What a standard ride costs
A standard rideshare from YVR Airport to Vancouver General Hospital costs about $25 at normal demand, with a likely range of $22 to $30. The trip is 12 km and takes about 20 minutes.
Those figures are our estimates from average rates. They are not Uber’s own prices, and the Uber app shows the real upfront price before you confirm the ride.
How the price is worked out
The estimate starts with a base fare of $2.50, adds $1.15 for each km and $0.35 for each minute, then puts a $2 booking fee on top. For this trip the distance charge is $13.80 and the time charge is $7, so the metered part is $23.30 before the booking fee.
Demand moves the total. When the app is busy (a 1.2 multiplier) expect about $30. Very busy (1.5) brings it to about $37, and a peak surge (2.0) is about $49.
If you are heading to an appointment, leave a little extra time. Then you can wait a few minutes for the price to settle instead of accepting the highest fare on screen.
Comfort, XL and Premier prices, plus the meter
Comfort is about $31 for the same trip. XL, which seats up to 6, is about $36, and Premier is about $54. Pick XL if you have several bags or travel with family.
A taxi from Whalley Taxi or Royal City Taxi starts at a $3.75 flag fee and adds $2.18 per km. On that tariff the meter would come to about $30 for 12 km. Waiting time and extras are not included, so the final amount can be a little higher.
Before you request the car
Open the app and look at the pickup spot it suggests. Airports often ask you to meet your driver at a set point, so follow the pin and do not guess.
Type in the exact hospital address or the name of the entrance you want. A driver who knows where to stop saves you minutes at the end of the trip.
If you use a wheelchair or a walker, book an accessible vehicle ahead of time rather than hoping one is nearby. Ask the driver whether your luggage fits before you load it, especially in a standard car.
Prices rise at busy times, so check the fare once more just before you tap confirm. If the number looks far above the $25 estimate, the app is probably in a busy or peak period, and waiting a short while may bring it down. Comfort, XL and Premier are priced from the same inputs, so they move up and down with demand in the same way.