If we are traveling as a family of 4, is it cheaper to take taxis in Kyoto rather than buses or subway?

Taxis will be definitely cheaper for short runs. Buses may be the way to go for the long runs. See here for price information.

http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/transport.html

See bottom link for bus map

Aloha!

Thanks so much for the help!

we took cabs from and to the airport but in town we mainly took the bus and metro. You can get to a lot of places just by foot depending on where you stay too. we found intercity transport in Kyoto inexpensive.

Depends. Sometimes for four people (esp late at night with little traffic), it is cheaper and a lot faster to travel by taxi, for short distances - set price up to 2 km, where there is no convenient train or subway connection. Get 500 yen day ticket for Kyoto City bus for daytime use. It pays for itself after two rides.