On a 10 km trip from Edmonds to Surrey Central, a rideshare at normal demand is about $23 and a taxi meter is about $26. The drive takes about 20 minutes, and the likely rideshare range is $20 to $27.
Rideshare and taxi prices
How the Uber estimate is built
The inputs are typical rideshare rates, a $2.50 base fare plus $1.15 for each km, $0.35 for each minute and a $2.00 booking fee. Ten km and 20 minutes make $21.00, and the booking fee brings the total to about $23. This is our estimate, not Uber’s own price, and the app will show the true upfront fare.
Busy periods raise it. At 1.2 times the normal rate you pay about $27. At 1.5 times it is about $34, and at double it is about $44. If the app shows a number near the top of that scale, it may be worth checking a taxi.
Larger vehicles are priced higher: Comfort is about $28, XL (up to 6 seats) is about $32 and Premier is about $49.
What the taxi meter would show
Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi publish the same tariff, a flag fee of $3.75 and $2.18 per km. Over 10 km that comes to about $26. Waiting time and extras are not included, so the bill could be a little higher.
The taxi is about $3 above a rideshare at normal demand. Once the app moves into a busy or peak rate, the meter can come out ahead.
Practical points for this trip
Twenty minutes is long enough that you should settle the details before the car moves. Enter the exact drop-off address in the app, and confirm the pickup pin matches where you are standing.
If you are carrying a lot, ask the driver whether it will fit, or book XL. Anyone who needs a wheelchair accessible vehicle should phone ahead: Vancouver Taxi is at 604-871-1111 and MacLure’s Cabs is at 604-831-1111.
Allow extra time if you have a fixed arrival, such as an appointment or a train to catch. At busy hours cars can take longer to arrive, and the fare can rise while you wait, so look at the price again before you confirm.
Surrey Central is the name of a destination, and the app may offer several nearby drop-off points. Pick the one that matches where you are actually going, and read the address back to the driver when they arrive. It takes ten seconds and avoids a second leg of the trip.