Should you visit Shanghai or Beijing?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Shanghai and Beijing. 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. So, let's dig into it.
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".
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
Which city is cheaper, Beijing or Shanghai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $99, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $67. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Shanghai and Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $140 for a double occupancy room in Shanghai.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Beijing is $68. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Shanghai is $3.35 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $6.61 per day to get around in Beijing.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Shanghai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:
-
Taxi Ride
$3.88
-
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 Transfer service Mini Group package:
$146
-
1-way Private Transfer From Shanghai Pudong Airport to Hangzhou:
$123
-
1-way Private Transfer From Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou New District-SND:
$117
-
1-way Transfer Between Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Kunshan Per Vehicle Price:
$74
-
1-way Transfer Between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Jiaxing:
$153
-
1-way Transfer Between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Kunshan Per Vehicle Price:
$95
-
1-way Transfer Between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Yiwu Per Vehicle Price:
$388
-
1-way Transfer Between Shanghai and Nanxun Water Town Per Vehicle Price:
$164
-
1-way Transfer Between Shanghai and Wuzhen Water Town Per Vehicle Price:
$159
-
1-way Transfer Between Shanghai and Zhouzhuang Water Town Per Vehicle Price:
$93
-
1-way Transfer between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Changshu Per Vehicle Price:
$135
-
1way Transfer from Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou Downtown:
$48
Typical Local Transportation prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beijing Train Stations:
$20
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Beijing Train Stations to Hotel:
$20
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Beijing to Beijing Capital Int. Airport (PEK):
$21
-
Transfer from Beijing hotel downtown to Beijing International Airport:
$21
-
Beijing Airport Transfer:
$21
-
Private Airport Transfer: Beijing Nanyuan Airport (NAY) to Beijing:
$23
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Beijing to Beijing Nanyuan Airport (NAY):
$23
-
Beijing Railway Station Departure Transfer: Hotel/Apartment to Railway Station:
$23
-
Private airport transfer to or from Peking International Airport max 15 Persons:
$23
-
Private airport transfer to or from Peking International Airport Max 15 persons:
$24
-
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Private Departure Transfer:
$24
-
Private Airport Transfer: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Beijing:
$24
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing and Shanghai 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
The average traveler spends about $19 per day in Shanghai for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Beijing travelers spend around $18 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Shanghai $19
Beijing $18
Typical Food prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
-
Online Chinese Cooking Class:
$22
-
Old Shanghai Breakfast Food Tour:
$52
-
3-Hour Shanghai Summer Night Local Dinner and Shopping Private Tour:
$65
-
Private Chinese Cooking Class in Shanghai with Vegetarian Option:
$69
-
Private Authentic Chinese Cooking Class in Shanghai with a Lovely Local:
$70
-
3-Hour Shanghai City Walking Tour with Dinner:
$74
-
Shanghai yummy food tour:
$75
-
A Bite of Shanghai Small-Group Food Tour:
$80
-
Shanghai Hairy Crab Dinner:
$85
-
Shanghai Evening Food Tour/Shanghai tour gastronomico nocturno:
$85
-
Night Market & Street Food Tour in Shanghai:
$95
-
3-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai Night Tour with Local Dinner Option:
$100
Typical Food prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
-
Online Cooking Class:
$25
-
Private Temple of Heaven Walking Tour with Peking Duck Dinner or Kung Fu Show:
$62
-
3 hours Morning or Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street and Tea Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Tour:
$69
-
Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour:
$69
-
Old Beijing Dinner Tour:
$80
-
Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing:
$90
-
Vegetarian / Peking Duck / Hotpot Dinner with Kungfu Show Private Tour:
$90
-
Private Evening Hutong Walking Tour with Mongolia Hotpot Dinner:
$96
-
Private Nightlife Trip to See Wonderful Acrobatic Show Enjoy Delicious Barbecue Buffet Dinner:
$96
-
Peking Duck Dinner with Face Changing show plus Full Body Massage:
$98
-
Private Tour: Beijing by Night including Imperial Performance and Dinner:
$98
-
Half Day Food Tour with Public Transit of Breakfast or Local Street Snacks:
$99
Entertainment
Shanghai's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $7.29 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $21 per person, per day in Beijing. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Typical Entertainment prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Shanghai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:
-
half day tour of shanghai:
$5.34
-
Shanghai Yu Garden Ticket Booking:
$10
-
Shanghai Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Admission Ticket:
$11
-
Shanghai Maglev Train Ticket and Metro Pass(Pick Up in Shanghai):
$12
-
Day Tour of Zhujiajiao and Huangpu River with Night Cruise:
$16
-
Shanghai Jinmao Tower Observation Desk Admission Ticket:
$18
-
Buddhist Art Tour at LWH Gallery in Shanghai:
$23
-
Shanghai Bus Tour Hop-on Hop-off Premium Ticket including City Top Attraction Admissions:
$30
-
Like a Local Customized Guided Tour:
$30
-
Shanghai Tower Observation Deck Admission Ticket:
$31
-
Shanghai Downtown Hotel to Baoshan Cruise Port:Private with Meet & Greet service:
$38
-
Shanghai Hotels to Wusongkou Cruise Port:Private with Meet & Great service:
$38
Typical Entertainment prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Entry to Summer Palace for Two
$8.96
-
Two Opera Tickets
$63
-
Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)
$10
-
Forbidden City (for 2)
$18
-
Forbidden City Tickets
$18
-
Audio Guides at Forbidden City
$12
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Temple of Heaven Tickets Booking:
$4.00
-
MTY test product for tours:
$5.00
-
Beijing Summer Palace Admission Ticket:
$5.13
-
Train Tickets in China:
$5.34
-
Private Tailor made tour for your family only in China around:
$5.34
-
Beijing National Center for the Performing Arts Admission Ticket:
$6.45
-
Beijing Temple of Heaven Admission Ticket:
$7.06
-
Summer Palace Tickets Booking:
$8.00
-
Beijing Forbidden City Entrance Ticket (with Optional Guided Service):
$8.21
-
Beijing Automobile Museum Admission Ticket:
$8.71
-
Skip the Line: Beijing Forbidden City Admission Ticket:
$8.80
-
Skip the Line: Forbidden City Tickets & Optional Guide Tours:
$8.88
Alcohol
The average person spends about $6.36 on alcoholic beverages in Shanghai per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Beijing may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $10 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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
-
3 Hour Local Craft Beer Crawl with Brewery Tour:
$350
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
-
Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing:
$138
-
5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing:
$178
-
Private Wonderful Beijing Bar Crawl Tour:
$195
-
Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit:
$228
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and Beijing, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.
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