Any time you take an UberX in the US or Canada, you see a 'Safe Rides' fee tacked onto your bill.It used to only be $1, regardless of where you were in the two countries, but an update to the way the company calculates the fee means some users will be dishing out a lot more dough just because of their zip code.The $1 fee, introduced in April 2014, was a way for Uber to recoup the costs of running its background checks and providing 24/7 support to its riders.But apparently the price of your "safety"as its name suggestdepends a lot on where you live.Business Insider pored through the fees Uber charges in various locations and discovered interesting variations. Riding an Uber in places like Detroit and Southern California's "Inland Empire" costs twice as much in safety fees as in Fargo, for example. Reno, Las Vegas and Chicago are among the cheapest.So what gives' Is Uber making some kind of statement about each city's relative risks and the costs of finding drivers with clean rap-sheets and good driving skills'"Our safe rides fee will now vary city by city. This is to reflect the fact that in some cities the costs associated with providing a safe, reliable ride-sharing service have increased -- including improved 24-hour support, background checks, new in-app safety features and insurance. We are notifying riders and drivers as the change goes into effect in their city," an Uber spokesperson told us.It's a small update, but Uber passengers were outraged initially to have to pay a fee for a "safe ride." The company is even facing a lawsuit over the term that was filed in 2014. Lyft, Uber's main competitor in the US, also has its own version of a "Trust and Safety Fee," which is typically around $1.55, but also varies by city.The new algorithm takes into account insurance costs, along with number of trips in the city and the cost of operating in each location. Surprisingly, many obvious markets like San Francisco and Washington D.C. stayed at a lower cost, while locations like retirement destination Fort Myers now cost more than $2.Here's how the new 'Safe Rides' fees stack up in different cities:SEE ALSO:Uber finally unleashes its FedEx killer, Uber RushFree - New York City. You would think that New York City would cost users a lot, but the way the regulations are set up in the Big Apple means that it's controlled by the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission. NYC riders have never had to pay a safe rides fee. The only other city to be free' Halifax, Canada.$1 - Las Vegas. It may be Sin City, but the cost of your safe rides fee in Las Vegas is among the lowest in the country. The other cities not to feel a price bump include Ames, Athens (GA), Bloomington-Normal (IL), Bowling Green, Burlington, Champaign, Chicago, Columbia (MO), Eastern Idaho, Flagstaff, Florida Keys, Gainesville, Lafayette, Lawrence, Manhattan, Quebec City, Reno, Stillwater, and Tallahassee.$1.05 - Honolulu. Vacationers and natives alike will have to pay an extra five cents compared to the old safety fee when they visit Honolulu. After all, the city was just named the worst place to drive, according to Waze. Other cities in this tier include Boise, Chattanooga, Erie, Las Cruces, Springfield (IL), and State College.See the rest of the story at Business Insider NOW WATCH: This Excel trick will save you time and impress your boss
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