How Much is an Uber Ride?

Uber and companies like it have been growing in popularity in recent years. The company provides rides for customers who have downloaded their app. You simply request and uber from the app and it arrives within minutes.

Many people have been using uber for nights out at the bar so they don’t have to worry about driving. Uber is also popular for people on vacation to use so they don’t have to navigate the new area. And there are a few people, like me, that use Uber as their main mode of transportation but how much is an Uber ride? How much are you really saving not having a car?

How Much is an Uber Ride?

The average uber ride costs $13.36. Frequent Uber users spend about $96 a month on rides and those that frequent Uber’s services spend approximately 1.3 percent of their income on rides. The base fee for an Uber ride is $1. After the base fare you pay approximately $0.30 per minute you are in the car and they’ll bring you anywhere (people have Ubered hours away).

Uber’s per-minute price increases if you need a larger car though. If you request an SUV you’ll be paying $0.55 per minute (almost twice as much as the standard ride). New Uber customers receive their first ride (up to $20 value) free. Visit Uber’s Fare Estimator here or on the app to see how much your Uber ride will cost you.

How Much is a Ride With Lyft?

Uber isn’t the only ride-hailing app out there either. Lyft is another similar service and has an average ride cost of $12.53 per ride (slightly cheaper than Uber). Lyft has a higher base fare of $3.50 and it goes as high as $10 for larger vehicles.

Its per-minute pricing is about the same as Uber but the company is less popular so you may be able to catch a ride more quickly than if you ordered an Uber. Like Uber, Lyft gives its new customers cash for rides (generally about $20 in $5 increments). If you’d like to get an estimated price for your Lyft ride you can visit the website or download the app.

How Much is an Uber Ride Compared to a Taxi?

That being said, only 15 percent of Americans have even downloaded one of these ride-hailing apps. A majority of Americans (if they need to rely on someone else to drive) take advantage of public transportation or call a taxi. How much is an Uber ride compared to a taxi, you ask?

Well, taxis are still way more expensive than taking Uber. Although both companies’ rates differ from city-to-city, in Charlotte (where I live) the average taxi fair is four times the amount I would spend on an Uber for the same distance.

So, it seems like a no-brainer. Uber or Lyft is the way to go when is comes to getting a ride. While none of these ways to get around are the most economical, Uber is a great way to get around if you’re in need of a ride.

New to the app? Check out the video below to learn how to use the Uber app.

Will you try Uber or Lyft?

Photos: Boing Boing and Business of Apps