How Much Is a Taxi From Melbourne Airport to the CBD?
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) sits about 23 km north-west of the CBD, and the drive normally takes 25–35 minutes outside peak hours. Taxis in Victoria run on regulated metered rates, so the honest answer to 'how much' is: flag fall, plus a per-kilometre rate, plus a per-minute rate whenever the car is travelling under 21 km/h, plus the airport pickup fee and any tolls.
The official Victorian metered rates
These are the regulated rates every compliant Melbourne taxi charges. There is no surge pricing — the rate band depends only on the time of day.
| RATE BAND | FLAG FALL | PER KM (ABOVE 21 KM/H) | PER MINUTE (BELOW 21 KM/H) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day — 9am to 5pm | $5.40 | $2.10 | $0.70 |
| Overnight — 5pm to 9am | $6.75 | $2.30 | $0.80 |
| Peak — 10pm–4am Fri & Sat, public holidays | $8.00 | $2.55 | $0.85 |
What that means for the airport-to-CBD run
On a clean 23 km run with light traffic, the distance component dominates: roughly 23 km at the applicable per-kilometre rate, plus flag fall. Traffic is what moves the number — every minute crawling under 21 km/h adds the per-minute rate instead. A 5pm Friday run into the city can therefore cost noticeably more than the same trip at 11am, even though the distance is identical.
Extras you should expect
- Melbourne Airport pickup fee — charged by the airport to every taxi and rideshare collecting passengers.
- Tolls — the CityLink route is the fastest way in; the toll is added to your fare.
- Waiting time — if you ask the driver to wait, it is billed at the per-minute rate.
How to know the price before you travel
Guessing is unnecessary. Enter your pickup and drop-off in our booking form and you get a live estimate calculated from the real road distance, the current rate band and your vehicle type before you confirm anything. If you would rather hear it from a person, call our 24/7 dispatch and we will quote you on the phone.
Get your Melbourne Airport to CBD estimate
Ways to keep the fare down
- Travel outside 7–9am and 4–6pm where you can — less time under 21 km/h means less time charged.
- Book ahead so the driver is already at the terminal and you are not paying waiting time.
- Share the ride: an SUV or 11-seat Maxi splits far better across a group than several separate cars.
- Give us your flight number — we track the flight, so a delay does not turn into waiting charges.
Taxi vs rideshare vs SkyBus
SkyBus is the cheapest way into the city if you are travelling light and are happy to finish your journey from Southern Cross. Rideshare prices swing with demand — a wet Friday night can multiply the fare. A metered taxi is the predictable option: the rate is regulated, it does not surge, and with a pre-booked chauffeur you get meet-and-greet at arrivals and help with luggage.
SE Premium Cabs runs premium sedans, 6-seat SUVs and 11-seat Maxis to and from all Melbourne Airport terminals, 24 hours a day. Call 0493 100 265 or book online in under a minute.