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.