Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

GO Rentals Analyzes Cost Difference Between Rental Car, Uber, Taxi

New Zealand-based GO Rentals has researched Uber prices, taxi prices, and worldwide rental car rates to come up with the answer, depending on where you are in the world.

by Staff
October 3, 2017
GO Rentals Analyzes Cost Difference Between Rental Car, Uber, Taxi

Logo courtesy of GO Rentals

3 min to read


Logo courtesy of GO Rentals

After flying into your destination, which is the most cost-effective way to travel once you step off the airplane? Choices include a rental car, an Uber (or car-hailing service), or a traditional metered taxi.

New Zealand-based GO Rentals has researched Uber prices, taxi prices, and worldwide rental car rates to come up with the answer, depending on where you are in the world.

Ad Loading...

“There are multiple variables which must be considered when choosing how to get around and which will influence the final cost and convenience,” said James Dalglish, general manager of GO Rentals. “And more than that, the absolute cost also depends quite strongly on just precisely where in the world you are.”

For example, if you are traveling on your own and only need to go from one place to another (and you know between which two places you will travel), then an Uber or a taxi are the first choices. If you need transport, but aren’t sure of the times, places, or areas to which you will travel, a rental car can be a better option. Uber vehicles and taxis tend to operate in densely populated areas.

Aside from those considerations, other considerations include traveling with small children or large families or carrying bulky luggage like sports equipment.

“We’ve analyzed 85 cities around the world from Adelaide to Zurich and everywhere in between to work out whether it’s cheaper to rent a car, get an Uber, or jump in a taxi to the city center from the airport,” said Dalglish. “And we’ve sorted the comparison in Kiwi dollars to make it easy to see for yourself which option is best before embarking on that overseas jaunt.”

In New Zealand dollars, Milan is the best place to rent a car, as a return taxi ride will set you back $243.50 (151.32 euros) compared to a rental car which costs $40.74 (25.31 euros) for a day, according to the research. For U.S. dollars, it costs $29.19 for a one-day car rental and $87.25 to get a return taxi ride.

Ad Loading...

Auckland is ranked second on the list, with that taxi journey costing $89.70 compared with a daily rental at $37. This figure has climbed since GO Rentals first conducted the same research three years ago.

Then there’s Uber and other car-hailing services such as Lyft or BlaBlaCar. While only Uber was analyzed for this research, it has proven a cost-effective alternative to a taxi — or in some cases a car rental, depending on your travel needs.

Uber is cheaper than taxis in most cities around the world, according to the research. For example, it costs 163% more to take a taxi from the airport to the city in Birmingham in the U.K. than it is to take an Uber — $78.31 in a taxi versus $29.76 in an Uber one way, according to the report.

Unless traveling solely from the airport to the city, a rental car is generally cheaper than either Uber or metered taxi, according to the research. For the ranking, the cost of renting a car considers only the cheapest, basic per-day cost and doesn’t include factors such as fuel and insurance.

GO Rental’s table looks at various cities around the world in the cost of getting from the airport to the city center. The table also shows the costs in various types of currencies.

Ad Loading...

Click here for the table in New Zealand dollars.

Click here for the table in U.S. dollars.

More Rental Operations

plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownSeptember 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operationsby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana

The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.

Read More →
A traveler searches for rental cars with an AI bot
Rental OperationsSeptember 14, 2026

When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?

As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)

Read More →
Ad Loading...
map of europe and summer car rental rates
Rental OperationsSeptember 11, 2026

European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country

Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.

Read More →
thumbnail of Chris Brown and Mike DeLorenzo with title Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownSeptember 8, 2026

Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?

As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.

Read More →
Woman receiving car rental rates on computer from AI agent
Rental OperationsSeptember 1, 2026

Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental

Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)

Read More →
Ad Loading...
map of globe with regional corporate car rental rates
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 25, 2026

U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%

Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.

Read More →
Sixt H1 financial results
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 14, 2026

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026

Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.

Read More →
Bobby Klyce in memoriam image
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 13, 2026

In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend

The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Vibe coding webinar promo image
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 12, 2026

How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]

A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.

Read More →
Ad Loading...