The Most (and Least) Expensive Places for Ridesharing in the U.S.

Ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft have transformed how people approach transportation for business, travel, and recreation. Ridesharing apps provide more flexibility and freedom, especially in areas beyond major cities. However, Uber prices tend to vary dramatically across the United States depending on factors such as location and time of day. This analysis from the Parker Waichman team shows the most expensive cities for Uber and the least expensive cities for Uber as well as some states and other locations around the United States:

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Here are the top five most expensive U.S. locations for Uber based on price per mile:

1. San Luis Obispo, California — $2.06 per mile
2. Gallup, New Mexico — $1.90 per mile
3. Ocala, Florida — $1.86 per mile
4. Taos, New Mexico — $1.85 per mile
5. Wyoming — $1.81 per mile

Here are the top 5 least expensive U.S. locations for Uber based on price per mile:

1. Knoxville, Tennessee — $0.70 per mile
2. Orlando, Florida — $0.71 per mile
3. Lawton, Oklahoma — $0.75 per mile
4. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — $0.75 per mile
5. Little Rock, Arkansas — $0.76 per mile

Is Uber Cheaper Than a Taxi?

It depends. According to Consumer Reports, Uber is cheaper than a taxi for longer trips, especially those that cost more than $35. Overall, Uber is often the more economical option outside of large cities. For quick trips with fares that are less than $35, a taxi may be a more affordable option. A taxi may also be a better option during high-demand times. This is due to Uber and other ridesharing services, such as Lyft, using surge pricing during popular times, which can hike prices by up to four times the regular rate. Surge pricing also occurs in high-traffic neighborhoods such as New York City’s Times Square.

When Was Uber Founded?

Uber was founded in March 2009 in San Francisco, California. The history of Uber is an intriguing one. In December 2008, founders Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp struggled to get a ride on a cold winter evening in Paris. This sparked the idea, “What if you could request a ride with your phone?” The two Uber entrepreneurs wasted no time in launching the revolutionary Uber app. However, the first ever Uber ride was not requested until July 5, 2010, for a trip across San Francisco. In 2011, Uber launched internationally for the first time in Paris, the very city where the idea of Uber was born.

How Many Countries Does Uber Operate In?

Uber is currently available in more than 10,000 cities across 80 countries. Major Uber cities worldwide include New York City, Vienna, Sao Paulo, Montreal, Hong Kong, Dublin, Tokyo, Seoul, and Cancun.

Does Uber Pay Well?

According to a MarketWatch analysis, Uber drivers may not make much more than minimum wage per hour. After accounting for Uber’s commissions and fees and vehicle expenses, Uber drivers earn an average of $9.21 per hour. Uber drivers actually collect an average of $24.77 per hour, but they only see around a third of this money in their pocket, due in part to Uber fees. Uber drivers also need to pay their own payroll taxes, since they are independent contractors, which brings their pay down to an average of $10.87 per hour. But that doesn’t account for the fact that they also need to pay for their own health insurance, retirement savings, and car expenses.