Taxi fares in Potosí labeled 'robbery' amid price gouging

Residents of Potosí, Bolivia, are facing what the author describes as a "tariff dictatorship" in taxi services, with fares drastically exceeding those in comparable cities. A recent social media post highlighting that short taxi trips in Potosí can cost Bs 50, while the same service in Sucre is only Bs 5, went viral, resonating with many locals.

The situation worsened following a recent snowfall. Taxi drivers reportedly exploited the increased demand for transportation, charging exorbitant prices. Reports indicate fares of up to Bs 50 per person for medium-distance urban trips. This price point is particularly egregious as it matches the cost of interdepartmental bus travel between Potosí and Sucre, a distance of 156 kilometers.

The article contends that these inflated taxi fares are illegal, citing regulations from the Authority of Regulation and Fiscalization of Telecommunications and Transport (ATT). According to the RAR No. 0178/2013, the maximum legal fare for a standard bus on the Potosí-Sucre route was Bs 21. Even a temporary exceptional increase approved in 2025, which allowed fares between Bs 18 and Bs 29, is significantly lower than the Bs 50 being charged by taxis for much shorter urban journeys.

Furthermore, the article points out discrepancies on other routes, such as Potosí to La Paz. While the 2013 tariff set the price at Bs 129 for a cama bus, and a temporary 2025 tariff ranged from Bs 148 to Bs 181, some companies are charging Bs 250. The author concludes that the current taxi fares in Potosí, especially those charged during the recent snow emergency, constitute outright robbery, far exceeding legally established limits.