Singapore's taxis are among the most efficient in the world, but fares can add up quickly, especially during peak hours, late nights, or when crossing the city. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, knowing how to reduce your taxi costs without sacrificing convenience is a valuable skill. This article presents 10 evidence based ways to save money on taxis in Singapore, drawing on official fare structures, app features, and local knowledge.
All prices mentioned are in Singapore dollars (SGD) and reflect rates as of 2025. For a complete overview of taxi and ride hailing options, see our complete guide to taxis and ride hailing in Singapore.
1. Choose the Right Booking Method: Street Hail vs. App
One of the simplest ways to save is to choose the right booking method for your situation. Street hailing a taxi from a taxi stand or by the roadside often avoids the booking fees and dynamic pricing that ride hailing apps impose. Conversely, apps can offer fixed fares and promotions that undercut metered fares at certain times.
Street Hailing: No Booking Fee
When you flag down a taxi on the street or queue at a designated taxi stand (found at most shopping malls, hotels, and MRT stations), you pay only the metered fare plus any applicable surcharges. There is no booking fee. This can save you between $2.30 and $8.00 per trip compared to booking via an app, depending on the time and location.
App Booking: Predictable Fares
Apps like Grab, Gojek, Tada, and Zig offer fixed price quotes before you confirm the ride. During off peak periods, these fixed fares can be cheaper than metered fares because they are based on average traffic conditions. However, during peak demand, dynamic pricing can inflate the fare by 1.5x to 2.0x or more. A 2024 comparison by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) found that street hailed taxis were on average 15% cheaper than app booked rides during peak hours, but 10% more expensive during off peak hours.
For a detailed comparison, read our article on street hail taxi vs. app booking.
2. Avoid Peak Period Surcharges
Peak period surcharges are among the largest cost drivers for taxi rides in Singapore. These surcharges apply to all taxis, whether street hailed or booked via an app.
Peak Hour Surcharges
From Monday to Friday, peak period surcharges apply as follows:
- 6:00 AM to 9:30 AM: 25% surcharge on metered fare (capped at $10.00 for street hail, uncapped for app bookings)
- 6:00 PM to 11:59 PM: 25% surcharge on metered fare (same cap rules)
If you can shift your travel outside these windows, you save 25% on the metered portion of your fare. For example, a $20 metered ride during peak hours would cost $25.00. The same ride at 10:00 AM would cost $20.00.
Late Night Surcharges
From midnight to 5:59 AM daily, a 50% surcharge applies on the metered fare. This is a significant cost. A $30 metered ride at 2:00 AM would become $45.00. Where possible, consider taking the MRT or a bus for late night travel. The last trains on most lines depart around midnight, but night buses (designated N services) operate on major routes from 12:00 AM to 5:00 AM at standard bus fares of $1.00 to $2.00.
For the full breakdown, see our article on peak period surcharges.
3. Know the ERP Surcharges and Avoid Them
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) surcharges are applied to taxi fares when the taxi passes through an ERP gantry during operating hours. These surcharges are passed on to passengers in full, with no markup. However, they can add $1.00 to $6.00 per trip depending on the gantry and time.
ERP gantries are located on expressways and major arterial roads, with charges varying by location and time of day. Typical charges range from $0.50 to $4.00 per gantry. If you are travelling during ERP operating hours (usually 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on weekdays, and some Saturday mornings), you can avoid these surcharges by taking alternative routes that do not pass through gantries. However, this may increase travel time. The trade off is often worthwhile if the alternative route adds less than 10 minutes to the journey.
For a complete list of ERP gantries and charges, refer to the LTA's official ERP website. Our article on ERP surcharges on taxis provides more detail.
4. Use the Right App for the Right Situation
Not all ride hailing apps are priced equally. In Singapore, the three main players are Grab, Gojek, and Tada. Zig is a newer entrant. Each has different base fares, booking fees, and surge pricing policies.
Grab vs. Gojek
Grab typically charges a booking fee of $2.30 to $5.00 for standard taxis, and $3.00 to $6.00 for GrabCar private hire vehicles. Gojek's booking fee ranges from $1.50 to $4.00 for GoCar. During surge periods, Grab's dynamic pricing can increase the fare by 1.3x to 2.5x, while Gojek's surge is typically 1.2x to 1.8x. For short trips under 5 km, Gojek is often cheaper. For longer trips, Grab's fixed fare may be more predictable.
Our detailed comparison can be found in Grab vs. Gojek pricing.
Tada and Zig: Lower Commissions
Tada and Zig are newer players that charge lower commissions to drivers (10% vs. 20% on Grab). This can translate to lower fares for passengers. Tada charges no booking fee and offers fixed fares that are often 10-20% cheaper than Grab for similar routes. Zig offers a flat booking fee of $1.00 and uses a metered fare for taxis, plus a small platform fee. For budget conscious travellers, Tada is usually the best choice for app booked rides.
Read our review of Tada vs. Zig for a full comparison.
5. Share Rides with Friends or Colleagues
Ride sharing is a straightforward way to split costs. If you are travelling with one or more people, the fare per person drops significantly. For example, a $30 trip from Orchard Road to Changi Airport becomes $15 per person for two passengers, or $10 per person for three.
Most apps offer a split fare feature. Grab and Gojek allow you to split the fare with up to four passengers via the app after the ride. You can also use apps like Splitwise or simply transfer money via PayNow or bank transfer.
GrabShare and Gojek Share
If you are willing to share the ride with strangers, GrabShare and Gojek Share offer lower fares. You will be matched with another passenger heading in a similar direction, and the fare is typically 20-30% lower than a standard ride. However, the journey may take longer due to detours to pick up and drop off the other passenger. This is best for non urgent trips.
6. Use Promo Codes and Credit Card Discounts
Ride hailing apps frequently offer promo codes for new users and existing customers. These codes can provide discounts of $2 to $10 per ride, or percentage discounts of 15% to 30%. To find active promo codes, check the app's promotions page, follow the company's social media accounts, or search online deal forums like HardwareZone or Singsaver.
Credit Card Benefits
Many credit cards offer rebates or points for taxi and ride hailing spending. For example, the Citi Rewards Card gives 4 miles per dollar on Grab transactions. The UOB One Card offers 5% cashback on Grab and Gojek spending if you meet the minimum monthly spend. The Maybank Family & Friends Card gives 8% cashback on transport including taxis. Using the right card can effectively reduce your fare by 5-10%.
Always check the latest terms and conditions, as benefits change periodically.
7. Choose the Right Vehicle Type
In Singapore, taxis come in different vehicle types: standard (e.g., Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Prius), premium (e.g., Mercedes Benz E Class, BMW 5 Series), and maxicabs (e.g., Toyota Alphard, Honda Stepwgn). Standard taxis are the cheapest. Premium taxis incur a surcharge of 50% to 100% on the metered fare. Maxicabs charge a flat surcharge of $10 to $20 per trip.
If you do not need extra legroom or luggage space, always select a standard taxi. When booking via an app, ensure you choose the standard option (e.g., GrabTaxi or GoCar) rather than GrabCar Premium or GoCar XL.
8. Avoid Airport Surcharges When Possible
All taxis picking up passengers at Changi Airport are subject to an airport surcharge. The surcharge is as follows:
- Standard taxi: $5.00 (if booked via app) or $3.00 (if queueing at the taxi stand)
- Premium taxi: $8.00 (app) or $5.00 (stand)
- Maxicab: $10.00 (app) or $8.00 (stand)
These surcharges apply to all trips originating from Changi Airport. If you are arriving at the airport and need to go to a nearby location (e.g., Changi Business Park or Expo), the surcharge can be a large proportion of the fare. In such cases, consider taking the MRT (Changi Airport station on the East West Line) or a public bus (routes 24, 27, 34, 36, 53, 110, 858) which cost $1.00 to $2.50 per trip.
For more details, see our article on airport surcharges at Changi.
9. Use the App Features to Your Advantage
Ride hailing apps offer several features that can help you save money. For example, Grab's