Is it cheaper to rent a car or use ride-hailing after arriving at the airport? An analysis from American Express Global Business Travel found there is no universal answer.

Amex GBT compared the cost of an airport-to-city-center round trip in 10 major U.S. business travel markets. The analysis considered average daily rental rates, ride-hail fares, tolls and parking charges.

For a one-day trip, car rental was clearly less expensive than ride-hailing in five of the 10 cities studied: Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco.

In four other markets — Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and New York — the listed rental price was lower than the ride-hail fare, but Amex GBT classified the comparison as borderline because adding fuel could eliminate the rental advantage.

Charlotte was the only market in which the listed one-day rental cost was already higher than the ride-hail round trip before accounting for fuel.

One-Day Rental Costs Varied by Market

The largest apparent one-day rental advantage occurred in San Francisco. Amex GBT calculated a $75.27 one-day rental cost for a trip between San Francisco International Airport and the Transamerica Pyramid, compared with $126.86 for ride-hailing.

In Los Angeles, the comparison was $93 for a one-day rental versus $124.90 for a ride-hail round trip between Los Angeles International Airport and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Other comparisons in which rental had a clear advantage included:

• Chicago: $67.49 for rental versus $92.89 for ride-hailing.
• Detroit: $72 for rental versus $110.39 for ride-hailing.
• Phoenix: $60.88 for rental versus $87.87 for ride-hailing.

The Dallas comparison was nearly even: $62.88 for a one-day rental versus $62.91 for ride-hailing. Any fuel expense would make ride-hailing the less expensive option in that scenario.

In Charlotte, ride-hailing cost $49.86 for the round trip, compared with $63.15 for a one-day rental.

Two-Day Trips Shifted the Advantage to Ride-Hailing

The result changed when the rental extended into a second day.

In the scenario modeled by Amex GBT, ride-hailing was less expensive in all 10 cities when the traveler kept the rental vehicle for two days but needed only an airport-to-city trip and the return journey.

The reason is straightforward: The ride-hail customer paid for two individual trips, while the renter accumulated a second day of rental charges along with potential parking and fuel expenses.

In New York, for example, the report estimated a $168.72 ride-hail round trip between LaGuardia Airport and the New York Stock Exchange. The estimated rental cost was $150 for one day and $286.50 for two days.

In San Francisco, the $75.27 one-day rental increased to $150.54 over two days, exceeding the $126.86 ride-hail round trip.

More Local Trips Can Favor Car Rental

The comparison changes again when the traveler needs transportation beyond the two airport transfers.

A traveler making several journeys during the day would incur a separate ride-hail fare for each trip. The rental rate, by contrast, gives the customer continuous access to a vehicle throughout the rental period.

Amex GBT concluded that rental becomes more cost-effective as the number of local journeys increases. Avoiding parking charges can further strengthen the case for renting.

The analysis also does not capture differences in convenience, wait times, vehicle availability, route flexibility or the ability to carry luggage and equipment. Those considerations may influence a traveler’s decision even when one option has a modest price advantage.

For rental operators, the findings show that car rental’s business travel value proposition is strongest when customers require multiple trips, flexibility or continuous vehicle access, not simply transportation from the airport and back.

The comparison was conducted during the fourth quarter of 2025 and was intended as an illustrative snapshot. Amex GBT cautioned that the figures should not be treated as currently bookable rates.

Our Take — Break it Down for the Customer

Auto Rental News has been having this debate since Uber and Lyft became viable transportation options in 2010. Back then and today, we still need to concentrate not on a daily rate versus a single fare, but the total cost of an itinerary.

Rental companies have an opportunity to make their value easier to recognize. How about an app in which a customer can enter the length of stay, expected mileage, and number of planned stops, and see an estimated break-even point between renting and buying rides individually. Adding realistic fuel, parking, and ancillary charges would make the comparison more credible, not less favorable.

Rental has traditionally been marketed as a product with a daily price when it should be presented as an itinerary-based mobility option. The company that helps travelers understand the full cost before they choose may have a greater advantage than the company displaying the lowest initial rate.