Bus fares in Costa Rica will go up today by an average of 4.86%, while taxi prices are up 3%, according to the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP).

The increase is to meet bus and taxi companies' higher operation costs, including a wage raise in January as well as rising fuel prices, said Carolina Mora, spokeswomen for ARESEP, which recently approved the new prices.

For many journeys, the price hike spells out just a few cents higher than before. The San Pedro-San José bus route, for example, has risen from ¢155 to ¢165, or about 31 cents to 33 cents. The bus ride from the capital to central Pacific Playa Jacó is up from ¢1,440 to ¢1,510 (about $2.94 to $3.08).

Meanwhile, taxis' starting rate is now ¢420 (85 cents), up from ¢405 (about 83 cents).

The last increase of public transport rates occurred in September 2007, Mora said, when buses upped fares by an average of 3.83%, and taxis by 10%.