Comparing cab rates: Toronto has the 20th most expensive taxis in the world

We all know that taxis are expensive in Toronto, but today’s Globe goes one step further and proves it. According to the paper and a new survey, our city has some of the most expensive taxis in the world. Toronto cabs tied with Montreal’s as the most expensive in North America, pricier than those in both Los Angeles and New York. The most expensive, with few exceptions, are in European cities, where it’s not uncommon to be escorted around in a Benz. Zurich’s cabs, apparently, are the most exorbitant.

The good news is that it’s pretty easy to hail a cab in Toronto, which can’t be said for some of the other cities on this list. And Toronto cabs aren’t subject to weird tariffs that change according to the time of day, nor are the drivers prone to bouts of intoxication. Still, nobody’s rushing to vote Toronto’s taxis among the best in the world or anything.

For outgoing city councillor Howard Moscoe, explaining the cost is simple: “It is very expensive to take a cab,” he told the Globe. “It is also very expensive to operate a cab.”

At least there are plenty of efficient alternatives available if taxi fares exceed one’s budget, like cycling or taking the streetcar. Oh, wait.

• Toronto stumped on how to fix high taxi rates [Globe and Mail]
• World taxi prices: What a 3-kilometer ride costs in 72 big cities [Price of Travel]

(Taxi prices are in Canadian dollars and have been calculated from rates listed by Frommer’s. They do not take into account traffic or time of day.)