Realize also that Uber prices in NYC are the highest in the nation AFAIK. They are significantly higher than places like Philly and Washington DC. They are even higher than London, England in my experience. That allows the drivers to make a living. And most of the Ubers I take in NYC are with drivers who have been with Uber for more than 3 years. If they weren't making money, they wouldn't be doing it for that long.