How much are you willing to pay for an Uber trip? These days, it’s not cheap to get a ride with the popular ride-hailing app in the U.S. – and judging by current prices, at least if people live in a major city, it’s probably cheaper to walk or drive themselves to their next destination. Uber rides are more expensive than ever, which can be attributed in part to the massive increase in fuel prices happening in early 2022. Another factor here is the driver shortage.
According to a CNBC report, online car giants like Uber and Lyft experienced a severe driver shortage in the summer of 2021, and things still haven’t returned to normal. To combat this, some of these companies are offering bonus incentives to drivers and raising base rates to lure them back to the apps. Fewer drivers combined with higher fuel prices have led to increased costs for Uber trips, which can cost more than $30 per trip for relatively short trips in the largest U.S. cities.
According to a study by NetCredit, Uber users in New York City pay an average of $34.74 for a 6.2-mile ride. While this figure makes the city the most expensive city for Uber in the U.S., it is not the only city with an average price of more than $30 per trip. Nashville is a close second at $34.63 for the same travel distance, followed by Denver at $33.91 and Seattle at $32.63. By comparison, despite commuters’ and other riders’ thoughts to the contrary, a ride in New York City’s famous yellow cab is 35 to 83 percent cheaper, at least according to a CBS News report.
What makes New York City’s online cabs so expensive? The platform charges a congestion surcharge and implemented an increased minimum wage for drivers in March 2022 of $1.61 per mile and $0.529 per minute, according to New York City’s official website. To retain drivers, Uber implemented a temporary fuel surcharge starting in March to give drivers an additional fee. In addition, the company is giving incentives to drivers who want to switch to electric vehicles. By doing so, they can earn a bonus of $1 or more per trip, up to $4,000 per year.
