The government has approved Macao’s first taxi fare increase in seven years, a decision taking effect today, according to an official announcement published on Wednesday.
The new prices include a 2 patacas hike for the first 1.6 kilometres travelled (a shift from 19 to 21 patacas), and instead of paying 2 patacas per every additional 240 metres – you’ll pay that for every additional 220 metres.
Basically, for a standard two-kilometre trip within Macao peninsula under the old fare structure, you’d be charged 20.66 patacas. From today , you’ll pay 22.82 patacas. That’s an increase of 10.5 percent.
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The waiting fee is also set to go up. Originally 2 patacas per minute, it’s about to become 2 patacas for every 55 seconds.
Taxi journeys from special stands at the Macao airport, Taipa Ferry Terminal, Hengqin Port (Macao side) and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) currently attract a 5 pataca surcharge. Under the new policy, that will be 8 patacas.
Not everything will change. Using a taxi’s trunk to transport luggage remains 3 patacas per item, and surcharges for travel between both Taipa and Coloane and Macao and Coloane will stay at 2 and 5 patacas, respectively.
This price hike is the first since 2017. The taxi sector attempted to increase fares in 2019, due to rising fuel and maintenance costs, but did not get the green light from the government.
– This article was originally published on 7 February 2024 and updated today.
