Free tool
LA Metro Fare, LAX Transfer & Taxi Calculator
Find out what your trip will cost on the Metro with fare capping, the cheapest way in from LAX for your group, and what a City of LA taxi will charge.
An LA Metro ride costs $1.75 with two hours of free transfers, and fare capping means you never pay more than $5 a day or $18 a week if you tap the same card or phone. There is no pass to buy: from the fourth ride of the day, rides are free. From LAX, the Metro costs $1.75, the FlyAway $12.75, and a taxi to Downtown a flat $51.15 plus $4.
1. Metro: what will my trip cost?
2. LAX ↔ Downtown: Metro, FlyAway or taxi?
3. Taxi fare estimator
Typical LA taxi fares
| Trip | Meter or flat fare | LAX surcharge | Before tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAX → Downtown LA | Flat $51.15 | $4.00 | $55.15 |
| LAX → Santa Monica | ~$37 | $4.00 | ~$41 |
| LAX → Beverly Hills | ~$42 | $4.00 | ~$46 |
| LAX → West Hollywood | ~$46 | $4.00 | ~$50 |
| LAX → Hollywood | ~$52 | $4.00 | ~$56 |
| LAX → Universal City | ~$62 | $4.00 | ~$66 |
| LAX → Pasadena | ~$86 | $4.00 | ~$90 |
| Downtown LA → LAX | Flat $51.15 | — | $51.15 |
| Downtown LA → Hollywood | ~$28 | — | ~$28 |
| Downtown LA → Santa Monica | ~$51 | — | ~$51 |
| Hollywood → Santa Monica | ~$46 | — | ~$46 |
| Hollywood → Griffith Observatory | ~$18 | — | ~$18 |
Metered estimates assume about 25 mph while moving; time stuck in traffic is charged at the waiting rate, so rush hour costs more. Distances are approximate. Tip 15–20% on top.
Good to know
- Tap the same card every time. Fare caps are counted per card or phone. Switching between your phone and a plastic card splits your rides and you may pay more.
- Rail goes where visitors go. The B Line runs Downtown–Hollywood–Universal City; the E Line runs Downtown to Santa Monica; the A Line goes to Pasadena and Long Beach.
- Other bus operators are separate. Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus and others charge their own fares, and Metro's caps don't cover them.
- Taxis outside the City of LA (for example in Santa Monica or Beverly Hills) may be licensed by that city and charge different rates. The rates here are LADOT's for City of LA taxis.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Metro in Los Angeles?
A regular one-way Metro fare is $1.75, and it includes free transfers for two hours when you tap. Fare capping means you never pay more than $5 in a day or $18 in seven days if you tap the same TAP card, bank card or phone every time. Seniors 62+ and riders with disabilities are capped at $2.50 a day and $5 in seven days.
Should I buy a Metro day pass or weekly pass?
You don't need one. Metro's fare capping does the job automatically: after three rides in a day the rest of that day is free, and you never pay more than $18 in a week. The caps apply on Metro and Santa Clarita Transit when you pay with a TAP card or a credit or debit card. Cash, which is accepted on buses only, does not count toward the caps.
Can I use my credit card or phone on the LA Metro?
Yes. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, or Apple Pay or Google Pay, at the validator on buses and at rail stations. A physical TAP card costs $2 from TAP vending machines and vendors, and the TAP app has a digital card. Use the same card or phone for every ride so your trips count toward the cap.
What is the cheapest way from LAX to Downtown LA?
The Metro, at $1.75: take the free shuttle from the terminals to the LAX/Metro Transit Center (free with proof of transit), then the C or K Line. The LAX FlyAway bus to Union Station costs $12.75 one way and takes no cash. A City of LA taxi between LAX and Downtown is a flat $51.15 plus the $4.00 LAX surcharge, for the whole group.
How much does a taxi cost in Los Angeles?
City of LA taxis charge $3.10 for the first 1/9 mile, then $0.33 for each additional 1/9 mile ($2.97 a mile) and $0.33 for each 37 seconds of waiting or slow traffic. Trips from LAX add a $4.00 surcharge and have a $16.50 minimum fare. All passengers ride for the price of one and card payment costs nothing extra.
Are Uber and Lyft cheaper than a taxi in LA?
Sometimes. Ride apps quote an upfront price that changes with demand, so they can undercut a taxi off-peak and cost far more at rush hour or after a big event. Compare the app's quote with the estimate here before you book. For LAX to Downtown, the taxi's flat fare makes the comparison easy.
Sources and how current this is
Every fare, rate and norm on this page comes from the official source below and was checked in November 2026. Operators change prices, so check the source before you rely on a number.
- LA Metro — Fares — $1.75 fare, 2-hour transfers, $5 daily and $18 seven-day caps, senior and disabled caps
- LA Metro — How to pay — $2 TAP card, contactless cards and phones, where caps apply
- LAWA — Public transit to LAX — FlyAway $12.75 one way, Metro C and K Lines at the LAX/Metro Transit Center, free shuttle with proof of transit
- LADOT — Taxicab rates (City of Los Angeles) — flag drop, distance and waiting rates, LAX surcharge, LAX minimum and LAX–Downtown flat fare
- Discover Los Angeles — Smart travel tips — 15–20% customary tip for taxis
Left out because we could not confirm it from an official source: Metro's per-ride senior and disabled fares (Metro's fares page gives only their caps); ride-app prices, which are quoted live by each app.
Related guides
- The 7 Best Hotels Near LAX in Los Angeles
- The 11 Best Attractions in Los Angeles
- The 12 Best Neighborhoods to Explore in Los Angeles
- The 11 Best Hotels in Los Angeles
- The 10 Best Beaches in Los Angeles
- The 10 Best Day Trips From LA in Los Angeles
- The 7 Best Studio Tours in Los Angeles
- The 8 Best Theme Parks in Los Angeles
Plan the days, then the rides
Build a day-by-day plan that keeps each day in one part of the city.
Open the itinerary builder