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Whether getting a ride to the airport, heading to a restaurant or looking for a lift to work, many people turn to Uber for their transportation needs. Nearly 28 million Uber trips took place per day in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to Uber’s quarterly earnings press release.
With Uber ride-sharing available in more than 10,000 cities, it’s no wonder so many people choose the platform. But how much does Uber cost, and where does it fit in your budget?
How does Uber work?
The Uber app allows users to input a pick-up location and end destination, providing a cost estimate and route before they commit to the ride.
The app matches users with a driver, and they are notified when the driver is getting close to the pick-up location. After receiving a ride, the rider and driver can leave reviews for each other in the app.
How much does an Uber cost?
Uber uses several factors to determine the price for rides, including:
Trip time and distance of the drive.
Time of day and route.
Shared rides.
Supply and demand.
If you’re traveling a popular route in a high-traffic zone, you can expect to see surge pricing. This occurs when there are more riders than drivers in an area. The app temporarily increases prices to draw more drivers to an in-demand location.
How much does a 20-minute Uber cost?
Prices range significantly depending on the metropolitan area, distance and traffic. For example, at the time of this writing, a 20-minute afternoon Uber ride in the Midwest from Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the Amway Grand Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids will cost about $26, assuming the ride is about 14 miles.
But take a 20-minute Uber ride and move it to a congested metro area and you’ll see the price increase. For instance, Gramercy Park in New York City to Carnegie Hall will cost close to $37 in the afternoon, even though the two locations are only 2.6 miles apart.
On the West Coast, an Uber from Los Angeles International Airport to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood costs almost $30 to go travel about 6 miles.
Can your Uber fare change?
Occasionally, the estimated upfront cost differs from the final cost. This is due to circumstances like adding stops, changing your destination or passing through a toll that wasn’t included in the cost estimate. If you are delayed getting to your driver at the designated pick-up time, you may also incur extra fees.
But assuming you don’t run into any unforeseen circumstances on the road, the price shown at the start of your trip is generally the price you'll pay upon completion of the journey.
Should you tip an Uber driver?
Tipping an Uber driver is optional. If you decide to tip, you can do so at the end of your ride with cash or the app, which gives you up to 30 days post-trip to leave a review and a tip. Drivers receive 100% of the tip.
How to fit Uber into your budget
A helpful way to think about how Uber fits into your budget is the 50/30/20 framework. In this budgeting approach, 50% of your income goes toward needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt repayment beyond minimums.
Depending on the situation, Uber could fall into the 50% needs category or 30% wants category. For example, transportation in general is a need. If you don’t own a vehicle and aren't able to use public transportation systems, but you still need to get to work, then taking an Uber to your job may fall into the needs category.
This is different from, say, using Uber on vacation to tour around multiple spots, which would bump the expense into the discretionary category.
If you’re looking to build room in your budget for regular Uber rides, it may be helpful to think about other ways to save money, like reducing shopping or limiting the number of times you dine out. Freeing up money in these categories could create more funds to use for transportation.
How to save money on an Uber
If you plan to use Uber ride-sharing frequently and also enjoy getting takeout delivered to your doorstep, one option for potential savings is purchasing Uber One.
Uber One is a subscription service that costs $9.99 per month or $96 per year. The pass gets you member pricing and access to top-rated drivers on eligible Uber rides, as well as deals on Uber Eats, Uber’s restaurant delivery service. The subscription can be canceled at any time with no penalties or fees.
Another way to cut costs for ride-sharing is taking advantage of UberX Share, which matches you with another rider along the same route. By sharing your ride, you can save up to 20%. You may be joined by up to two other riders and Uber says sharing won’t add more than eight minutes to your trip.
If you’re waiting for a lift in a high-demand location and you’re not in a rush, you have the option to hold off until surge pricing ends to avoid peak costs.
