How much does a taxi cost per mile in the US?
Between $2.56 and $3.50 a mile in the five cities below, before tips, tolls and surcharges. Each city's regulator publishes a rate card; the table copies them as published.[1][2][3][4][5]
| City | Flag drop | Per mile | Waiting time | Extras on the card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City (TLC) | $3.00 | $3.50 (70¢ per 1/5 mile) | 70¢ per 60 seconds in slow traffic | 50¢ MTA surcharge, $1 improvement surcharge, $1 overnight 8pm-6am, $2.50 weekday rush hour 4pm-8pm, $2.50 congestion surcharge (yellow taxi) in Manhattan south of 96th Street |
| San Francisco (SFMTA) | $4.15 for the first 1/5 mile | $3.25 (65¢ per 1/5 mile) | 65¢ per minute | $6 SFO pick-up fee |
| Los Angeles (LADOT) | $3.10 for the first 1/9 mile | $2.97 (33¢ per 1/9 mile) | 33¢ per 37 seconds ($32.11 an hour) | $4 surcharge on trips from LAX; $51.15 flat fare LAX-Downtown plus the $4 |
| Washington DC (DFHV) | $4.00 for the first 1/8 mile | $2.56 | $25 an hour | $1 emergency fuel surcharge per metered trip until 25 December 2026 |
| Miami-Dade County | $2.95 for the first 1/6 mile | 85¢ per 1/6 mile to one mile, then $3.30 (55¢ per 1/6) | $24 an hour | $2 on trips from MIA or PortMiami; $15 minimum from MIA |
Figures in brackets are the unit charge times the units in a mile. Rates checked on 2 November 2026; New York, San Francisco and Washington DC from the regulators' pages, Los Angeles from LADOT's 2023 rate sheet and Miami-Dade from Resolution R-700-22.[1][2][3][4][5]
Why is the first mile more expensive?
The flag drop covers only a fraction of a mile (a ninth in Los Angeles, a fifth in San Francisco), and Miami-Dade charges 85¢ per sixth of a mile until the first mile is done before dropping to 55¢. A one-mile Miami-Dade trip therefore meters at $7.20 before extras, while each later mile adds $3.30.[2][3][5]
Do apps charge the same as the meter?
Not necessarily. These rates are meter maximums for licensed taxis. New York's TLC also lets licensed e-hail providers offer upfront prices in participating yellow and green cabs, and San Francisco has run an upfront fare pilot, so an app booking can show a fixed price instead of the meter.[1][2]
How should a car service price against the taxi meter?
Use the local meter rate as a reference point, then price from your own cost per paid mile, with fixed prices for airports and frequent routes. The method is in how to set taxi fares.
Frequently asked questions
What is the taxi rate per mile in NYC?
$3.50: 70 cents per fifth of a mile when travelling above 12 mph, after a $3.00 initial charge, plus surcharges, tips and tolls (TLC).
Do US taxis charge for waiting?
Yes, for time in slow traffic or stopped: $25 an hour in Washington DC, $24 an hour in Miami-Dade and 65 cents a minute in San Francisco.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
- [1] NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission: Taxi fare (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] SFMTA: Taxi fares (rates effective 17 November 2022) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] LADOT: Taxicab rates (2023 rate sheet) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [4] DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles: Taxicab fares (effective 2 August 2024) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [5] Miami-Dade County: Taxicab rates (Resolution R-700-22) (read 2 Nov 2026)