FAQ - Fees • Fares • Taxes

According to our data, in 2019, the average rates of an UberX or Lyft standard in the US are as follows:

UberX:

Minimum Fare	$6.67
Base Fare:	$3.87
Cancel Fee:	$5.08
Cost Per Minute:	$0.18
Cost Per Mile:	$1.16

Lyft Standard:

Minimum Fare	$4.24
Base Fare:	$1.36
Cancel Fee:	$7.21
Cost Per Minute:	$0.18
Cost Per Mile:	$1.14

Uber Black:

Minimum Fare	$15.17
Base Fare:	$7.21
Cancel Fee:	$10.09
Cost Per Minute:	$0.46
Cost Per Mile:	$3.43

Lyft Lux Black:

Minimum Fare	$13.57
Base Fare:	$6.97
Cancel Fee:	$10.03
Cost Per Minute:	$0.45
Cost Per Mile:	$3.31

The average cost of an UberX increased 15.96% from 2018 to 2019. The average cost of a Lyft (standard) increased 19.04% from 2018 to 2019.

According to our data, the average cost of an Uber ride at the end of 2019 was $50.41. In contrast, the average cost of a Lyft ride was $49.14.

The most expensive states for Uber rides were Kansas (average of $100), Missouri (average of $83), and Wyoming (average of $86). The least expensive states were Rhode Island (average of $23), Ohio (average of $33) and Hawaii (average of $34).

According to our data, the average cost of a Lyft ride at the end of 2019 was $49.14. In contrast, the average cost of an Uber ride was $50.41.

The most expensive states for Lyft rides were Kansas (average of $100), Missouri (average of $97), and Wyoming (average of $85). The least expensive states were Rhode Island (average of $22), Ohio (average of $32) and Hawaii (average of $33).

Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors who operate as sole proprietors for tax purposes. This tax status means that a driver incurs self-employment tax and pays Social Security and Medicare taxes typically paid by employers. Drivers should keep track of all expenses incurred while driving for Uber and Lyft to reduce their tax burdens.

All of the costs of maintaining and insuring your vehicle for Uber or Lyft use are deductible on your tax return. These costs include fuel, oil changes, auto insurance, and parts used for repairs. You can claim the IRS mileage deduction to account for wear and tear from your Uber and Lyft trips. The costs of parking, tolls, and basic amenities for passengers are also deductible as long as they can be tied to your work. It is important to maintain receipts and other proof of expenses to support these deductions. The IRS also expects deductions to be related to expenses solely accrued from business uses of personal vehicles.

Uber and Lyft add airport rates on each trip from airports to comply with local regulations. These rates are comparable to the rates applied to traditional taxi companies. There isn’t a standard rate charged by Uber and Lyft because the rates are dependent on local regulations. By looking at a few examples, you can find out the airport rates charged at destinations around the United States.

The airport fee applied to trips starting from Boston’s Logan International Airport is $3.25 per ride. In Orlando, Florida, the airport fee for Sanford International Airport is $1.00 per trip, while the Orlando International Airport requires a $5.80 fee per trip. The airport fee for Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport is $3.00 per trip. Travelers riding to and from Salt Lake City International Airport are charged $1.05 airport fees.

This range of airport fees comes from an ongoing debate over how Lyft and Uber should be treated by regulators. The discussion of Alaska’s airport fee shows that these fees are likely to continue evolving over time. State regulators originally proposed a $3 per ride fee to airports in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Lyft and Uber representatives countered that the rate should be much lower since comparable airports in Oklahoma City and Santa Barbara don’t charge fees. The fee was established at $2.50 per ride in February 2019.

Uber and Lyft tend to be cheaper than taxi services regardless of location. You can compare services in San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Atlanta to confirm this conclusion. In San Francisco, the average taxi ride from the San Francisco International Airport to Fisherman’s Wharf is $51.40. The same ride with Lyft is approximately $38, while Uber estimates a $40 fare for this trip.

A taxi ride from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport averages $19.25 per trip. The average Lyft ride on the same route costs $9 and the average Uber ride is $12. For a trip from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to State Farm Arena, a tax ride averages $24.80. The Lyft ride for the same trip averages $22.50 and the Uber ride averages $19.05.

Taxi rides tend to be more expensive than Uber and Lyft because of higher per mile rates. Taxi rides from airports can also be pricier due to airport taxes applied to taxis in all locations. Highly rated riders also receive occasional discounts on rides to reward their use of the apps. The price advantage for Uber and Lyft may be offset for rides that take place during surge-pricing periods.

Uber and Lyft may be subject to municipal, county, or state sales taxes on services. The companies do not charge sales tax of their own.

Uber

After selecting a ride, an Uber rider can choose the Split Fare feature on the ride screen. This screen allows the user to add names and phone numbers of fellow passengers to evenly distribute the fare. The Split Fare feature adds a 25 cent processing fee per passenger to the fare.

Lyft

Lyft offered an in-app fare splitting tool until November 2018. The company announced that it was developing a streamlined splitting feature at the time of the old tool’s removal.

The fare for each ride on Uber or Lyft is charged per trip rather than basing prices on the number of passengers. Each fare is based on the distance and time required to complete each trip. Uber offers an in-app feature to split fares among multiple passengers, while Lyft was working on a new split fare feature as of April 2019.

Using the price estimators for Uber and Lyft, drivers can make slightly more on Uber than Lyft rides. In New York City, an UberX driver receives 75% of each ride with a minimum fare of $8 and rates of $0.74 per minute and $1.62 per mile. Lyft drivers in New York City receive 75% to 80% of each ride with $7.19 minimum fares and rates of $0.66 per minute and $1.46 per mile.

This narrow disparity in rates applies in smaller markets like Des Moines, Iowa. An UberX driver in Des Moines receives 75% of each ride with a minimum fare of $5.05, a booking fee of $2.05, a per-minute rate of $0.16, and a per-mile rate of $1.11. A Lyft driver in the same market receives up to 80% of a fare with a base fare of $0.95, a per-mile rate of $0.84, and a per-minute rate of $0.18.