All fares shown on Taxifare are estimates, intended for trip planning and comparison - not exact meter simulations or guaranteed prices.

Our goal is transparency. We want users to clearly understand:

where the numbers come from
what they represent
and what they do not represent

Why fare estimates vary in real life

Taxi and ride-sharing fares are influenced by many factors that change from trip to trip, including:

traffic congestion and waiting time
time of day and day of week
route choice and road conditions
local surcharges, tolls, or special rules
demand fluctuations (for ride-sharing)

Because of this variability, no online calculator can reliably predict the exact final fare in advance. Rather than claiming unrealistic precision, Taxifare focuses on typical costs and realistic price ranges.

Our estimation philosophy

We follow three core principles when calculating and presenting fares:

1 - Estimates, not “official prices”

Taxifare does not present estimates as official or guaranteed fares. Where available, we reference officially published taxi fare rules and observed ride-sharing pricing behavior, but results are always labeled and framed as estimates.

2 - Consistency across cities

We use a standardized estimation framework across all cities. This allows users to meaningfully compare transportation costs between destinations, even when local fare structures differ.

3 - Real-world usefulness over meter simulation

Exact taxi meter logic can vary widely by city and may include dozens of special cases. For trip planning, users benefit more from clear ranges based on typical trips than from overly complex formulas that still cannot account for traffic or demand.

What data we use

Taxi fare data

When reliable taxi tariff data is available, taxi estimates are based on:

official fare information published by local or national authorities
regulated base fares, distance-based and time-based components
published minimum fares and known fare structures
typical urban trip distances and travel times

We do not attempt to replicate every possible surcharge or edge case. Instead, estimates are calibrated to reflect typical in-city trips under normal conditions.

Ride-sharing data

Ride-sharing estimates are based on:

aggregated recent trip samples
observed distances and travel times
observed pricing behavior under normal demand
publicly available pricing information from major platforms

Ride-sharing prices are demand-based and can change rapidly. For this reason, ride-sharing fares are shown as typical values or ranges, not fixed prices.

When taxi fare data is not available

Taxi fare regulation and public data availability vary widely by country and city. In some locations, taxi pricing may be decentralized, undocumented, or outdated.

When reliable taxi data is unavailable, Taxifare:

does not attempt to guess or infer taxi prices
displays ride-sharing estimates only, based on recent aggregated trip data
clearly indicates when taxi fare estimates are unavailable

Transparency principle: We prefer showing less information over publishing speculative or unreliable pricing.

How the estimation model works (simplified)

At a high level, our estimation model combines:

a base fare component
a distance-based component
a time-based component

Estimated fare ≈ base fare
               + (distance × typical per-distance rate)
               + (time × typical per-minute rate)

When actual travel time is not available, it is estimated using average city traffic speeds derived from aggregated trip data. Final results are presented as ranges to reflect uncertainty.

Why we show fare ranges instead of exact numbers

Displaying a single number suggests a level of certainty that does not exist in real-world travel. Fare ranges:

better reflect what travelers actually experience
reduce confusion and false expectations
account for traffic, waiting time, and demand variability
improve transparency and trust

Data freshness and updates

Fare estimates and calibration inputs are reviewed and updated regularly. Depending on the location, pages may display:

a “last updated” date
sample size indicators where available

When official taxi fare rules change or sufficient new ride-sharing data becomes available, estimates are recalibrated accordingly.

Editorial responsibility

Alexander Gonzalez, founder and editor at Taxifare, is responsible for:

fare estimation methodology
data calibration and validation
source verification
editorial accuracy across all city pages

All estimation logic and content guidelines are reviewed under his supervision.

Our commitment to transparency

We believe clear methodology is more valuable than perfect math. By explaining what data we use, how estimates are calculated, and where limitations apply, we aim to provide realistic expectations and build long-term trust with users.

If you notice data that may need updating or have questions about our methodology, please reach out via our Contact page.

How We Calculate Taxi & Ride-Sharing Fare Estimates