Both calculators on this site give estimates, not quotes. The Uber estimate rebuilds a price from average rates, and the taxi estimate follows a meter tariff. This page lists every number used, so you can check a result by hand.
The Uber estimate
In Canada Uber shows a price per trip and publishes no rate card. We estimate it with this formula:
(base fare + kilometres × rate per kilometre + minutes × rate per minute) × demand × ride type, plus the booking fee. If the result is below the regional minimum fare, the minimum is used. Extra fees, the City of Vancouver fee and a tip are added on top. The low and high figures in the range come from the same sum with the base reduced by 10 percent and raised by 15 percent, or by 25 percent when demand is above normal.
Demand is a multiplier you choose: normal, busy, very busy or peak. The ride type changes the price by a fixed share or amount, listed below.
The taxi estimate
A taxi meter adds a flag fee, a charge for each kilometre and a charge for waiting. The estimator uses the tariff of the company or area you pick, adds waiting time, extra fees and a tip, and shows a range from about 5 percent below to 12 percent above the typical figure, because traffic and lights change a real meter. For a round trip, flag fee, distance and extra fees are counted twice and waiting once.
British Columbia taxis may only charge rates approved by the Passenger Transportation Board, which publishes rate rules for eight geographic areas. Where a company posts its own rates we use them as published.
The numbers
Uber estimate inputs
- Base fare$2.50
- Per kilometre$1.15
- Per minute$0.35
- Booking fee$2.00
- City of Vancouver fee (trips inside the city, 7 am to 7 pm)$0.30
Regional minimum fare
- Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Squamish-Lillooet$4.43
- Capital Region (Victoria)$6.03
- Vancouver Island (Nanaimo, Parksville, Comox...)$3.94
- Okanagan, Kootenay, Kamloops$3.95
- Northern BC (Prince George...)$3.80
Ride types compared with a standard ride
- Standard (UberX-style)base
- Comfort+25%
- XL (up to 6 seats)+45%
- Green (hybrid / electric)+$1.00
- Premier+125%
- Pet-friendly+$4.50
Taxi tariffs used by the taxi estimator
- Typical Vancouver Island taxi (average)$4.15 + $2.61/km
- Oceanside Taxi tariff$4.40 + $2.50/km
- Yellow Cab Nanaimo tariff$3.90 + $2.72/km
- Metro Vancouver tariff (Whalley Taxi, Royal City Taxi)$3.75 + $2.18/km
Rates reviewed October 2026.
Trip distance and time
Ready made routes use a distance and a driving time per route. When you enter your own distance, the time follows from the road type: about 30 km/h in the city, 45 km/h on mixed roads, 70 km/h on highways. You can change the time yourself.
What an estimate leaves out
- Live traffic, the exact route and road closures.
- Tolls, airport fees and ferry costs, unless you enter them.
- The price the app actually shows at the moment you book.
Use the estimate to plan and to check that a price is reasonable. For the real price, enter the trip in the app or ask the taxi company. If you think a number here is wrong, use the Found a mistake button. You can try the Uber estimate calculator and the taxi fare estimator, and download the data on the taxi fares in BC page.