbourne Airport to CBD and Inner City

Melbourne Airport to CBD — Sedan from $70, SUV from $80
Melbourne Airport to South Yarra — Sedan from $89, SUV from $99
Melbourne Airport to St Kilda — Sedan from $89, SUV from $99
Melbourne Airport to Southbank — Sedan from $75, SUV from $85

Melbourne Airport to Northern Suburbs

Melbourne Airport to Craigieburn — Sedan from $49, SUV from $59
Melbourne Airport to Mickleham — Sedan from $45, SUV from $55
Melbourne Airport to Epping — Sedan from $59, SUV from $69
Melbourne Airport to Broadmeadows — Sedan from $49, SUV from $59

Melbourne Airport to Eastern Suburbs

Melbourne Airport to Doncaster — Sedan from $99, SUV from $109
Melbourne Airport to Box Hill — Sedan from $99, SUV from $109
Melbourne Airport to Ringwood — Sedan from $109, SUV from $119

Melbourne Airport to South Eastern Suburbs

Melbourne Airport to Dandenong — Sedan from $119, SUV from $129
Melbourne Airport to Berwick — Sedan from $129, SUV from $139
Melbourne Airport to Frankston — Sedan from $149, SUV from $159

Melbourne Airport to Western Suburbs

Melbourne Airport to Werribee — Sedan from $79, SUV from $89
Melbourne Airport to Point Cook — Sedan from $79, SUV from $89
Melbourne Airport to Footscray — Sedan from $69, SUV from $79

For an exact fare for your suburb, use our Melbourne Airport Taxi Fare Estimator — enter your pickup and drop-off address and get an instant fixed price.

What Affects the Cost of a Taxi From Melbourne Airport?

Distance — the further you are from the airport, the higher the fare. Northern suburbs like Craigieburn and Mickleham are close to Tullamarine and attract lower fares. South eastern suburbs like Frankston and Berwick are furthest away and attract higher fares.
Vehicle type — Sedan suits 1 to 4 passengers with standard luggage. SUV suits families or passengers with extra bags. Maxi Taxi suits groups travelling together.
Tolls — CityLink tolls apply on some routes, particularly trips to the CBD and inner city suburbs. Toll charges are additional to the base fare.
Booking type — a pre-booked fixed fare is agreed before travel. A metered taxi from the airport rank charges by distance and time and can vary in heavy traffic.

Is a Pre-Booked Airport Taxi Cheaper Than a Metered Taxi?

For most Melbourne airport transfers, a pre-booked fixed fare is comparable to or cheaper than a metered taxi — particularly for longer trips to outer suburbs where traffic delays can push the meter higher.

The bigger advantage of a pre-booked fixed fare is certainty. You know the price before you travel. There is no risk of the meter running in congestion on the Tullamarine Freeway during a Monday morning peak hour or on the way home after an AFL Grand Final.

How Do Melbourne Airport Taxi Fares Compare to Uber?

During off-peak periods on quiet days, Uber can sometimes be cheaper than a pre-booked taxi for shorter trips. However, Uber uses dynamic surge pricing during peak periods — Melbourne Cup week, Australian Open fortnight, school holidays, and busy Monday mornings — which can push fares significantly higher than a fixed taxi fare.

A pre-booked airport taxi with Book Melbourne Cabs charges the same fare regardless of time of day or demand. For more detail on the Uber vs taxi comparison, read our honest Uber vs Taxi comparison guide.

How to Get an Exact Fare for Your Melbourne Airport Transfer

The quickest way to get an exact fare is to use our Fare Estimator — enter your address and get an instant fixed price for Sedan and SUV options.

You can also call us directly on 0434 085 706 and we will give you a fixed, all-inclusive fare for your trip. No hidden charges, no meter, no surge pricing.

Book Melbourne Cabs has been handling Melbourne Airport transfers since 2011. We operate 7 days a week from 4am to 10pm. Sedan, SUV and Maxi Taxi available. Flight tracking included on every airport pickup.

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