Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Beirut or Shanghai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut and Shanghai. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Beirut or Shanghai?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
Shanghai
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".
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Beirut Prices
Lebanon PricesShanghai Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.77Shanghai $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.77, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $140. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Beirut and Shanghai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Shanghai $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Shanghai $174
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Shanghai
Looking for a hotel in Beirut or Shanghai? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Beirut Hotel Prices and Shanghai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Shanghai $4.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer | Beirut Hotel to Airport: $10
- Private Departure Transfer: From your hotel in Beirut to Airport: $10
- Private Arrival Transfer | Beirut Airport to Your Hotel: $10
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $13
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $25
- Beirut-Rafic Hariri Airport Luxury Car Transfer: $70
- Paragliding in Lebanon with Hotel Transfer From Beirut: $192
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Shanghai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:
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Taxi Ride$3.85
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Two Subway Tickets$0.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- Zhujiajiao Water Town Self-Guided Tour with Private Transfer from Shanghai: $75
- Zhouzhuang and Tongli Water Town Private Transfer Service from Shanghai: $106
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area: $18
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $18
- Yiwu Airport Private Transfer, airport pick up drop off services: $20
- Yiwu Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area: $20
- Xitang Water Town Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai with Private Transfer: $100
- Wusongkou Cruise Terminal Shanghai Disney Private Transfer: $55
- Transfer from Shanghai City Center to Pudong Airport: $30
- Transfer From City to Shanghai Pudong Airport （English Driver）: $68
- Tongli Water Town Self-Guided Tour with Private Transfer from Shanghai: $100
- Shared Transfer: from Shanghai Wusongkou Cruise Port to Hotel in Shanghai: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Shanghai?
Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Beirut change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBeirut $1.23Shanghai $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $35
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Beirut Street Food Tour, Lebanon: $85
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Beirut Street Food Tour | Hummus, Knefeh & Manoushe: $135
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers: $142
- Beirut Street Food Tour | 4 Neighbourhoods · All Inclusive: $150
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.48
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$22
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.71
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Cantelope$1.78
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Dumplings and Soup$2.22
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Duck Dinner$4.45
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Pastries$3.11
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Barbeque Dinner$9.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- City Center Authentic Local Food Tour-Tip Based: $3.55
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour with Chi Gua Va: $35
- Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple and Local Food Tour: $49
- 2-Hour Shanghai Street Food Tour: Dumplings, Tea & Old City Bites: $68
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $68
- Market to Table Chinese Cooking Experience: $69
- Shanghai Food Tour and Alleyways to Skyline with 8 Local Eats: $71
- Small Group Shanghai After Dark Food Tour with 9 tastings: $74
- 【ChinaGem】Shanghai Xiaolongbao Cooking Class with Instructor: $75
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26Shanghai $9.04
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos: Small Group Tour with Hotel pickup: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off Citysightseeing Tour & Audio Guide: $30
- Small-Group Tour: Jeita Grotto, Harissa, Byblos with Hotel Pickup: $30
- Beirut Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Private Tour - Explore Anjar Lebanon: $35
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery | Budget Small-Group Tour Beirut: $45
- Guided Small-Group Tour to Jeita, Harissa, Byblos with Lunch: $45
- Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $45
- Sidon, Tyre & Maghdouche | Budget Small-Group Tour From Beirut: $45
- Small-Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harissa & Byblos with Lunch: $45
Typical Entertainment Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:
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30 Minute River Cruise for Two$30
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Zoo for Two$15
Tours and Activities in Shanghai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:
- 1 Day Shanghai Private Tour: $180
- 1 Day Suzhou Private Tour (Departure from Shanghai): $240
- 1-Day Private Tour to Shanghai Museum,Yu Garden, the Bund and Nanjing Road: $190
- 1-Day Shanghai Tour to Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yu Garden and Jade Buddha Temple: $224
- 13 day private tour : Splendid China+ important highlights: $4,106
- 2-Day Zhujiajiao Water Town, Shanghai and Suzhou Private Tour: $300
- 2-Hour In-Depth Private Tour of Shanghai Bund: $64
- 2-Hour Yu Garden in Oldcity and Cricket Boxing Culture Experience: $104
- 2.5-Hour Private Shanghai Bund Walking Tour including Local Dumpling Tasting: $62
- 3 Day Private Highlights Tour of Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai: $818
- 3-Hour Old and New Street Poster Tour in Shanghai: $74
- 3-Hour Private Tour to Jewish Ghetto and Shanghai Bund: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Shanghai $7.89
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut (Entrance Fee Included): $91
- Private Baalbek Temples & Ksara Wine Tour | From Beirut: $100
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun from Beirut: $100
- Private Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour from Beirut: $100
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
- PRIVATE Wine Tour in Central Bekaa Valley: $113
- Discover Wine Tasting Lebanese Tour Experience: $170
- Half-Day Private Chateau Musar and Ixsir Wine Tour from Beirut: $186
- Full-Day Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour from Beirut: $234
Sample the Local Flavors in Shanghai
Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Shanghai Bar Crawl: TCM Cocktails & Local Craft Beer: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Shanghai, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East and Shanghai is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Shanghai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shanghai than you might in Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Shanghai?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Beirut. When comparing the sizes of Beirut and Shanghai, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Beirut or Shanghai?
Shanghai has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Beirut experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Beirut or Shanghai in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Beirut as well as Shanghai. Beirut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.
Beirut is around the same temperature as Shanghai in the summer. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Shanghai fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beirut this time of the year. In the summer, Beirut often gets more sunshine than Shanghai. Beirut gets 369 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shanghai receives 232 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Shanghai. Beirut usually gets less rain in July than Shanghai. Beirut gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeirut 27°C (81°F)Shanghai 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Shanghai in the Autumn?
Both Shanghai and Beirut are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Beirut throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Shanghai for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Beirut is a little warmer than Shanghai. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Beirut in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Shanghai averages at about 19°C (65°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beirut. Beirut usually receives more sunshine than Shanghai during autumn. Beirut gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Shanghai receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Beirut usually receives around the same amount of rain as Shanghai. Beirut gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeirut 25°C (77°F)Shanghai 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Shanghai in the Winter?
Both Shanghai and Beirut during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Beirut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Shanghai in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Shanghai can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Beirut is generally much warmer than Shanghai. Daily temperatures in Beirut average around 13°C (55°F), and Shanghai fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
In the winter, Beirut often gets more sunshine than Shanghai. Beirut gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shanghai receives 135 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Beirut. Beirut usually gets more rain in January than Shanghai. Beirut gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeirut 13°C (55°F)Shanghai 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Shanghai in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Beirut and Shanghai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Beirut year-round. Also, most visitors come to Shanghai for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Beirut is a little warmer than Shanghai in the spring. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Shanghai fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
In Beirut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beirut usually receives more sunshine than Shanghai during spring. Beirut gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Shanghai receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.
Shanghai receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Beirut usually receives less rain than Shanghai. Beirut gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeirut 17°C (63°F)Shanghai 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Shanghai and Beirut
| Beirut | Shanghai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
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.