File Photo: A photo showing a taxi driver and other taxis in Cairo (Photo: Suhail Saleh)
Cairo has the cheapest taxi service in the world, a study by online used car dealership Carspring revealed on Tuesday.
The Egyptian capital came in first out of 80 cities for the cheapest taxis, which cost $0.55 per 3km for an inner city ride.
The website provided a breakdown of fares for journeys between the airport and the city centre, as well as the cost of waiting time per hour.
Cairo was followed by Mumbai, Jakarta, Bucharest and Mexico City.
The Swiss city of Zurich had the most expensive taxis, with an initial hire of $8.30 and a 3km ride costing $25.25.
Carspring used data provided by the official website of each city, as well as official airport sites and tourist information webpages.
“Nothing beats the relief of hopping into a comfortable taxi after a long day of sightseeing in a new city,” says Carspring cofounder Maximilian Vollenbroich.
“But in some cities, this simply isn’t affordable, and in other places, tourists are at risk of being overcharged. We hope our research helps travellers prepare for safe, fun, and budget-friendly travel in whatever ride best suits them.”
In 2009, Egypt introduced the white taxi service, which had an updated fare metre.
Prior to the introduction of the new taxi, customers would often have to negotiate the price of rides with drivers.
However, some drivers have resorted to rigging their metres or claiming that they do not function.
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