A standard Uber from Edmonds to Metrotown costs about $13 at normal demand, and the likely range is $11 to $15. The ride covers 4 km and takes about 10 minutes.
Behind the $13 estimate
Our figure comes from average rideshare rates, so it is a guide and not an Uber price. The rate card has a base fare of $2.50, $1.15 for each km, $0.35 for each minute and a $2.00 booking fee. Add those up for 4 km and 10 minutes and you reach about $13. Only the app can tell you the exact upfront fare, so open it and enter both addresses before you decide.
When many people want a car at once, the price rises. A busy spell at 1.2 times the normal rate gives about $15. At 1.5 times the fare is about $18, and at double the rate it is about $23. The $4.43 regional minimum fare only matters on very short rides, and this one clears it easily.
For extra seats or comfort, the numbers are Comfort about $15, XL (up to 6 seats) about $17 and Premier about $26.
Taxi against rideshare on this hop
Two taxi companies in the area have published tariffs we could check: Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi. Both charge a $3.75 flag fee and $2.18 per km, which puts the meter at roughly $12 for this distance. That total does not include waiting time or extras.
So on a ride this size, the taxi and the rideshare are within a dollar of each other. The gap can change in the rideshare’s favour or against it depending on how busy the app is, so a quick look at the live price is the best tiebreaker. Prefer a call? Vancouver Taxi is listed at 604-871-1111 and Yellow Cab Vancouver at 604-681-1111.
Before you request the car
Metrotown is a shopping destination, so you may be heading there with bags on the way back. Tell the driver if you will have a lot to load, and choose XL when a standard car will be tight.
Share the full pickup address instead of a general area, and wait where the app shows the pin. If you need a wheelchair accessible vehicle, book it in advance, since only some taxis offer one. Leave a few extra minutes at busy hours, because a ten minute ride can stretch when cars are scarce.