A Travel Price Comparison for China Deqin vs. Shanghai for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Deqin 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 Deqin 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: Deqin or Shanghai?

Deqin

Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.

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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Deqin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $64, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $115. 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 Deqin and Shanghai in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Deqin $35
    Shanghai $81
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Deqin $70
    Shanghai $162
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Shanghai

Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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.

Hotels in Deqin


Hotels in Shanghai


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Deqin $18
    Shanghai $3.89

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Shanghai

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.61
  • Two Subway Tickets
    $0.83

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:

  • Private Transfer between Shanghai Pudong Int'l Airport & Hongqiao Airport : $45
  • Private Transfer from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to City Center : $30
  • Private Transfer from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Pudong Airport : $43
  • Tongli and Xitang Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai by Private Transfer: $114
  • Arrival Private Transfer Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai City by Standard Sedan: $74
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai in Business Car : $114
  • Chauffeur service, Limousine airport transfer in Shanghai-English speaking: $51
  • Departure Private Transfer: Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG in Business Car: $114
  • Departure Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Hotel to Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $79
  • Flexible Hours of Private Shanghai Layover or Transfer Tour: $129
  • Guangzhou Airport Transfer by 5 seat standard car: $53
  • Hongqiao Airport (SHA) to Shanghai Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $73

Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Shanghai?

Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Deqin 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Deqin $16
    Shanghai $22

Typical Food Prices in Shanghai

Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:


  • Dumpling Breakfast
    $1.39
  • Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory
    $20
  • Ajisen Lunch for Two
    $7.22
  • Cantelope
    $1.67
  • Dumplings and Soup
    $2.08
  • Duck Dinner
    $4.17
  • Pastries
    $2.92
  • Barbeque Dinner
    $8.89

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.

  • Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
  • Online Cooking Class Dim Sum by Sunflower Li: $20
  • Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
  • Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
  • Private Cooking Class: Make Your Own Dim Sum In Shanghai: $67
  • 2.5hrs Chinese Kitchen Cooking Class: Steamed Colorful Dumplings: $70
  • 2.5hrs Chinese Kitchen Cooking Class: Xiaolongbao Soup Dumplings: $70
  • 3-Hour Biking and Local Food Tour: $71
  • Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $77
  • Late night food tour in Shanghai's French Concession: $85
  • Shanghai Evening Food Tour/Shanghai tour gastronomico nocturno : $85
  • Shanghai Spicy Food Tour: $85

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Deqin $13
    Shanghai $8.48

Typical Entertainment Prices in Shanghai

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:


  • 30 Minute River Cruise for Two
    $28
  • Zoo for Two
    $14

Tours and Activities in Shanghai

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:

  • The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Yuyuan Garden Entrance Ticket: $9.00
  • Shanghai Yu Garden Ticket Booking: $13
  • Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket and Optional Attractions: $14
  • Shanghai Yu Garden Tour:Harmony & Spirituality in Garden Art: $20
  • Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour: $29
  • Shanghai Highlights Walking Tour: $29
  • Like a Local Customized Guided Tour: $35
  • Shanghai Hotels to Wusongkou Cruise Port:Private with Meet & Great service: $38
  • Shanghai Downtown Hotel to Baoshan Cruise Port:Private with Meet & Greet service: $38
  • Shanghai Wusongkou Cruise Port to Hongqiao Airport:Private with Meet service: $40
  • Fudan University Student Guide Tour: $42

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Deqin $11
    Shanghai $7.40

Sample the Local Flavors in Shanghai

Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Shanghai Luxury Bar Crawl in 5-star Hotel or Boutique Hotel: $255


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Deqin and Shanghai, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Deqin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Deqin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Deqin 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 Deqin.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Deqin Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.