No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessHigher gas prices, taxi fares in Costa Rica start Friday

Higher gas prices, taxi fares in Costa Rica start Friday

A decree setting higher taxi fares and gas prices appeared Thursday in the official newspaper La Gaceta, meaning the hikes will take effect starting Friday.

The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) approved a ₡15 hike in taxi fares that will apply both to the first kilometer and to each additional one. The basic fare will rise from ₡630 to ₡645 ($1.17 to $1.19), while all kilometers beyond the first will go from ₡610 to ₡625 ($1.13 to $1.16).

The agency also authorized a ₡20 increase in fares for special taxi service to and from Juan Santamaría International Airport.

The approved increase resulted from an evaluation ARESEP conducts every six months which takes into consideration variations in fuel prices, exchange rate, driver’s salaries and taxes.

Fuel hikes

The approved increase in fuel prices means a liter of Super gasoline will rise from ₡676 to ₡679 ($1.25 to $1.26), Plus gasoline from ₡639 to ₡642 ($1.18 to $1.19) and Diesel from ₡477 to ₡479 ($0.88 to $0.89).

The National Oil Refinery (RECOPE) had requested a higher increase but ARESEP rejected several of the expenses cited to justify the increase, saying they were not related to fuel costs. These included some ₡20,000 million ($37 million) for RECOPE employee benefits, scholarships for children of employees, and food services, among others.

Nevertheless, the new, higher prices could be short lived. On Thursday ARESEP reported that it is currently evaluating a decrease in fuel prices that, if approved, would lower per-liter prices by ₡43 for Super gasoline, ₡39 for Plus gasoline and ₡28 for Diesel.

Trending Now

Guatemala Accepts First Honduran Deportees from US

Guatemala has started accepting deportees from other countries as part of its deal with the United States, with the first group of Hondurans arriving...

Heavy Rains in Costa Rica Trigger Landslides and Floods

Costa Rica faces tough conditions lately from ongoing heavy rains that have sparked deadly landslides and major flooding over the last few days. In...

Costa Rica’s Hyatt Centric Escazú Finalist in GRI Awards

Costa Rica's hotel scene keeps building momentum on the global stage. The Hyatt Centric San José Escazú stands out as a finalist for Best...

New Poison Dart Frog Species Discovered in Peru’s Amazon

Peruvian researchers have identified a new poison dart frog in the Amazon rainforest, adding to the region's rich array of wildlife. The tiny creature,...

Costa Rica’s FIFCO Sells Operations to Heineken After Vote

Shareholders of Costa Rica's Florida Ice and Farm Company, known as FIFCO, gave the green light on to sell most of their food, beverage,...

Costa Rica Updates National ID Card with Enhanced Security Features

Costa Rica's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rolled out a redesigned physical identity card today. The update focuses on better protection against fraud while keeping...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica