We’ll also share a few helpful tips for taking taxis in Budapest.
Starting August 1, taxi fares in Budapest will increase after the Budapest City Council amended the taxi ordinance.
The base fare will rise from 1,100 to 1,300 forints, the per-kilometer rate from 440 to 521 forints, and the per-minute rate from 110 to 130 forints.
An 800 HUF fee will be introduced for airport transfers.
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The impact study cited as an example that a 5-kilometer trip currently costs 3,630 forints, which amounts to about 9 percent of the average daily gross wage.
Starting August 1, the fare for an average 5-kilometer trip will increase to 4,290 forints.
This minimal increase is still not significant compared to the 11–15 percent of the average daily gross wage seen in major cities outside Budapest.
The fare for passenger taxi services in Budapest has not changed since March 2023.
Regulatory (fixed) taxi fares were introduced in Budapest in 2013. The unified taxi regulation abolished the free-market pricing system, and since then, fixed base fares, per-kilometer rates, and per-minute rates have been set for service providers in the capital.
As in many other major cities around the world, it’s not uncommon in Budapest for “taxi sharks” to try to rip off foreign tourists with various underhanded tricks (not turning on the meter, charging inflated extra fees, charging in a different currency, etc.).
You can significantly reduce these risks by using an app and taking an “official” taxi.
There are numerous taxi companies and independent taxi operators in Budapest. They all share a uniform appearance:
- the cars are yellow,
- their license plates are yellow,
- the words “certified Budapest taxi” are displayed on the front left door,
- a fare chart displaying the official, fixed taxi rates is displayed on the dashboard and on both rear doors,
- the rear door windows display a so-called “internal license plate” showing the taxi’s license plate number and the driver’s taxi driver’s license number.
