If you are travelling from SE Melbourne to Melbourne Airport, you are covering 35 to 80 kilometres depending on where you start. This guide shows what taxis cost from each major suburb to Tullamarine, how the fare is calculated, and what the airport return fee means for your total.
How Melbourne Taxi Fares Are Calculated
Melbourne taxi fares are metered. There is no flat rate for airport trips. Your fare is built from two parts:
- Flag fall: $9.90 charged at the start of every trip
- Distance rate: $2.20 per kilometre (Tariff 2, standard)
- Minimum fare: $39.90
On Friday and Saturday nights between 10pm and 4am, the distance rate rises to $2.34 per kilometre under Tariff 3. This is a Victorian government rate that applies to all licensed taxis.
The Airport Return Fee: What It Is and When It Applies
A $4.50 airport return fee is added to all licensed taxi pickups from Melbourne Airport. This is a Victorian government charge, not an individual operator decision. It covers airport access and the return toll.
This fee applies only when picking UP from the airport. If you are travelling from your SE Melbourne suburb to Tullamarine, no airport fee is added. Your fare is purely the metered flag fall and distance.
For return trips, add $4.50 to the fare estimates in the table below.
Suburb-by-Suburb Fare Guide: SE Melbourne to Melbourne Airport
The figures below are estimates for the outbound trip only, from your suburb to Tullamarine. No airport return fee is included in these figures.
| Suburb | Approx Distance | Estimated Fare (Outbound) |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | 35 km | $75 to $90 |
| Springvale | 38 km | $83 to $97 |
| Noble Park | 40 km | $85 to $99 |
| Keysborough | 42 km | $87 to $102 |
| Moorabbin | 45 km | $89 to $100 |
| Dandenong | 45 km | $89 to $105 |
| Cheltenham | 48 km | $95 to $110 |
| Narre Warren | 53 km | $100 to $118 |
| Berwick | 57 km | $105 to $123 |
| Cranbourne | 62 km | $110 to $130 |
| Frankston | 72 km | $118 to $140 |
| Pakenham | 80 km | $130 to $155 |
For the return journey from Melbourne Airport to your suburb, add $4.50 to the relevant row above.
Why the Fare Shows a Range
Fares vary within a suburb for three reasons: your specific pickup address (two homes in the same suburb can be several kilometres apart), the route taken on the day, and time on the meter. When a taxi moves below the minimum speed threshold, the meter also runs a time component. This adds small amounts during congestion, particularly when passing through inner Melbourne or approaching the Tullamarine Freeway interchange at peak times.
Taxi Fares vs Rideshare at Peak Hours
Metered taxi fares do not surge. The rate per kilometre is fixed by the Victorian government regardless of demand, weather, or time of night (outside the Tariff 3 window on Friday and Saturday nights). Rideshare apps use dynamic pricing, and during events or peak weekend hours, surge multipliers can push a $130 taxi trip to $200 or more via a rideshare app.
When to Book
Silver Taxi accepts advance bookings and same-day bookings for airport trips.
Early morning flights from outer suburbs: Book at least 24 hours ahead. A 3:30am pickup from Pakenham or Frankston is not something to leave to a same-day call at 2am.
Daytime and evening flights: Call at least 60 minutes before your required pickup time.
Return trips from the airport: Advance bookings allow your driver to track your flight. No need to call when you land or wait at the rank.
Get an Exact Estimate
For a fare based on your specific address, call 0412 456 588 and give your full pickup address. We calculate the estimate before you confirm.
Call or WhatsApp: 0412 456 588
Email: book@silver-taximelbourne.com.au
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a taxi from Dandenong to Melbourne Airport?
A taxi from Dandenong to Melbourne Airport costs approximately $89 to $105. This fare is calculated using the standard metered rate of $9.90 flag fall plus $2.20 per kilometre. The distance from central Dandenong to Tullamarine is around 45 kilometres.
The exact fare depends on your specific pickup address within Dandenong, the route taken, and traffic on the day. Addresses on the outer edges of the suburb add distance and push the fare toward or beyond the upper estimate. Traffic through inner Melbourne can also add time to the meter.
No airport fee applies on the outbound trip. The $4.50 airport return fee is charged only when picking up from Melbourne Airport, not when dropping off. For a confirmed fare estimate based on your Dandenong address, call Silver Taxi on 0412 456 588 before you book.
How much is a taxi from Frankston to Melbourne Airport?
A taxi from Frankston to Melbourne Airport costs approximately $118 to $140. Frankston sits around 72 kilometres from Tullamarine, making it one of the longer runs in the SE Melbourne corridor.
The trip typically takes 70 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. For early morning flights, a 3:30am to 4am departure from Frankston is standard for flights between 6am and 7am.
The fare uses the standard metered rate of $9.90 flag fall plus $2.20 per kilometre on Tariff 2. On Friday or Saturday nights between 10pm and 4am, the rate rises to $2.34 per kilometre under Tariff 3. This would bring the estimated fare to approximately $128 to $153 for those windows.
No airport return fee applies on the trip to the airport. The $4.50 fee is charged only on pickups from Melbourne Airport. Call 0412 456 588 for a fare estimate from your specific Frankston address.
How much is a taxi from Narre Warren to Melbourne Airport?
A taxi from Narre Warren to Melbourne Airport costs approximately $100 to $118. The distance from Narre Warren to Tullamarine is around 53 kilometres by the most direct route via the freeway system through or around the city.
Travel time from Narre Warren is usually 55 to 70 minutes on a clear run. For early morning domestic flights, a 4am departure generally provides enough time. For international flights requiring more time at the airport, a 3am to 3:30am departure gives adequate buffer.
For return trips from Melbourne Airport back to Narre Warren, add $4.50 to the estimate above for the airport return fee. The total for an inbound pickup to Narre Warren comes to approximately $104.50 to $122.50.
Call 0412 456 588 to confirm the fare from your specific Narre Warren address, as distances vary across the suburb depending on the street.
Is there an extra charge for taxi pickups from Melbourne Airport?
Yes. A $4.50 airport return fee applies to all licensed taxi pickups from Melbourne Airport. This is a Victorian government charge, not an individual operator surcharge. It applies to every licensed taxi collecting a passenger from Tullamarine, regardless of which company is operating the vehicle.
The fee covers the cost of airport access and the return toll. It is added to the metered fare and applies whether you take a booked taxi or join the rank queue on arrival.
This fee does NOT apply on the trip to the airport. If you are travelling from SE Melbourne to Tullamarine, your fare is calculated purely on the flag fall and the metered distance. There is no airport entry or departure charge added on the outbound leg.
For a return trip fare estimate, take the relevant suburb figure from the table above and add $4.50 to the total.
