Uber and Lyft prices in Houston

What rides cost in Houston by distance, ride type and route, with the airports and self-driving services that serve it.

Check a trip in Houston

What a ride costs in Houston

Trip	UberX	Lyft	UberXL	Taxi
Short hop 2 miles, about 8 minutes	$10–14	$9–12	$14–20	$9–11
Across town 5 miles, about 16 minutes	$14–21	$13–16	$20–30	$18–21
Longer ride 10 miles, about 25 minutes	$22–32	$20–25	$32–47	$32–38

Estimates for a weekday around midday, using rates tuned to recent prices in Houston.Airport fees, tolls and tips are extra. .

Price by ride type

For a 5-mile, 16-minute trip in Houston.

Ride type	Uber	Lyft
Saver	$12–18 Wait & Save · 4 seats	$11–14 Wait & Save · 4 seats
Standard	$14–21 UberX · 4 seats	$13–16 Lyft · 4 seats
Faster	$17–24 Priority · 4 seats	$15–19 Priority Pickup · 4 seats
Comfort	$18–26 Comfort · 4 seats	$18–22 Extra Comfort · 4 seats
XL	$20–30 UberXL · 6 seats	$18–23 Lyft XL · 5 seats
Premium	$30–43 Black · 4 seats	$32–40 Black · 4 seats
Premium XL	$39–56 Black SUV · 6 seats	$39–48 Black SUV · 5 seats
Pet	$16–23 Uber Pet · 4 seats	–

Popular routes from IAH

Route	Distance	Time	UberX	Lyft
IAH to Downtown Houston	21.7 mi	29 min	$42–59	$39–48
IAH to The Galleria	28.7 mi	39 min	$54–75	$49–60
IAH to Texas Medical Center	25.7 mi	35 min	$49–68	$45–55
IAH to NRG Stadium	27.5 mi	39 min	$50–71	$46–56
IAH to Museum District	24.4 mi	34 min	$47–66	$43–53
IAH to Houston Heights	20.0 mi	29 min	$41–57	$38–46

All rides at IAH · All rides at HOU

Taxi rates in Houston

Taxi meters follow rates set by City of Houston Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department (Code of Ordinances Sec. 46-31). They do not surge, which makes a taxi worth checking when ride apps are busy.

Initial charge	$3.72 (includes the first 0.09 mile)
Each mile	$2.97
Each minute stopped or in slow traffic	$0.40
Nighttime drop rate difference	$1.00 At night: night drop is $4.72 against $3.72 by day, and night zone rates are $1.00 higher; the rate sheet does not state the hours
IAH Zone 2 (Downtown) daytime zone rate	$71.22 flat ($72.22 at night; zone rate or meter, whichever is less; Zone 2 is larger than this box, see the city's IAH zone map)
HOU Zone 2 (Downtown) daytime zone rate	$35.28 flat ($36.28 at night; zone rate or meter, whichever is less)

From the regulator's published rates. Last checked October 11, 2026. Taxis here can be booked with zTrip. About a 28% increase approved by City Council on 17 Dec 2025 (drop was $2.91 and $2.31 per mile); these are maximums, and the sheet lists 10 IAH zones ($46.13 to $141.71) and 11 Hobby zones ($35.28 to $116.61) defined only by city zone maps, of which only the downtown zones are captured here. Source. .

Self-driving rides in Houston

Service	Status	Vehicle	Book with	Airports	Riders since
Waymo	Open to all	No one in the driver seat	Waymo app	–	Aug 2026
Tesla Robotaxi	Open to all	No one in the driver seat	Tesla Robotaxi app	–	Apr 2026

Self-driving rides in Houston: map, prices and how to ride

Common questions

How much does an Uber cost in Houston?

We estimate UberX at $10–14 for a 2-mile trip, $14–21 for 5 miles and $22–32 for 10 miles around midday on a weekday. Busy times cost more.

Is Uber or Lyft cheaper in Houston?

They are usually close. For a 5-mile trip we estimate UberX at $14–21 and Lyft at $13–16. Either can be cheaper at a given moment, so compare both.

How much is an Uber from IAH airport?

From IAH to Downtown Houston we estimate UberX at $42–59 and Lyft at $39–48, airport fee included.

Are there self-driving rides in Houston?

Yes. Waymo, Tesla Robotaxi carry riders in the Houston area.