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Boston taxis charge by the meter: $2.60 for the first 1/7 of a mile, $0.40 for each 1/7 of a mile after that (about $2.80 a mile), and $28 an hour while waiting or idling. Tolls are extra, and a trip from Boston proper to Logan Airport adds a $2.75 toll that the passenger pays. These rates are set by the Boston Police Department’s Hackney Carriage Unit, which licenses and regulates the city’s taxis.
Boston taxi meter rates
| Charge | Rate |
|---|---|
| First 1/7 mile | $2.60 |
| Each additional 1/7 mile | $0.40 |
| Waiting or idling time | $28.00 per hour |
| Boston proper to Logan Airport or North Shore communities | $2.75 toll, paid by the passenger |
| Boston proper to East Boston (not Logan) | No toll |
| Other tolls | Added to the fare |
Source: Boston Police Department, Taxi Rates.
What a typical ride costs
Because the meter counts in sevenths of a mile, a 3-mile ride works out to $2.60 for the first 1/7 mile plus 20 more increments at $0.40, or $10.60 on the meter, before any waiting time, tolls or tip. Stop-and-go traffic adds waiting time at $28 an hour, so the same distance can cost more at rush hour.
Trips outside the city
Fares to many surrounding cities and towns are also charged on the meter rather than at a flat rate. The police department’s list of meter-rate communities includes Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Newton, Quincy, Waltham, Salem and Lexington, among many others.
Taking a taxi from Logan Airport
At Boston Logan, taxis wait at designated stands on the Arrivals level of Terminals A, B, C and E, with taxi dispatchers in every terminal. Follow the Ground Transportation and Taxi signs. Massport notes that waits can be longer at peak travel times. For a fixed-price ride, a private transfer from Logan to your hotel can be booked in advance on Viator.
If you are heading downtown and travelling light, the MBTA Silver Line 1 (SL1) bus stops at every terminal curb and runs to South Station, and it is free in the direction from the airport to downtown. The Blue Line subway is the other public option, reached on Massport’s free shuttle to Airport Station.
Ways to keep the fare down
- Avoid rush hour where you can, since slow traffic runs up waiting time.
- Share the ride: the meter charges by distance and time, not per passenger.
- Walk short hops. Downtown, the North End, Beacon Hill and Back Bay sit close together.
- For Logan, compare the free SL1 to South Station before joining the taxi line.