Pricing from JNB airport depends heavily on your destination, the time of day, and which transport you choose. Here is what you can realistically expect to pay.
To Sandton (22 km)
Sandton is the most common destination from the airport, as it is the business and hotel hub.
- Gautrain: ZAR 180-200 per person. Fixed price, no traffic variable. Add ZAR 20-50 for a Gautrain bus or short Uber from the station to your hotel.
- Metered taxi: ZAR 400-600. Higher end during rush hour when the meter runs through traffic.
- Uber/Bolt: ZAR 250-500. Lower end in quiet periods, higher during surge pricing.
- Pre-booked transfer: ZAR 500-900 per vehicle. Fixed price regardless of traffic.
To Johannesburg CBD (24 km)
- Metered taxi: ZAR 350-500.
- Uber/Bolt: ZAR 200-450.
- Pre-booked transfer: ZAR 450-800 per vehicle.
To Pretoria (50 km)
- Gautrain: ZAR 120-150 per person (the Pretoria line is actually cheaper than the airport-to-Sandton fare for some routes).
- Metered taxi: ZAR 700-1100. Traffic on the N1 can add significantly.
- Uber/Bolt: ZAR 500-900.
- Pre-booked transfer: ZAR 900-1500 per vehicle.
To Soweto (45 km)
- Metered taxi: ZAR 600-900.
- Uber/Bolt: ZAR 400-700.
- Pre-booked transfer: ZAR 800-1200 per vehicle.
What affects the price
Traffic is the single biggest variable for any metered or time-based service. The R24 highway from the airport and the M1 into the city are notoriously congested during rush hours. A trip that costs ZAR 350 at 10:00 can cost ZAR 550 at 17:00 in a metered taxi because you are sitting in traffic with the meter running.
Surge pricing affects Uber and Bolt, particularly during peak landing times (early morning when European flights arrive, and late evening). Surge multipliers of 1.5-2x are not unusual.
Vehicle type matters for pre-booked transfers. A sedan costs less than a minivan. If you are traveling solo or as a couple, a sedan is fine. Families or groups should factor in the cost of a larger vehicle.
Currency note
All prices above are in South African Rand (ZAR). At current rates, ZAR 500 is roughly USD 27 or EUR 25. The rand fluctuates, so check the rate before your trip. Credit cards are accepted by most transfer services and some taxi operators, but it is worth having some cash as a backup.