Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Deqin?
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 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.
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Deqin Prices
China PricesShanghai Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDeqin $80Shanghai $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $80, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $139. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeqin $38Shanghai $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeqin $76Shanghai $172
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Deqin $19Shanghai $4.12
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$3.82
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Two Subway Tickets$0.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- 3-hour Private Transfer to Shanghai ERA Acrobatic Show from City Center: $53
- Arrival Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Hotel: $79
- Chauffeur service, Limousine airport transfer in Shanghai-English speaking: $51
- Departure Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Hotel to Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $79
- Flexible Hours of Private Shanghai Layover or Transfer Tour: $129
- Hongqiao Airport (SHA) to Shanghai Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $95
- Hongqiao Airport (SHA): Private Transfer To/From Shanghai Hotels: $46
- Mount Mogan Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai by Private Transfer: $130
- Nantong City Private Transfer from Hongqiao Railway Station: $104
- Nanxun Ancient Water Town Self-Guided Tour with Private Transfer from Shanghai: $123
- PVG Airport Private Transfer to or from Shanghai Disney Resort: $46
- PVG Airport Private Transfer to or from Shanghai Railway Stations: $46
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
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Food Meals for one dayDeqin $29Shanghai $39
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.47
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$21
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.64
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Cantelope$1.76
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Dumplings and Soup$2.20
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Duck Dinner$4.41
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Pastries$3.08
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Barbeque Dinner$9.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- Authentic Local Food Tour In Downtown Shanghai-Tip Based: $3.55
- Online Cooking Class Dim Sum by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li: $20
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour with Chi Gua Va: $35
- Shanghai Huangpu River Night Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $35
- Private Home Cooking Class with local Auntie: $61
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $68
- Authentic Local Food Tour Near the Bund: $71
- Shanghai Breakfast Omakase A Home Cook Food Tour: $71
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Small Group: Shanghai After Dark Food Tour with 9 tastings: $80
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour by Walking or Cycling: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Deqin $13Shanghai $8.96
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$29
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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:
- Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.55
- Evening Walking Tour at the Bund: $5.00
- French Concession Multicultural Walking Tour: $5.00
- Shanghai Evolution Free Walking Tour: $5.00
- French Concession Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st & Best Rated: $5.00
- Shanghai Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 22 audio reviews: $7.00
- Shanghai Yu Garden Admission Ticket: $9.68
- The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Private Shanghai Full Day Tour Yu Garden, Bund and Oriental Pearl: $10
- Shanghai Natural History Museum Ticket Booking: $11
- Shanghai Day Tour with English Guide – Explore Yu Garden & More: $12
- Shanghai Yu Garden Ticket Booking: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeqin $11Shanghai $7.82
Sample the Local Flavors in Shanghai
Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Shanghai Pub Crawl (Guided Bar Hopping) with Shots Included: $26
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?.
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.