How Skipping Uber Eats for a Direct Uber Ride Saves Money on Your Next Meal

The convenience of ordering McDonald’s through Uber Eats is tempting—yet it may not be the most budget-friendly choice. Surprisingly, taking an Uber to the restaurant and picking up your order could actually save you money. Here’s why opting for a direct Uber ride instead of using Uber Eats might be worth considering.

Why Uber Eats Orders Cost More

Ordering from Uber Eats or Mr D can quickly inflate your meal costs. To stay profitable, these platforms charge restaurants a commission—typically 15% to 30% on each order. Additionally, processing and marketing fees can also be applied, resulting in higher prices. To compensate, restaurants often increase menu prices for items ordered through Uber Eats.

MyBroadband’s research found that popular chains like McDonald’s, Nando’s, Roman’s Pizza, and Simply Asia can mark up prices by as much as 32.9% on delivery apps. Even when choosing “Collection” on these platforms, users still pay a service fee.

The Uber Ride Experiment: When a Direct Trip Wins Out

Recently, MyBroadband conducted a comparison: they calculated the total cost of ordering food through Uber Eats versus taking a two-way Uber ride to collect a McDonald’s order directly. Here’s what they found.

For a 7.8 km round trip, an Uber Ride costs R88, while Uber Eats’ delivery fee from the same McDonald’s branch was only R16. However, when factoring in menu price mark-ups and additional Uber Eats service fees, ordering through the app ended up costing 44.3% more than the direct Uber ride.

For example, the cost breakdown for the following items revealed notable savings:

Big Mac Regular Meal with Coke Zero: R66.90 in-store vs. R87.00 on Uber Eats
10-piece Chicken McNuggets: R63.90 in-store vs. R83.10 on Uber Eats
Two Oreo McFlurries: R79.80 in-store vs. R103.60 on Uber Eats

The total for the direct pickup option, including Uber Ride fares, was R298.60, while Uber Eats came to R303.90—excluding a tip. Opting to use Uber Ride saved about R5.30 on this order.

Additional Considerations

Whether you should opt for Uber Ride and pick up your food directly or stick with Uber Eats depends on several factors:

Order value: For larger orders (over R300), a direct Uber Ride could lead to savings.
Distance: Shorter distances favour Uber Eats, as its delivery fees are often lower than Uber Ride costs over small distances.
Time of day: Uber Ride fares can fluctuate due to demand and traffic conditions, potentially raising costs.

Alternatives: Save on Delivery Fees

If driving to the restaurant is an option, you’ll save even more, as a 7.8 km trip typically uses less than R88 worth of fuel. Alternatively, services like McDonald’s McDelivery offer lower-cost deliveries (R15) directly from the restaurant. This option maintains in-store prices and may be a cost-effective middle ground for McDonald’s fans.

Final Thoughts

For those looking to save, skipping Uber Eats in favour of a direct Uber Ride or alternative delivery service could be a smart move, especially on larger orders. Whether it’s a Big Mac craving or a late-night snack run, evaluating your options can make the difference in enjoying convenience without overpaying.

Also read: Uber vs Bolt: Which one is the Cheapest e-Hailing Service?