Neither app is always cheaper in Vancouver. When both launched, their published rates were close, and the price you see depends on the route, the time and how busy the drivers are. The reliable way to save is to check both estimates for your own trip before booking.
At launch in Vancouver, news reports listed Lyft at a $2.50 base fare plus a $2.50 service fee, with $0.65 per kilometre and $0.33 per minute. Uber was listed at a $2.50 base fare plus a $2 booking fee, with $0.70 per kilometre and $0.33 per minute. Those launch rates differ by small amounts, and both companies have the right to change them.
Why the two can differ
Rate structure
Both fares are built from a base amount, a booking or service fee, and charges for distance and time. A small gap in the per kilometre rate adds up on a long trip, while the fixed fees weigh more on a short one. That is why the cheaper app can change from one ride to the next.
Coverage
Uber’s area was reported as much larger, covering suburbs such as Coquitlam, Surrey, Delta, and West and North Vancouver. Lyft was limited at launch to the core of Vancouver, with boundaries at Dunbar Street, Victoria Drive and 41st Avenue, plus the PNE and the airport. Coverage can change, so check in the app whether your pickup and drop off are served. Outside a company’s zone the question does not arise, because only one app will take the trip.
How fares are calculated
Both apps show an estimate before you confirm. Prices can rise when demand is high, for example at rush hour, in bad weather or after a big event, and the app shows that before you commit. If the price looks high, waiting a few minutes or walking a block or two sometimes brings it down.
Promotions
Both companies run promotions for new and returning riders, such as ride credits or percentage discounts. Offers change often, so look in the promotions section of each app instead of counting on a fixed amount.
Comparing for your trip
Open both apps with the same pickup and drop off, note the estimate and the waiting time, and add any tip you plan to give. For a wider comparison with taxis, the Lyft vs Uber in BC page goes through the differences.