Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Doha?
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 Doha or Shanghai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Shanghai can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Shanghai?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesShanghai Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $245Shanghai $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $141. 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 Doha and Shanghai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $120Shanghai $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $240Shanghai $174
Compare Hotels in Doha and Shanghai
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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: Doha Hotel Prices and Shanghai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Shanghai $4.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Hamad DOH Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $17
- Private Car Transfer from Doha City: $20
- Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $25
- Doha Airport HIA to Hotel Transfer by Standard Vehicle One Way: $28
- Doha Airport Transfers Taxi: $30
- Doha Airport Chauffeur Transfer One Way: $35
- From North of Qatar Guided Tour with Transfers: $35
- Airport Transfer TO or FROM Hammad International Airport: $39
- Doha to Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Private Doha Airport Transfer | Hamad Airport (DOH): $40
- Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Qatar Doha - Private Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha Port: $50
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$3.88
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Two Subway Tickets$0.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- 1 Day-Pass for Disneyland Shanghai and Private Transfer Package: $245
- 3-hour Private Transfer to Shanghai ERA Acrobatic Show from City Center: $53
- Arrival Private Transfer Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai by Sedan: $61
- Arrival Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Hotel: $79
- Departure Private Transfer: Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG in Business Car: $118
- Departure Transfer from Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG by Sedan: $61
- ERA Acrobatics Show Ticket with Private Transfer: $54
- Flexible Hours of Private Shanghai Layover or Transfer Tour: $129
- Hongqiao Airport (SHA) to Shanghai Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- Hongqiao Airport (SHA): Private Transfer To/From Shanghai Hotels: $61
- Hotel in Shanghai to Shanghai Wusongkou Cruise Port Private Transfer: $36
- Madame Tussauds Shanghai Ticket with Transfers: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Shanghai?
Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Doha 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 dayDoha $106Shanghai $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Traditional Dhow Cruise Dinner with BBQ Buffet & Transfers: $22
- Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $23
- Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
- Traditional Arabian Dhow Cruise with Sunset and Skyline Dinner: $40
- Moonlight on Marina Traditional Dhow Cruise With Optional Dinner: $42
- Traditional Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner on board: $43
- Traditional Arabic Food Tour @ Souq Waqif with Doha Skyline Views: $43
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $47
- Private Souk Waqif Tour with Lunch/Dinner: $85
- Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
- Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride: $149
- 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.49
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$22
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.76
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Cantelope$1.79
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Dumplings and Soup$2.24
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Duck Dinner$4.48
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Pastries$3.14
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Barbeque Dinner$9.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- 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 Jade Buddha Temple and Local Food Tour: $49
- Shanghai Cultural Food Tour with Michelin Listed Dumplings: $55
- Shanghai After Dark Food Tour with 9 Authentic Tastings: $61
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $69
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour by Walking or Cycling: $80
- Shanghai Cooking Dumpling and Taste Local Food w/Vegan Option: $84
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Shanghai $9.11
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dhow Boat Cruise with Sun Set at Al Safliya Island: $20
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $23
- Doha Complete Experience: City Tour,Desert & InlandSea in One Day: $28
- Doha 4 Hours City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $29
- Doha City Sightseeing Tour To All Main Attractions: $29
- Guided City Tour with Airport and Hotel Pickup: $29
- Doha Desert Safari Adventure CamelRide, DuneBashing & Inland Sea: $29
- Half Day Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Inland Sea Tour: $29
- Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
- Doha Private City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $30
- Moonlight on The Gulf A Doha Dhow Cruise Adventure: $30
- Doha Adventure Sandbord Buggy Sunset Sunrise stargazing: $35
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:
- Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.43
- Shanghai Highlights Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.43
- Beijing: Zhongshan Park Entrance Ticket: $3.50
- French Concession Multicultural Walking Tour: $4.00
- Shanghai City Walking Tour: $4.00
- Customized Private Tour in Shanghai The Bund Yu Garden Zhujiajiao: $5.00
- French Concession Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st & Best Rated: $5.00
- Evening Walking Tour at the Bund: $5.00
- Podcast Tour Shanghai Shadows of the Shikumen: $5.49
- Shanghai Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 22 audio reviews: $6.77
- Shanghai Yu Garden Admission Ticket: $9.67
- Yuyuan Garden Entrance Ticket: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Shanghai $7.95
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
- Cheers, Beers and No Fears: Shanghai Bar Crawl: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Shanghai, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Shanghai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha 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 Shanghai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shanghai 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Shanghai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Shanghai?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Doha 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.
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.