A standard rideshare from Downtown Victoria to Esquimalt costs about $17 at normal demand, and most trips should land between $14 and $20. You cover 6 km, and the drive lasts about a quarter of an hour.
Where the $17 comes from
We worked the figure out from average rideshare rates in Canadian dollars: a $2.50 base fare, $1.15 for each kilometre, $0.35 for each minute and a $2 booking fee. Six kilometres and 15 minutes add up to roughly $14.65 before the booking fee, which brings the total to about $17.
Demand changes that number. When the app is busy the same ride is about $20. When it is very busy expect around $24, and at a peak, when prices double, about $31. These are estimates built from average rates, not Uber’s own prices. The Uber app shows the real upfront price before you confirm, so treat ours as a way to judge whether a quote looks fair.
If you want more room or a nicer car, the other ride types cost more for this trip. Comfort comes to roughly $20, XL (up to 6 seats) to $23 and Premier to $35.
Getting the ride sorted
Taxi instead of Uber
We have no published taxi tariff that we could check for this area, so we cannot give you a meter estimate. Phone for a quote before you go. Uptown Taxi (250-886-6066), Victoria Taxi (250-383-7111) and BlueBird Cabs (250-382-2222) all serve the area, and BlueBird lists wheelchair accessible vehicles and card payment.
Ask the dispatcher whether the price is a fixed quote or a meter estimate. Waiting time and extras are not part of a meter figure, so the final fare can come out a little higher.
Practical tips for a short city trip
On a ride this short, a small change in demand moves the price by only a few dollars, but the percentage difference is still large. If your plans are flexible, open the app a few minutes before you need to leave and compare what it shows with the $17 typical figure.
Share the exact address with the driver, especially if you are being picked up from a building with more than one entrance. Check the pickup pin in the app before you confirm, because a pin set on the wrong side of a block can add minutes to the wait.
If anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or a walker, book an accessible vehicle ahead of time rather than hoping one is free when you call.