Is Shanghai Expensive?

Is Shanghai expensive to visit?

Shanghai is a moderately priced destination with an average daily cost of $115. Compared to the rest of Asia, it is a somewhat more expensive place to visit. It's ranked in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its overall travel costs, comparable to places like Tainan City and Tokyo.

Shanghai, China

How expensive is Shanghai?

On average, visitors spend about $115 per day when visiting Shanghai (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $230 per day. Prices vary dramatically by travel style and length of trip, but if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and use public transportation when possible, you can expect to stay close to this budget. See more travel costs for Shanghai here.

How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Shanghai?

A weekend trip to Shanghai costs about $345 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $689.

How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Shanghai?

Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to Shanghai costs around $804 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,609.

Is it expensive to backpack in Shanghai?

Shanghai is a fairly popular backpacker destination with more than 9 hostels around town. Dorm beds in hostels cost around $21 per night on average. There's a wide range in prices though, with the cheapest beds costing about $7 and the most expensive dorm beds costing around $62. (See hostel prices in Shanghai here.)

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Shanghai.

• $62 for a dorm bed at Dayin International Youth Hostel
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• $15 for a dorm bed at WeFlow Hostel
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• $16 for a dorm bed at WeFlow Hostel(Shanghai Xintiandi)
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How expensive are sightseeing activities in Shanghai?

Activities and things to do in Shanghai can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $8 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is less than the country's average of $17.

• Full-Day Private Guided Tour of Shanghai: $99
• Shanghai Breakfast Walking Tour of Former French Concession: $77
• 4-Hour Shanghai City Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $91
• 3-Hour Private Tour to Jewish Ghetto and Shanghai Bund: $90
• Private Shanghai Airport Layover Tour with Flexible Highlights : $150
• Flexible Half Day Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town with Boat Ride from Shanghai : $143
• Afternoon Tea and Dessert Tour on the Huaihai Road in Shanghai: $82
• All-inclusive Customized Shanghai Layover Tour: $210

Is food expensive in Shanghai?

Food in Shanghai can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $21 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $23. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.

• Private Cooking Class: Make Your Own Dim Sum In Shanghai: $67
• Evening Thai Dinner and Huangpu River Cruise in Shanghai: $165
• Private Home Cooking Class with Shanghai Mama: $199
• 2.5hrs Chinese Kitchen Cooking Class: Xiaolongbao Soup Dumplings: $70
• Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li : $20
• Private Chinese Dim Sum Cooking Class in Shanghai: $141

Is transportation expensive in Shanghai?

The prices of local transportation in Shanghai can vary by the type of transit used. Other travelers have spent an average of $4 on local transportation per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $16. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.

More for Shanghai

If you're planning a trip to Shanghai, China, check out these other informative travel guides.

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.