Estimate a Cairns taxi fare using road distance, travel date and time, and Queensland Regional maximum fare inputs effective from 1 July 2026. This independent calculator provides an informational estimate only and does not create or confirm a taxi booking.
Tariff 1 or Tariff 2 is selected automatically from the Cairns travel date and time. Add only charges that genuinely apply. Rank and hail trips have no booking fee. For a booked TSS member or a wheelchair user needing a wheelchair accessible taxi, the maximum booking fee is $1.90. General booked fares are commercially quoted and may differ from this meter-style comparison.
Compare Cairns taxi rates with our Sydney taxi fare, Melbourne taxi fare, Brisbane taxi fare, Adelaide taxi fare, Perth taxi fare and Canberra taxi fare guides. The table uses the same 8-kilometre journey and 5 minutes of waiting time to provide a simple informational comparison across Australia.
| State or Territory | Representative Day Tariff | Base Fare | 8 km Distance | 5 min Waiting | Example Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Sydney taxi fare / NSW urban day — $2.61/km | $5.17 | $20.88 | $5.65 | $31.70 |
| Victoria | Melbourne day, Fare Structure 1 — $2.10/km | $5.40 | $16.80 | $3.50 | $25.70 |
| Queensland | Brisbane / South East Queensland day — $2.77/km | $3.80 | $22.16 | $5.20 | $31.16 |
| South Australia | Adelaide metropolitan Tariff 1 — $2.30/km | $4.00 | $18.40 | $3.95 | $26.35 |
| Western Australia | Perth metropolitan Tariff 1 — $2.13/km | $5.40 | $17.04 | $5.08 | $27.52 |
| Tasmania | Hobart Tariff 1 — $2.47/km | $5.40 | $19.76 | $3.74 | $28.90 |
| Australian Capital Territory | Canberra standard weekday day — $2.55/km | $6.15 | $20.40 | $5.32 | $31.87 |
| Northern Territory | Darwin Tariff 1 — $1.95/km | $5.90 | $15.60 | $5.77 | $27.27 |
| Queensland | Cairns / Regional Queensland day — $2.88/km | $3.80 | $23.04 | $5.20 | $32.04 |
Cairns is included in the Regional Queensland taxi fare category. The following maximum rates apply from 1 July 2026 to applicable rank, hail, Taxi Subsidy Scheme and wheelchair-user trips.
| Fare component | Current rate |
|---|---|
| Weekday day flagfall | $3.80 |
| Day period | 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday |
| Other-times flagfall | $6.20 |
| Distance rate | $2.88 per kilometre |
| Stationary waiting time | $1.04 per minute |
| Applicable maximum booking fee | $1.90 |
| Maximum card surcharge | Up to 5% |
| Cleaning charge | Up to $172 |
A Cairns taxi fare estimate can include:
The basic calculation used for an applicable weekday daytime trip is:
$3.80 flagfall + distance × $2.88 + stationary minutes × $1.04 + additional charges
For other times, the calculation begins with the $6.20 flagfall instead.
Waiting time should only be calculated for periods when the taxi is not moving. It should not be based on the complete estimated journey duration.
The current Regional Queensland distance rate for an applicable Cairns taxi journey is $2.88 per kilometre.
The per-kilometre amount is not the complete taxi fare. The meter also starts with either a $3.80 or $6.20 flagfall. Stationary waiting time and additional charges may then be added.
For example, a 10-kilometre weekday daytime journey with no waiting or additional fees would have an approximate meter amount of:
$3.80 + 10 × $2.88 = $32.60
The weekday day flagfall is $3.80 for trips beginning between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.
The distance and stationary waiting rates are:
A $6.20 flagfall applies outside the weekday day period. This includes nights and weekends.
The same regional distance and stationary waiting rates continue to apply:
Public holidays use the $6.20 other-times flagfall, even when the journey takes place during normal weekday daytime hours.
Queensland maximum taxi fares apply to rank and hail taxi journeys. They also apply to booked trips for Taxi Subsidy Scheme members and trips provided in a wheelchair-accessible taxi to a passenger using a wheelchair.
Most other booked taxi services are not subject to the maximum fare notice. For these services, the passenger must receive a fare estimate before the trip or agree to a fare in advance.
For an applicable rank or hail journey:
The calculator should therefore describe its result as a regional rank-or-hail fare estimate, rather than a guaranteed booked taxi quote.
The calculator uses the estimated road distance and selected fare inputs to produce an approximate taxi cost. The displayed result is not a taxi booking, fixed quote or guaranteed final meter fare.
Before starting the trip:
For a regulated rank or hail journey, the driver must use the meter. Passengers may request an itemised receipt showing the fare components and payment surcharge
Before calculating your journey, review the current Cairns taxi rates, charges and fare rules. This guide explains regional flagfall amounts, per-kilometre pricing, waiting charges, booking fees, card surcharges and the rules for rank-and-hail and booked taxi trips.
