The average transportation cost of an Uber ride is considered comparatively cheaper than Lyft. The smartphone app of SherpaStudy estimated that the average cost of an Uber trip was $20. While the average cost of a Lyft ride was $27 as of July 2021.
Pandemic Affecting Price
Both Uber and Lyft faced a dramatic jump in price over the years, mainly due to the pandemic that caused a subsequent shortage of drivers. Lyft faced a leap of 45% in average transportation cost while Uber jumped 20% over the year.
The current price however, still depends on some factors, which directly affect the cost and differ accordingly.
Factors Determining Ride Fares
The estimated fare provided through the apps of both the companies before starting the ride which makes it more convenient for the passenger to choose from. The factors mainly responsible for the fares include:-
•City
To check if the city is metropolitan and accessible enough for the drivers.
• Distance
The distance of the destination of the passenger from the current position. How far is it?
•Traffic/Time
The estimated time which might be required and also if the passenger is located in a heavy traffic area.
•Vehicle Used
The rides provide for different types of vehicles which include X, XL, Black, Black SUV, and many more, upon which the prices depend and differ accordingly.
Some of the other factors also include base fares, booking fees, tolls, surcharges, and dynamic prices. A basic example of how fair prices depend on the type of vehicle used.
New York City Ride Costs
Lyft
Cost Per Mile $1.55
Cost Per Minute $0.71
Lyft XL
Cost Per Mile $2.11
Cost Per Minute $0.71
Lyft Black
Cost Per Mile $2.74
Cost Per Minute $0.84
Lyft Black XL
Cost Per Mile $4.04
Cost Per Minute $1.19
Uber X
Cost Per Mile $1.62
Cost Per Minute $0.74
Uber XL
Cost Per Mile $2.35
Cost Per Minute $0.77
Uber Black
Cost Per Mile $3.05
Cost Per Minute $0.94
Uber Black SUV
Cost Per Mile $4.5
Cost Per Minute $1.32
Additional Services
Even though the prices are sometimes seemingly higher, people continue to use Uber rides more widely because of the tremendous marketing which has been done by the company. Uber is now used as a verb by the general public and hence is more preferred and trusted.
Uber has also launched UberEats in 2014 which worked extensively in increasing its popularity and hence it became more familiar and popular among the general mass. Lyft on the other hand, even though it works with the delivery of stuff, hasn’t gained much recognition because of being confined to only certain regions.
What makes Lyft different from Uber?
Both Lyft and Uber are transportation services providing companies and work pretty much similar to the rides. The only difference is that Lyft is only defined to the USA and Canada while Uber has a more expanded business in many different cities all around the world including the East as well.
Are the prices of the cabs affected by the time of the day too?
Yes, the prices of the cabs are affected by the time of the day as well. The morning and evening fares are naturally slightly higher than those of other times. This is because people either go to work or get off from work at that time and hence the crowd is larger which makes the demand higher.
So, ultimately it cannot be precisely determined which ride is cheaper among the two just by the given estimates or word of mouth. The only way to choose the cheaper one is to compare the estimated rate of both the rides beforehand on the apps and go for the cheaper one at the moment.
Q) Can you pay Uber with cash?
Yes, Uber can be paid with Cash. The passenger needs to select the option of Cash in the Payment section before requesting a ride. The cash fare can be paid after the ride.
Q) Is tipping the drivers compulsory?
No, the tipping of drivers is completely optional. The passenger can tip the driver however much they want to or not, that depends on the passenger. The tip wholly goes to the driver and not to the company.
Q) Can Lyft be canceled without charge?
Yes, the ride can be canceled without any cancellation fee only if the passenger cancels the ride within 2 minutes of the selection. Otherwise, the whole fare is charged.
Q) What is the cheapest Uber ride?
Currently, UberPOOL is the cheapest among all the provided options. It pairs two passengers who are going in a similar direction.
