Taxi fares at Nadi International Airport are not set by drivers or by the airport. They are set by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), which publishes a separate, higher schedule for taxis that work the Nadi Airport rank. That schedule changed on 1 July 2026, and some travel pages, including Tourism Fiji's, still show different figures.
How much does a taxi from Nadi Airport cost?
Under the FCCC's interim airport taxi authorisation, in force from 1 July 2026, a Nadi Airport taxi charges a FJD 5.00 flag fall, FJD 0.21 for every 100 metres and FJD 0.18 for every minute of waiting. That works out to FJD 2.10 per kilometre. The same document says it is valid until 30 September 2026. Check the FCCC transport page for the schedule that follows it.
The rise was a response to fuel costs. The Fiji Sun reported on 25 June 2026 that the FCCC called it temporary and said it would reassess the rate if fuel prices eased. Before the change, the June 2024 final authorisation set the Nadi distance charge at FJD 0.15 per 100 metres, with the same flag fall and waiting charge.
Airport taxis cost more per kilometre than town taxis. Ordinary Viti Levu taxis are on a separate interim schedule: FJD 2.00 flag fall by day, FJD 3.00 from 9pm to 6am, and FJD 0.14 per 100 metres. The cheaper rate covers a taxi you hail in Nadi town, not the one waiting at the arrivals kerb.
Worked fares from the airport rank
These are meter totals under the July 2026 airport rate, with no waiting time:
- 10 km: 100 × FJD 0.21 = FJD 21.00, plus the FJD 5.00 flag fall, so FJD 26.00. Denarau is described as a 20-minute drive by Tourism Fiji. No official source we read gave the exact road distance, so read the kilometres on the meter or receipt rather than relying on a quoted figure.
- 70 km (Sigatoka town): the Sigatoka Town Council puts the airport 70 km away. 700 × FJD 0.21 = FJD 147.00, plus FJD 5.00, so FJD 152.00. At the 2024 rate the same trip was FJD 110.00 (700 × 0.15 + 5).
- Waiting: ten minutes stopped in traffic adds FJD 1.80.
Coral Coast resorts beyond Sigatoka are further again, and the meter keeps adding FJD 2.10 per kilometre.
Taxi, bus or pre-booked transfer: which suits a family?
| Option | Where you board | What sets the price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport taxi | Outside the Arrivals Hall | FCCC meter rate | Denarau and Nadi hotels; any arrival time |
| Public or express bus | Departure Terminal | FCCC stage fares, paid by e-ticket card | Light packers heading down the Coral Coast |
| Airport-to-hotel coach | Ask your resort | Operator's price | Coral Coast stays with morning or midday arrivals |
| Hotel or pre-booked transfer | Name board in the carpark, or a desk in the terminal | Hotel or operator | Families with lots of luggage, late arrivals |
Taxi capacity is the first limit. Tourism Fiji describes the yellow taxis as four-seaters, so a family of five, or four people with large cases and a pushchair, may need two taxis or a van. The FCCC taxi schedules include no luggage charge.
Pre-booked transfers remove the need to haggle or count. Tourism Fiji's airport guide says to book 24 hours ahead with transfer desks such as Tourist Transport Fiji, Rosie Holidays or Tour Managers, and that drivers from outside companies wait with name boards in the carpark. It also says some hotels include the airport pickup and others charge for it. Ask your hotel before comparing prices.
Is the bus realistic with children and suitcases?
For Denarau, a taxi makes more sense. For the Coral Coast, the bus can work if you pack light and land in daylight. Fiji Airports says buses run from the airport to Nadi Town, Denarau Island and Suva. Tourism Fiji says the air-conditioned buses leave from the Departure Terminal rather than Arrivals, and that any trip between Nadi and Suva costs less than FJD 25.
Fares are regulated by stage rather than by destination. From 1 September 2026, the FCCC's omnibus authorisation sets Viti Levu fares from FJD 1.02 for one stage up to FJD 26.05 for 44 stages. Express buses between towns add FJD 0.20 per stage. The schedule does not list how many stages each route has or any child fare. Tourism Fiji's rough guide is about FJD 20 one way to the Coral Coast, with journeys taking one to four hours.
Using that rough guide, four bus tickets come to about FJD 80, against FJD 152 for a taxi to Sigatoka. But a public bus runs to its own stops and timetable, not to your resort's reception, so ask the resort how far its gate is from the nearest stop. After a long-haul flight with small children, those differences can outweigh the savings.
Buses take e-ticket cards, not cash. Tourism Fiji says disposable cards from FJD 2 to FJD 100 are sold at the Vodafone outlet in Arrivals and are valid for 30 days. Vodafone Fiji says these cards are meant for visitors and one-off trips.
Tourism Fiji also lists an airport-to-hotel coach that leaves twice a day, at 7:30am and 1pm, at slightly higher fares than the public bus. Its page does not say which resorts it stops at, so ask your resort whether it is on the route. If you land after 1pm, this coach has already gone.
Arriving on Denarau
Once you reach Denarau, you don't need more taxis to get around the island. The Bula Bus, run by Denarau Shuttle Co., loops between the port, the hotels, the waterpark and the golf course from 7:30am to 7pm. If you are catching a boat onward from Port Denarau, our guide to Mamanuca and Yasawa island transport compares ferries, water taxis and seaplanes.
What to check before leaving the terminal
- Use the meter. The FCCC authorisation says the driver must set the taximeter running when the hire begins. Fiji Airports also suggests agreeing a fare instead, but with a regulated per-kilometre rate the meter is easier to check.
- Check the driver's details. The authorisation requires the driver's photograph, name and licence number to be displayed in the taxi.
- Ask for a receipt. Drivers must give one on request, showing the taxi number, date, fare, VAT and distance. If you need to query the fare later, the distance on the receipt is what you check it against.
- Know what is free. The schedule says passengers are not charged for delays caused by fuel shortages, accidents, breakdowns or police instructions.
- Mention a disability discount if it applies. The airport schedule gives persons with disabilities 20% off for the first 20 km. Ask the driver what proof they need.
- Get cash if you need it. Tourism Fiji says the ATMs are in Arrivals. The taxi rules we read do not say whether drivers must accept cards.
If your flight lands late at night with a Coral Coast booking, the coach will have gone and bus stops are a poor place to wait with children. In that case, book a resort transfer in advance. If you can't, the metered airport taxi, at around FJD 150 for the Sigatoka area, is the fallback.