Taxis in Tunisia: Prices, Meters and How to Avoid Airport Scams (2026)
Taxis are the default way to get around Tunis — the yellow cars are everywhere, easy to flag down, and by European standards genuinely cheap. But there's a catch every first-time visitor discovers within an hour of landing: the price depends entirely on whether the meter is running. As the hosts of Résidence Green B11, we ride these taxis every week. Here are the real numbers, in dinars, so nobody takes you for the scenic route.
How taxis in Tunisia are supposed to work
Every licensed yellow taxi has a meter, and it starts low — between 1 and 2 TND. Fares climb gently from there: a ride from La Marsa to downtown Tunis shouldn't cost more than about 15 TND, and even a solid 30-minute ride works out to roughly 20 TND. When the meter runs, taxis here are excellent value. The golden rule never changes: make sure the meter is on, note the amount, and pay what it says.
What rides actually cost (2026)
| Ride | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Meter starting fare | 1–2 TND |
| Airport → Aïn Zaghouan Nord / La Marsa, on the meter | 10–15 TND |
| Same route booked with inDrive | 20–25 TND |
| Same route quoted at the airport taxi rank | 50–100 TND |
| La Marsa → downtown Tunis | up to ~15 TND |
| A typical 30-minute ride | ~20 TND |
The airport rank: where the numbers go wild
Look at that table again. The taxis waiting in front of Tunis-Carthage Airport routinely quote 50 to 100 TND for a ride that costs 10 to 15 TND on the meter — and each driver names a different price. It's up to you whether to haggle them down. Otherwise, do what locals do: walk a few minutes past the airport entrance to the roundabout and flag a passing taxi on the street for the normal metered fare. We've written a step-by-step version of this in our airport transfer guide.
inDrive: pay a little more, skip the negotiation
If you'd rather not negotiate at all, book through the inDrive app. You agree on the price in the app before the car arrives, so there are no surprises — expect to pay roughly 20% above the meter, which for the airport-to-Aïn-Zaghouan-Nord run means about 20 to 25 TND. Drivers are paid in cash.
Night rides and luggage: the legitimate extras
Two surcharges are normal and not a scam. After around 9 p.m. the night rate kicks in and the meter runs roughly 30–40% higher. And if you're travelling with luggage, don't be surprised if the driver asks for around 5 TND extra — that's standard practice, not an invention for tourists.
Our five rules for stress-free taxi rides
- Meter on before you set off — or agree the price before getting in.
- Skip the airport rank; walk to the roundabout or use inDrive.
- Carry small notes; drivers rarely have change for a 50.
- Expect the night rate after ~9 p.m. and ~5 TND for luggage — both legitimate.
- Note the meter amount and pay accordingly.
Staying at Résidence Green B11? You're 10–15 minutes from the airport, and a metered cab to the beaches of La Marsa or the cafés of Sidi Bou Saïd costs pocket change — one more reason Aïn Zaghouan Nord makes such an easy base for exploring Tunis.