Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Shanghai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Shanghai? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Eilat or Shanghai?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Shanghai $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $107. 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 Eilat and Shanghai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Shanghai $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Shanghai $162
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Shanghai
Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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: Eilat Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Shanghai $3.87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
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$3.59
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Two Subway Tickets$0.83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- private transfer from Wusongkou CruisePort to Disneyland and back: $64
- [Airport Transfer] Shanghai Pudong Airport / Hongqiao Airport ⇔ Shanghai City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $27
- Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Self-Guide 10-Hour Private Transfer Tour: $138
- Zhujiajiao Water Town Self-Guided Tour with Private Transfer from Shanghai: $75
- Zhouzhuang and Tongli Water Town Private Transfer Service from Shanghai : $103
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $18
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $18
- Yiwu City Private Transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport : $74
- Xitang Water Town Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai with Private Transfer: $100
- Wuzhen and Xitang Water Town Private Transfer from Shanghai: $132
- Wusongkou Cruise Terminal to Hongqiao Airport Chauffeur Service, Port Transfer: $87
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Shanghai APT-HTL (PVG,SHA): $51
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Shanghai?
Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Eilat 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 dayEilat $35Shanghai $21
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.38
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$20
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.19
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Cantelope$1.66
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Dumplings and Soup$2.07
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Duck Dinner$4.15
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Pastries$2.90
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Barbeque Dinner$8.85
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 Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li : $20
- Online Cooking Class Dim Sum by Sunflower Li: $20
- 3-Hour Biking and Local Food Tour: $69
- 2.5hrs Chinese Kitchen Cooking Class: Xiaolongbao Soup Dumplings: $70
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Late night food tour in Shanghai's French Concession: $85
- Shanghai Evening Food Tour/Shanghai tour gastronomico nocturno : $85
- Late Night Food Tour in the Shanghai's French Concession: $89
- Eat Like A Local: Shanghai Night Food Tour: $90
- Shanghai's Koreatown Food Tour: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Shanghai $8.44
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $64
- Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Red Canyon: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
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:
- Private Shanghai Flexible City Highlight Tour with Night Cruise: $221
- Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights: $108
- Shanghai Layover Tour to Xinchang Water Town with City Highlights Option : $135
- Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Museum Private Shanghai Day Tour: $175
- water village of shagnhai tour: $248
- 1 Day Shanghai Private Tour: $180
- 1 Days Shanghai Quality Group Tour: $110
- 1 day Shanghai City Mini Group tour: $92
- 1 day Shanghai to Hangzhou Mini Group Tour: $131
- 1 day Shanghai to Suzhou Garden Mini Group tour: $116
- 1-Day Private Shanghai City Tour to See Its Past, Present and Future: $229
- 1-Day Private Tour to Shanghai Museum,Yu Garden, the Bund and Nanjing Road: $190
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Shanghai $7.36
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: unique bar-hopping tour 2024: $20
- Shanghai Luxury Bar Crawl in 5-star Hotel or Boutique Hotel: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Shanghai, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Shanghai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat 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 Eilat Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Shanghai?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 320 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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 Eilat or Shanghai?
Shanghai has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Eilat experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Eilat or Shanghai in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Shanghai. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Eilat can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Shanghai. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 33°C (91°F), 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 Eilat this time of the year. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Shanghai. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shanghai receives 232 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Shanghai. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Shanghai. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEilat 33°C (91°F)Shanghai 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Shanghai in the Autumn?
Both Shanghai and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.
Eilat is a little warmer than Shanghai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Shanghai fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Shanghai during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Shanghai receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Shanghai. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 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 OctoberEilat 26°C (79°F)Shanghai 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Shanghai in the Winter?
Both Shanghai and Eilat during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Shanghai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Shanghai. In the winter, Eilat is much warmer than Shanghai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Eilat in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Shanghai averages at about 4°C (39°F).
It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the winter, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Shanghai. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shanghai receives 135 hours of full sun.
Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Shanghai. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 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 JanuaryEilat 14°C (57°F)Shanghai 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Shanghai in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Shanghai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Also, many visitors come to Shanghai in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Eilat is generally much warmer than Shanghai. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 24°C (75°F), and Shanghai fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Shanghai during spring. Eilat gets 282 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, Eilat usually receives less rain than Shanghai. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEilat 24°C (75°F)Shanghai 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Shanghai and Eilat
| Eilat | Shanghai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 6 mm (0.2 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.