Israel Taxi Meter Tariff 2026: How Much Does a Taxi Cost?

How much does a taxi cost in Israel in 2026? Under the official meter tariff in force since 1 April 2026, every ride starts at ₪12.46, then adds ₪1.95 per kilometer for the first 10 km, ₪3.79 per kilometer beyond that, and ₪1.95 for every minute on the road (Tariff A, daytime). In practice, a taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport (54 km, about 48 minutes) costs from ₪290 by day and a taxi from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv from ₪370; the same trips run roughly 14% more at night (Tariff B) and roughly 28% more under Tariff C, the Shabbat and holiday-night rate that already starts at 21:01 on Friday. Below: how the meter works, when night and Shabbat rates apply, and why the fixed price Almaxpress Taxi quotes in advance is exactly the meter.

The Israeli taxi meter in 2026: a regulated price, updated once a year

The meter tariff is a government-supervised maximum set by the Price Supervision Order (taxi fares), 5786-2026, and revised once a year. The current order took effect on 1 April 2026 and brought a 2.8% reduction compared with 2025; the next update is expected on 1 April 2027. Every number here, and on our 2026 taxi price list, comes from this official tariff and includes VAT. The same tariff applies to residents and visitors alike.

What the meter charges: flag drop, per-kilometer tiers and per-minute

The Israeli meter charges for distance and time simultaneously, not "whichever is greater" as in some cities abroad. Every kilometer and every minute, including minutes standing in traffic, is billed, so the same route costs more in rush hour.

Official 2026 meter tariff (VAT included)

Component	Tariff A (day)	Tariff B (night)	Tariff C (Shabbat/holiday night)
Flag drop (meter start)	₪12.46	₪12.46	₪12.46
Per km, first 10 km	₪1.95	₪2.34	₪2.73
Per km, beyond 10 km	₪3.79	₪4.18	₪4.57
Per minute of travel	₪1.95	₪2.34	₪2.73
Pre-booking surcharge (phone/app/website)	₪5.78	₪5.78	₪5.78
Departure-from-Ben-Gurion surcharge	₪5	₪5	₪5
Highway 6 / Carmel Tunnels	Actual toll added at cost (Highway 6 about ₪20)

The per-kilometer rate is tiered: from the 11th kilometer it almost doubles, so on an intercity ride most of the distance is billed at the higher rate. The pre-booking surcharge applies to any taxi ordered in advance by phone, app or website; the ₪5 Ben Gurion surcharge applies only when leaving the airport. Tolls on Highway 6 (about ₪20) or the Carmel Tunnels are added at cost if your route uses them.

What you are not charged for

No luggage surcharge and no extra-passenger surcharge (both were abolished in 2020): a regular taxi carries up to 4 passengers and 3 large suitcases for the same metered price. With Almaxpress, child seats and boosters are also free when requested at booking.

Tariff A, B and C: when the meter switches to night and Shabbat rates

The meter switches automatically by day and clock time. Tariff A is the daytime rate. Tariff B (night) raises the per-minute and first-10-km rates by 20% and the beyond-10-km rate by about 10%, so an intercity trip costs roughly 14% more. Tariff C (Shabbat/holiday night: from 21:01 on Friday and holiday eves, from 19:01 on Shabbat and holidays, and from 23:01 on Thursday) raises them by 40% and about 21%, so an intercity trip costs roughly 28% more. The meter follows the clock, not the sunset: the tariff "day" runs from 06:00 to 05:59.

Day	Tariff A (day)	Tariff B (night)	Tariff C (Shabbat/holiday night)
Sunday–Wednesday	06:00–21:00	21:01–05:59	—
Thursday	06:00–21:00	21:01–23:00	23:01–05:59
Friday and holiday eve	06:00–16:00	16:01–21:00	21:01–05:59
Shabbat and holidays	—	06:00–19:00	19:01–05:59

Note two traps: on Friday the rate rises at 16:01, not 21:00, and on Thursday night the meter jumps to Tariff C from 23:01. Almaxpress operates 24/6, 24 hours a day from Sunday to Friday; there is no service on Shabbat and Jewish holidays, and Saturday-night (Motzei Shabbat) rides are pre-booked and depart after Shabbat ends. The Shabbat tariff also applies on the Jewish holidays, when there is no service either: Rosh Hashanah (12–13 September 2026), Yom Kippur (21 September 2026), Sukkot (26 September 2026), Simchat Torah (3 October 2026), Pesach (22 and 28 April 2027) and Shavuot (11 June 2027).

Worked example: taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport

The route at the heart of our service, a taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport: 54 km, about 48 minutes, booked in advance.

Tariff A (e.g. 09:00 on a Tuesday)

1. Flag drop: ₪12.46
2. First 10 km: 10 × ₪1.95 = ₪19.50
3. Remaining 44 km: 44 × ₪3.79 = ₪166.76
4. 48 minutes: 48 × ₪1.95 = ₪93.60
5. Pre-booking surcharge: ₪5.78
6. Ben Gurion surcharge: ₪0 (only when leaving the airport)

Meter total: ₪298.10, rounded down to the nearest ₪10, so our price is from ₪290. A taxi from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem adds about two minutes plus the ₪5 airport surcharge and starts at ₪300.

Same ride at night (Tariff B) and on Saturday night (Tariff C)

• Tariff B (e.g. 23:30 on a Monday): ₪12.46 + (10 × ₪2.34) + (44 × ₪4.18) + (48 × ₪2.34) + ₪5.78 ≈ ₪338 → from ₪330.
• Tariff C (e.g. Saturday night at 22:00): ₪12.46 + (10 × ₪2.73) + (44 × ₪4.57) + (48 × ₪2.73) + ₪5.78 ≈ ₪378 → from ₪370.

That is about ₪40 more at night and ₪80 more on Saturday night than the daytime price.

Ben Gurion taxi price and 7 more popular routes: day, night and Shabbat

The 2026 meter tariff applied to eight popular intercity routes. Prices are for a regular taxi (up to 4 passengers), include the booking surcharge and are rounded down to the nearest ₪10; the final price is confirmed at booking.

Route	km / min	Tariff A (day)	Tariff B (night)	Tariff C (Shabbat/holiday night)
Jerusalem → Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)	54 / 48	from ₪290	from ₪330	from ₪370
Ben Gurion Airport → Jerusalem	54 / 50	from ₪300	from ₪340	from ₪380
Jerusalem → Tel Aviv	67 / 64	from ₪370	from ₪420	from ₪470
Tel Aviv → Ben Gurion Airport	26 / 29	from ₪150	from ₪170	from ₪190
Beit Shemesh → Ben Gurion Airport	41 / 33	from ₪210	from ₪240	from ₪270
Jerusalem → Beit Shemesh	34 / 37	from ₪200	from ₪220	from ₪250
Jerusalem → Dead Sea (Ein Bokek)	112 / 95	from ₪600	from ₪690	from ₪770
Jerusalem → Haifa	151 / 105	from ₪770	from ₪870	from ₪970

For route detail, see the taxi from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, the taxi to Ben Gurion Airport from any city, our Ben Gurion taxi guide for 2026 or our taxi vs train comparison for Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

How to avoid overpaying: the pre-booked fixed price is the meter

When you book with Almaxpress you receive a closed price before the car leaves. It is the official meter calculation for the tariff in force at your departure time: expected distance and travel time, the components above, the booking surcharge, rounded down. The risk moves to us: a traffic jam or a detour around congestion does not change the price.

What was agreed at booking is what you pay: cash to the driver, credit card charged in advance by phone or payment link, or bank transfer or payment app by arrangement (a deposit may be requested). For airport pickups we track your flight in real time, and the driver waits in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall holding a sign with your name, even if the flight is late, without changing the agreed price; see our Ben Gurion airport pickup guide.

Traveling as a family or group? Large taxis, vans and minibuses

The tariff above applies to a regular taxi (up to 4 passengers). For a 6-seat large taxi, 10-seat van or 19-seat minibus we do not publish a general price; send the ride details and we confirm the price within minutes:

• Book a 6-seat large taxi
• Book a 10-seat van
• Book a 19-seat minibus

See our guide to group transfers in Israel.

Before you pay: what to check (and a word on tipping)

• The tariff is a ceiling. The Price Supervision Order sets the maximum; the only legitimate add-ons are the ₪5.78 booking surcharge, the ₪5 departure-from-Ben-Gurion surcharge and actual road tolls.
• Check the tariff on the meter against the clock table above, especially on Friday afternoon (Tariff B from 16:01) and Thursday night (Tariff C from 23:01).
• No luggage or passenger fees. Up to 4 passengers and 3 large suitcases ride for the same metered price.
• Get the price in writing. On an intercity ride, agree the price before departure, as we do: our price is given in writing before the ride. Payment methods and the cancellation policy (free more than 24 hours before departure, up to 50% between 24 and 6 hours, 100% under 6 hours or no-show, in writing by WhatsApp or email) are in our terms of service.
• Tipping. Not expected; many passengers round the fare up, but paying the agreed or metered amount is perfectly polite.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the flag drop on an Israeli taxi in 2026?

₪12.46 including VAT, under every tariff (A, B and C), registered at the start of every ride.

What is the price per kilometer for a taxi in Israel in 2026?

Under Tariff A (day): ₪1.95 per km for the first 10 km and ₪3.79 beyond, plus ₪1.95 per minute. Tariff B (night): ₪2.34 and ₪4.18; Tariff C (Shabbat/holiday night): ₪2.73 and ₪4.57.

When does the night tariff start?

Sunday to Wednesday, Tariff B runs from 21:01 to 05:59. On Thursday it runs 21:01–23:00, then Tariff C applies from 23:01 to 05:59. On Friday and holiday eves Tariff B starts at 16:01, with Tariff C from 21:01.

How much is a taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport in 2026?

From ₪290 by day, from ₪330 at night and from ₪370 on Saturday night (Tariff C), for a regular taxi according to the official 2026 meter tariff. The final price is confirmed at booking.

Is there a charge for luggage or extra passengers?

No. Both surcharges were abolished in 2020. The only add-ons are the booking surcharge (₪5.78), the Ben Gurion departure surcharge (₪5) and road tolls.

Is Almaxpress's fixed price more expensive than the meter?

No. The fixed price is the official meter calculation for your route, day and time, rounded down, and does not change if traffic makes the ride longer.

Should I tip a taxi driver in Israel?

It is not expected. Rounding the fare up is common and appreciated, but paying the agreed or metered amount is perfectly polite.