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 $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $132. 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 $119Shanghai $82
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Shanghai $164
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Shanghai $3.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - West Bay: $20
- Sharing Arrival Transfer - Pearl Qatar: $27
- Doha : City Tour To All Main Attractions Including Transfers: $30
- Doha Airport (DOH) Private Transfer to Doha City Centre/Hotels: $32
- Transfer from Hamad Airport to Doha City - Stress-Free Tranafer: $40
- Doha to Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Private transfer from Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha city: $42
- Doha Private Airport and City Transfers: $48
- Doha Airport Transfer Services with Pickup and Drop Off : $49
- Private Transfer from Doha Port to Doha Hamad Airport (DOH): $53
- Private Transfer from Doha Cruise Port to Doha City Hotels : $61
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$3.64
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Two Subway Tickets$0.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- Mount Mogan Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai by Private Transfer: $130
- Tongli and Xitang Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai by Private Transfer: $114
- 3-hour Private Transfer to Shanghai ERA Acrobatic Show from City Center: $53
- Amazing Shanghai Night Lights:River Cruise &Private Transfer: $126
- Arrival Private Transfer Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai by Sedan: $60
- Arrival Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Hotel: $79
- Chartered Transfer Vehicle in Shanghai: $200
- Chauffeur service, Limousine airport transfer in Shanghai-English speaking: $51
- Departure Private Transfer: Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG in Business Car: $123
- Departure Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Hotel to Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $79
- Departure Transfer from Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG by Sedan: $60
- ERA Acrobatics Show Ticket with Private Transfer: $54
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 $38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Private Souk Waqif with Lunch or Dinner Tour: $96
- Half Day Doha City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $143
- Qatar Island District Sightseeing, Boat & Food Tour – 7 Tastings: $144
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch or Dinner: $160
- Overnight Desert Safari Adventure:BBQ Dinner & Breakfast Included: $220
- Doha Overnight Camp Desert Safari Tour with Dinner and Breakfast : $230
- Desert Safari 7 Hours Tour with Dinner and Camp: $270
- Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride: $299
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.40
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$20
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.29
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Cantelope$1.68
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Dumplings and Soup$2.10
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Duck Dinner$4.21
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Pastries$2.94
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Barbeque Dinner$8.97
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: $3.58
- Shanghai-Cooking Dumpling & Meal in Local Family-w/Vegan: $6.00
- MingleX Dinner with Shanghai locals: $19
- 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
- Public Chinese Cooking Class in Shanghai : $50
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $68
- Half-Day Biking and Local Food Tour: $69
- Evening Walking Food Tour: $69
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Shanghai $8.55
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $20
- Explore Heart of Qatar Doha City Tour with Professional Guide: $22
- Transit Exclusive Discover Doha Tour: $34
- Picture-Perfect Tour of the City Most Instagrammable Spots: $39
- Moonlight on The Gulf A Doha Dhow Cruise Adventure: $39
- Qatar: Magical Sunset & Skyline View With Traditional Dhow Cruise: $40
- Private City Tour in Doha: $42
- Doha City Tour to Souq Waqif, Katara, Doha Port & Pearl Island: $42
- Doha Guided City Tour : $43
- Doha City Tour: Guided Tour to Souq Waqif, Katara, Pearl Island : $45
- Traditional Dhow Cruise With Sunset & Skyline View: $45
- Private Doha Guided City Tour To All Main Attractions : $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$28
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Zoo for Two$14
Tours and Activities in Shanghai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:
- Shanghai Fuxing INS - All Access Ticket for 7 nightclubs: $1.32
- Yuyuan, City God Temple Old City Tour-Tip Based: $2.35
- Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.58
- Evening Walking Tour at the Bund: $5.00
- French Concession Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st & Best Rated: $5.00
- Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st and Best Rated: $5.00
- Yu Garden Adult Ticket - 09:00 & 12:30 [Option]: $8.46
- Shanghai Yu Garden Tickets with options (near the Bund): $8.50
- Yuyuan Garden Entrance Ticket: $9.00
- The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Shanghai Natural History Museum Ticket Booking: $11
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket and Optional Attractions: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Shanghai $7.46
Sample the Local Flavors in Shanghai
Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 4-Hour Shanghai Pub Crawl (bars & nightclub hopping): $23
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.