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Grab vs Bolt vs Taxi
Grab dominates Thailand ride-hailing, but Bolt has cheaper base fares in most Bangkok zones since 2024. Metered taxis are still the cheapest in dry daytime, if you can find one that will actually take you. This calculator includes surge patterns and "no driver" probability.
Inputs
What this solves
Three real situations:
- 11 pm in Nana with 4 people: open both apps, which one dispatches faster?
- 5 pm Asok → Chatuchak: is the meter still the cheapest with no surge?
- Khao San at 2 am returning to Sukhumvit — should I just walk to a main road and hail a meter?
How to read
- Grab Car base: ~13 THB flag-fall + 7 THB/km + 1 THB/min. Bolt: ~12 + 6 + 0.8. Bolt wins on price when no surge.
- Surge is multiplicative, not additive. Evening rush 4–8 pm in CBD: typical 1.4–2.2×.
- "No driver" probability captures when the app shows ETA 30+ min or no cars at all — common in rain + outer zone.
- Taxi meter: 35 THB + 6/km. No surge. But ~20% refusal rate for short trips; ~10% at night refuse far destinations.
Limitations
- Grab Car JustGrab and GrabBike have different surge curves not shown here.
- Promo codes change monthly — both apps offer 30–50 THB off new users.
- Drivers may cancel mid-ride after seeing destination; that probability is ~8% in tourist zones.
- For airport routes, see Airport Transfer tool.
FAQ
Is Bolt actually cheaper than Grab in Thailand?
About 8–15% cheaper at base, but fewer drivers in outer Bangkok and rural provinces. In Chiang Mai and Phuket, Grab is the only reliable option.
Why do taxi drivers refuse fares?
Short trips don't earn much. Long trips at rush hour get stuck in traffic. Drivers prefer tourist runs to Mahanakhon / Iconsiam at night — high fare, low congestion. Insist with "meter" and walk to a main road; most meters will turn on.
What about InDriver / local apps?
InDriver exists in Bangkok but driver supply is thin. Useful as a fallback.