QCOSTARICA – Taxi fares and fuel are more expensive starting today, as the latest price hike approvals by the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) take effect.
In the case of taxis, the increase is ¢15 colones in both the initial rate and additional kilometres. The initial rate this morning is ¢645, up from ¢630; each additional kilometre is now ¢625, up from ¢610. The wait rate also increased ¢90 colones, from ¢3,495 to ¢3,585.
The increase is part of an extraordinary adjustment, taking into account fuel prices in the last semester, the dollar exchange rate, wages of taxi drivers and regulator fees.
The rate hike affects only the “red” or official taxis. Other services like Uber and porteadores, services deemed illegal. Nor does the rate hike affect the “orange” airport taxis.
As to fuel prices, the price hike approved on Monday takes into effect after being published yesterday in the official government newsletter, La Gaceta.
A litre of super and regular gasoline this morning is ¢3 colones higher than yesterday; diesel ¢2.
The new prices at pumps are ¢679 for a lire of super, ¢642 for regular and ¢479 for diesel.
The good news is that on Wednesday, the Aresep approved a drop in prices, of up to ¢43 colones, that is expected to take effect next week, mostly likely Wednesday and Thursday.
