How much taxi rides cost in Singapore (examples included)

Taking a taxi in a foreign country can be confusing. It’s tough to figure out whether the fare is fair, or how much you should budget for an upcoming journey. To make it easier for tourists visiting Singapore, I’ve put this guide together to give a rough estimate of the fares you should expect to pay when taking a taxi in Singapore.

Typical taxi fares in Singapore range from S$10 to S$35 depending on the distance travelled and time spent waiting in traffic. There is a flag-down fee for all journeys and surcharges can be added depending on time of day or location that you start your journey. Taxis can be booked using apps such as CDG Zig, Gojek, and TADA.

In this guide I’m including:

Typical fares for journeys that tourists will take
Fare structure (how much the taxi charges for distance and time)
Best apps to use to book taxis

I’ll also include some tips on how to save money (such as when it is better to take public transport), and things you should avoid when taking taxis in Singapore.

Typical fares for taxi journeys in Singapore

Here are some examples of taxi journeys I’ve taken recently:

Journey	Time of day	Cost
Changi Airport to Downtown (Fullerton Bay)	Morning off-peak	S$24.20
Sentosa to Changi Airport	Evening peak	S$34.10
Orchard to Sentosa	Morning off-peak	S$15.40
Boat Quay to Orchard	Night	S$12.40
Mandai to Orchard	Afternoon off-peak	S$21.50*

* my fare from Mandai did not include the Wildlife Reserve surcharge - if you are taking a taxi from the zoo, night safari, or bird paradise, there is an additional S$3 surcharge added. There is also an additional surcharge for Sentosa. I’ve included more detail on surcharges further below in this guide.

Taxi fare quotes in Singapore — Some quotes for example taxi fares, generated using the CDG Zig app

A booking fee is included in most of the fares above. This is charged because I used an app to book the taxi. The booking fee is roughly S$2 (see below for more detail) and can be avoided by hailing a taxi on the street (difficult) or at a taxi stand (slightly easier).

I’ve included more detail below on some of the typical journeys that people ask me about:

Typical fare to/from Changi Airport

When taking a taxi from Changi Airport expect to pay S$20 to S$40 depending on which part of Singapore you are travelling to or from and what time of day it is. Longer distances will result in higher fares, and surcharges are added for peak hours, toll gantries (ERP), and if your journey is originating at Changi.

Some example fares I’ve had include:

Changi Airport to Katong after midnight: S$28.76
Changi Airport to Central Business District morning, non-peak: S$24.20
Orchard to Changi Airport morning, non-peak: S$21.80
Suntec to Changi Airport afternoon, non-peak: S$19.50

I prefer taking a taxi when arriving at Changi Airport over taking the MRT, particularly if I have a lot of luggage. It’s hot, I’m probably tired, and a taxi will bring me right to the entrance of my hotel (rather than having to walk from an MRT station).

Typical fare to/from Sentosa

For taxi rides to or from Sentosa, expect to pay between S$15 and S$30 depending on the distance travelled and the time of day.

Some example fares include:

Orchard to Sentosa morning off-peak: S$21.40
Orchard to Sentosa evening peak: S$17.90
Sentosa to Changi afternoon peak: S$34.10

A vehicle entry fee of S$6 is payable if you are travelling to Sentosa

A surcharge of S$3 is payable if you are starting your journey from Sentosa.

It’s cheaper to catch the Sentosa Express monorail to get to Vivocity and then take a taxi (or bus or MRT) if you are travelling alone or with one other person.

If you are travelling in a group of 3 or more, you’ll probably find it’s cheaper and more convenient to take the taxi from Sentosa.

Taxis can be difficult to find on Sentosa. The last few times I travelled from Sentosa I had a lot of trouble finding a taxi. I highly recommend using an app to book and having some patience. Because taxis are scarce, many people will use an app to book, meaning there are even fewer taxis available for hail, even at a taxi stand.

Typical fare to/from Mandai

Mandai is the other popular spot I get asked about a lot - it’s home to the Bird Paradise, Zoo, and Night Safari. And it’s a long way from the core central part of Singapore. According to their website here, bus and MRT and the first recommended way to get to Mandai.

The long distance makes taxis an attractive option though, particularly if you’re travelling as a group. Typical taxi fares to and from Mandai wildlife area are as follows:

Mandai to Orchard evening peak: S$23.70
Mandai to Sentosa evening peak: S$32.80
Dhoby Ghaut to Mandai morning peak: S$25.30

I struggle to recommend for visitors to rely on taking a taxi back to their hotel from Mandai though. Particularly at night when there are less taxis around in general, it is tough to find a taxi willing to take you from Mandai back to the city - even with the surcharge. There is a bus though as an alternative. I’ve included more about surcharges from places like Mandai and Changi below.

Taxi fare structure in Singapore

Taxi fares differ by company and if your taxi is regular or premium. The fares are listed in the table below, with the more expensive end being the premium taxis.

Type of charge	Amount
Flag-down	S$3.90 - S$5.00
Distance (every 400m)	S$0.24 - S$0.36
Waiting (every 45 secs of not moving)	S$0.24 - S$0.36
Booking fee	S$2.30 - S$10

Singapore also applies surcharges based on time of day or location. These are intended to encourage more taxi drivers to be available during these times are at these locations.

Taxi surcharges are in the following table:

Surcharge	Amount
Peak (Weekdays: 6am-9:30am and 6pm-midnight)	25% of metered fare
Late night (midnight to 6am)	50% of metered fare
City Area	S$3.00
Changi Airport (5pm to midnight)	S$8.00
Changi Airport (other times)	S$6.00
Seletar Airport	S$3.00
Gardens by the Bay	S$3.00
Mandai Wildlife Reserve (inc. Bird Paradise)	S$3.00
Marina Bay Cruise Centre (7am to 11am)	S$5.00
Marina Bay Cruise Centre (other times)	S$3.00
Marina Bay Sands (some taxi companies)	S$3.00
Resorts World Sentosa	S$3.00
Singapore Expo Centre	S$2.00
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal	S$3.00

Any toll gantry (ERP) you pass under is added directly as a charge to your fare.

I’ve found it really difficult to calculate a fare ahead of time using the above tables. That’s why earlier in this guide I listed typical fares that I’ve paid. I recommend setting your budget based on the typical fares rather than trying to calculate based on distance and surcharge.

How to pay for a taxi

The payment methods available or taxis in Singapore are:

Cash
Credit card
NETS
Stored value card

Cash is the cheapest as it does not come with a fee. Paying by credit card can incur a 10% fee on top of the fare.

Booking apps

I could write a whole guide about which apps to use to book taxis in Singapore. Currently the following are some of the more popular ones available in Singapore:

CDG Zig - the booking app from one of the local taxi companies
Grab
Gojek
TADA

I like using CDG Zig and TADA, but I’ll also use Gojek in a pinch. Grab won’t let me create an account so I don’t bother with it.

Uber is not available in Singapore after selling its local options to Grab.