How much is an Uber from Downtown Nanaimo to Woodgrove Centre? A standard rideshare comes to about $23 at normal demand for the 10 km, 20 minute trip, and the likely range is $20 to $27.
Fare for the Woodgrove Centre run
We priced it with average rideshare rates: $2.50 base, $1.15 for every km, $0.35 for every minute, plus a $2.00 booking fee. Ten km adds $11.50 and 20 minutes adds $7.00, so the fare before the booking fee is $21.00 and the total is about $23.
Demand can lift that. At a busy time (1.2 times the fare) it is about $27, when very busy (1.5 times) about $34, and at a peak (2 times) about $44. Our figures are calculated from average rates and Uber may charge differently. The app shows the real upfront price.
The booking fee is the same whatever the demand, so it matters less as the fare grows. On a 10 km trip it is under a tenth of the normal price. Your final charge can also differ a little from the first figure if the route or the timing changes.
For more room, Comfort is about $28, XL (up to 6 seats) is about $32 and Premier is about $49.
Taxi, and getting picked up
The taxi meter
Yellow Cab publishes a flag fee of $3.90 and $2.72 per km. Over 10 km the meter would come to about $31. A meter fare leaves out waiting and extras, so read it as a floor rather than a ceiling.
That puts the taxi about $8 above the normal rideshare estimate. It is closer to the very busy rideshare price, so the cheaper option can switch depending on the hour.
Pickup and shopping trips
For a mall, check the pickup spot in the app and share the entrance or address you want. Large shopping centres have more than one side, and a driver who goes to the wrong one costs you minutes.
Ask the driver whether your bags fit before you load, especially on the way back with purchases. If there are several of you, XL is the safer pick. Anyone who needs an accessible vehicle should reserve it beforehand.
The same care helps on the way home. When you leave, the exact spot where you wait matters as much as the address, and the app lets you confirm it with the driver once the car is on its way.
Prices rise when many people request rides at once, so allow extra time and look at the app again before you confirm.