Taxi fares in Costa Rica to drop again

Taxi fares in Costa Rica are set to drop again, despite opposition from cab drivers. The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) approved decreases in fares ranging from 3 to 20 percent.

Fares for the first kilometer of a regular taxi ride will drop slightly to ₡625 ($1.16), while additional kilometers will cost ₡600 ($1.11).

Fares for taxis adapted for people with disabilities also will start at ₡625 for the first kilometer but additional kilometers will drop 9 percent to ₡570 ($1.05).

Taxis in rural areas will have the same initial fare but all kilometers beyond the first will drop 20 percent to ₡625 ($1.16).

ARESEP explained in a news release that the new fares were set following an analysis of operation costs, including recents drops in fuel prices and spare parts, and changes in the dollar-colón exchange rate. The agency also took into consideration the age of taxis. On average, taxis on Costa Rican roads are over 10 years old.

Taxi drivers are not happy about the change. The National Association of Taxi Drivers asked ARESEP earlier this week not to approve any more fare decreases for the rest of the year, claiming ARESEP used outdated costs to calculate the fares.

ARESEP Transportation Intendent Enrique Muñoz said the fares were calculated based on all information related to operating costs, “just like taxi drivers asked us at a public demonstration in June.” Drivers at the time were hoping for for higher fares, not lower ones.

New fares will come into force the day after ARESEP’s decree is published in the official newspaper La Gaceta.

Despite the drop, fairs will still be higher than those charged by ride-hailing service Uber, which launched operations here in August. Current Uber rates are ₡500 ($0.93) for the first kilometer and ₡300 ($0.56) for additional ones.