How much does it cost to travel to Shanghai?
You should plan to spend around $115 (¥831) per day on your vacation in Shanghai. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $21 (¥155) on meals
- $3.87 (¥28) on local transportation
- $162 (¥1,172) on hotels
A one week trip to Shanghai for two people costs, on average, $1,609 (¥11,636). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Shanghai has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Shanghai expensive to visit?
Prices in Shanghai are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Asia, Shanghai is a somewhat more expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its travel costs. While some cities in the region are more expensive, Shanghai is generally more expensive than most.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Shanghai Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Shanghai?
The average Shanghai trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Shanghai travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
¥1,172
($162)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
¥28
($4)
|
|
Food 2
|
¥155
($21)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
¥61
($8)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
¥21 -
63
($3 - 9)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
¥27 -
80
($4 - 11)
|
Accommodation Budget in Shanghai
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Shanghai is $81 (¥586). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Shanghai is $162 (¥1,172). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Shanghai
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Shanghai is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $3.87 (¥28) per person, per day, on local transportation in Shanghai.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$3.87
¥28
How much does it cost to go to Shanghai? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Shanghai will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in Shanghai are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Shanghai, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Taxi Ride
¥26
-
Two Subway Tickets
¥6.00
Food Budget in Shanghai
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Shanghai can vary, the average cost of food in Shanghai is $21 (¥155) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Shanghai should cost around $8.57 (¥62) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Shanghai is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$21
¥155
Typical prices for Food in Shanghai are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Shanghai, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Shanghai
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Shanghai typically cost an average of $8.44 (¥61) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$8.44
¥61
Typical prices for Entertainment in Shanghai are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Shanghai, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Tips and Handouts Budget in Shanghai
Calculated from travelers like you
Alcohol Budget in Shanghai
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $7.36 (¥53) on alcoholic beverages in Shanghai per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$7.36
¥53
Water Budget in Shanghai
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.96 (¥6.93) on bottled water in Shanghai per day. The public water in Shanghai is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.96
¥6.93
Shanghai On a Budget
Shanghai, China
Shanghai is the largest and most modern city in China. With a population of over 23 million, it is the economic and financial hub of the country. It also continues to be one of the fastest growing cities in China with regular changes to the city's layout and skyline. It is not uncommon for buildings to be torn down, rebuilt and then torn down and rebuilt again. The city also has skyscrapers that rank among the tallest in the world. It has an ever changing downtown and street scape. In Shanghai, the general mantra remains "out with the old, in with the new".
That doesn't mean that Shanghai and its citizens aren't holding tight to some long held traditions. Culture remains a major part of daily life in Shanghai. The city is also a center for arts and culture. From the city's cuisine to its theater and music scene, there is no shortage of entertainment and activities that you can enjoy.
Shanghai's climate is considered humid subtropical. The summer temperatures can reach the high 90's Fahrenheit with a high level of humidity. Thunderstorms are also quite common during the summer months. The typhoon season is between July and September but they are generally uncommon. Winter temperatures rarely climb above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and often drop below freezing at night. Snow is rare but the humidity can make the temperature feel much colder than it actually is.
Sights
There are many sights in Shanghai, but much of the fun comes from simply walking around the changing neighborhoods. A quick visit to the city's Urban Planning Museum gives you a little insight into how quickly it is developing and redeveloping. Other places of interest include the Yuyuan Gardens, Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, Jing'an Temple, Chenghuang and Longhua Temple, and Zhujiajiao Water Town.
Neighborhoods
Shanghai is divided into two parts by the Huangpu River. Puxi is the area west of the river and Pudong is east of the river. Puxi is the older, more central part of the city and Pudong has more modern, high rise development. The inner districts in Puxi include the Bund, Changning, French Concession, Hongkou, Huangpu, Jing'an District, the Old City, Putuo, Yangpu, and Zhabei. Pudong has the disticts of Chongming, Pudong and Zhujiajiao. There are also the western suburbs of Baoshan, Jiading, Qingpu, Northern Songjiang, and Western Minhang as well as the southern suburbs of Jinshan, Fengxian, Southern Songjiang and Eastern Minhang.
Activities
There is no shortage of activities that you can enjoy in Shanghai. Check out the opera, theatre, and music or art scenes to see how Shanghai has embraced its cultural history. If you delve a little deeper, you will find that Shanghai has much more to it than just a glitzy surface. Take advantage of the hole in the wall restaurants where you can try any number of specialties. Head to the international university area where you might be able to get yourself a good deal on a computer or some software. Wander through any of the public parks that dot the city. You'll find residents participating in some impromptu karaoke. There's so much to Shanghai beyond the Bund and Jing Mao Tower (although, these are not to be missed as well).
This dynamic city is also a great destination for the whole family.
Activities for kids in Shanghai include Disneyland, night cruises on the river, the markets and bazaars, the zoo, and more.
Food and Dining
Shanghai's cuisine is world renowned and it has some of the best street food in the country. Food preparation in Shanghai focuses on freshness and flavor. Food is often sweet and sour with very rich flavors. Fish, shrimp, eel, chicken, and crab are all typical ingredients in dishes. Shanghai soup dumplings are perhaps one of the best local specialties, but don't skip the street barbecue, roasted duck, or other delicacies you'll find around town.
Transportation
Furthering its image as a modern Asian city, Shanghai is served by many fast moving bullet trains. It's airport is connected by bullet train to the city center, as are many cities that are not far away.
If you're planning to stay in Shanghai for several days then it is worth purchasing th Shanghai Jiaotong Card. This is a prepaid card that works on the city's
buses, metros and taxis. The cards are available at metro stations as well as convenience stores.
The city's metro has 14 lines with additional lines under construction. The system is constantly growing to meet the changing needs of the city. It is a fast and affordable way to get around and announcements are done in both Mandarin and English so it is relatively easy to navigate. It can get crowded during rush hour.
The bus system is cheap and comprehensive. It is slower than the metro but travels to areas that are not accessible by subway. There are English announcements on most buses.
Taxis are available all over the city. Most drivers don't speak English so it is helpful to have your address, or the nearest intersection written down. Make sure your driver uses the meter during your trip.
There is a ferry that runs between the Bund and Lujiazui financial district. It is a cheap way to cross the river and the ferry is air conditioned. The boats run every ten minutes and take five minutes to cross the river.
Related:
Looking for a
hostel in China?
Traveling alone to
Beijing or
Hong Kong or want to party in
Shanghai?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.