George Bush Intercontinental Airport is 37 km from downtown Houston. The cost gap between the cheapest and most expensive option is significant, so your choice depends on your priorities.
Price comparison by transport type
| Transport | Cost (USD) | Approx. EUR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| METRO Bus 102 | $1.25 | ~1.09 EUR | Exact change or METRO Q card |
| Shared shuttle | Operator-quoted | - | Per person, multiple stops |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | App-quoted | - | Rises with demand |
| Taxi | Zone flat rate or meter, whichever is lower | - | Plus 15-20% tip; rate card posted in the cab |
| Private transfer (sedan) | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed price, meet & greet |
| Private transfer (SUV/van) | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed, quoted at booking | Fixed price, more luggage space |
Fixed-price private transfer
IAH Houston
From€88for 2 passengers
4 passengers: €117 per vehicle, about €29 per person
- Fixed price, no meter
- Flight tracked
- 60 min free waiting
- Driver meets you at arrivals
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
Other destinations
Cost to popular destinations
Taxi fares from IAH are set by the city as flat rates per zone, and the zone map is published only as a scanned map held by the city - so rather than print a taxi figure we cannot stand behind for your exact address, read the zone rate card and zone map posted inside the cab (one on the dashboard, one on the back of the front seat). Daytime zone rates run $46.13 to $141.71, each $1.00 more at night (City of Houston, 2026), and you pay the lesser of the zone rate or the meter.
| Destination | Distance | Private transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Houston | 37 km | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| The Galleria | 30 km | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| Texas Medical Center | 35 km | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| The Woodlands | 35 km | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| Sugar Land | 60 km | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| Galveston | 110 km | Fixed, quoted at booking |
Hidden costs to watch for
The taxi zone flat rate protects you from traffic - if the meter would run higher than your zone's rate, the ordinance says you pay the zone rate. Tips of 15-20% are expected on top. Rideshare surge pricing during peak times or late at night can lift the same ride well above its daytime price. Tolls on the Hardy Toll Road or Sam Houston Tollway may be added. A Houston cab may charge a toll fee only exactly equal to the toll the Harris County Toll Road Authority charges, it must be noted on the posted rate card, and the driver must tell you before entering the toll road (Chapter 46, Sec. 46-31).
Private transfers include tolls in the quoted price. No tipping is required, though it is appreciated.
The budget option in detail
The METRO bus 102 costs just $1.25 but requires you to be at Terminal C. If you land at another terminal, take the free Skyway train first. Buses run roughly every 30 minutes during peak hours and the ride to downtown takes 70-90 minutes. Service ends around 11 PM.
When a private transfer from IAH is the right choice
- Three or more people: a 4-seat car to Houston is from €117, about €29 per person, usually level with or below separate public-transport tickets once you count the walk, the wait and the last mile with bags.
- Going to a specific address rather than the main station: the car goes to the door, so the public-transport fare is not the whole cost of the trip.
- Arriving tired or late: the driver waits at arrivals with your name, included for 60 minutes after landing.
IAH → Houston from €88Fixed price, flight tracked, free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup.