Is Instacart worth it after expenses?
It depends on your city, hours, and whether you count wear, insurance, and tax set-asides. As of 2026-08-24, WillDrivingPay typical Instacart nets among covered metros run from about $4.83/hr (Madison) up to about $5.72/hr (Boston) for a compact gas car at 25 hours/week. If your optimistic (fuel-focused) reading still clears your hourly goal after taxes, Instacart can be worth it; if the conservative reading (with a car payment) does not, treat it as a short-term fill-in—not a full-time plan.
How to decide in your market
- Open your city planner and set real hours.
- Compare typical vs optimistic vs conservative postures.
- Cross-check a second app on the same city (see compares).
- Read the tax guide so SE tax is not a surprise.