Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg or Shanghai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Shanghai or Gothenburg?
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 Shanghai and Gothenburg. 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: Shanghai or Gothenburg?
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".
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $115Gothenburg $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $115, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is $98. 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 Shanghai and Gothenburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $81Gothenburg $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $162Gothenburg $80
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Gothenburg
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Gothenburg? 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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shanghai $3.87Gothenburg $18
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
- Zhouzhuang and Tongli Water Town Private Transfer Service from Shanghai : $103
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $18
- Yiwu City Private Transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport : $74
- Yiwu Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $20
- Yiwu Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $20
- Xitang Water Town Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai with Private Transfer: $100
- Wusongkou Cruise Terminal to Pudong Airport Chauffeur Service, Port Transfer: $95
- Wusongkou Cruise Terminal Share Transfer Service, Baoshan Port Pick up Service: $29
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Shanghai APT-HTL (PVG,SHA): $51
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in ShangHai HTL-APT (PVG,SHA): $51
- Transfer From City to Shanghai Pudong Airport （English Driver）: $68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg Airport (GOT) to Goteborg Port: $50
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Goteborg Cruise Port to Gothenburg City: $65
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $65
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Gothenburg?
Prices for flights to both Gothenburg 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
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Food Meals for one dayShanghai $21Gothenburg $38
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$7.18
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Cantelope$1.66
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Dumplings and Soup$2.07
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Duck Dinner$4.14
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Pastries$2.90
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Barbeque Dinner$8.83
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
- 3-Hour Biking and Local Food Tour: $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
- Chinese Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit: $90
- Shanghai's Koreatown Food Tour: $91
- 4-Hour Food Tour in Qibao Water Town from Shanghai by Subway: $95
- 3-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai Night Tour with Local Dinner Option: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.42Gothenburg $16
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
- Yiwu International Trade City Private Day Tour from Shanghai by Bullet Train: $183
- Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Museum Private Shanghai Day Tour: $175
- Zhouzhuang Water Town Self-Guided Day Tour from Shanghai: $88
- water village of shagnhai tour: $248
- 1 Day Shanghai Airport Layover Private Tour for City Highlights: $202
- 1 Day Shanghai Highlight Small Group Tour: $124
- 1 Day Shanghai Private Tour: $180
- 1 Days Shanghai Quality Group Tour: $110
- 1 day Shanghai City Mini Group tour: $92
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $37
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.35Gothenburg $21
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 - Bar-hopping/Night life tour: $27
- Shanghai Luxury Bar Crawl in 5-star Hotel or Boutique Hotel: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and Gothenburg, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shanghai is in Asia and Gothenburg is in Europe, 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 Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Gothenburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shanghai or Gothenburg?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai and Gothenburg, 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 Shanghai or Gothenburg?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Shanghai or Gothenburg in the Summer?
Both Gothenburg and Shanghai during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.
In the summer, Shanghai is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Shanghai in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 16°C (61°F).
In Gothenburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Shanghai. In the summer, Shanghai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Gothenburg. Shanghai gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 243 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. Shanghai usually gets more rain in July than Gothenburg. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyShanghai 28°C (83°F)Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Gothenburg in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Gothenburg. Many travelers come to Shanghai for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Shanghai is generally much warmer than Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 19°C (65°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
Shanghai usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during autumn. Shanghai gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 94 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Shanghai gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberShanghai 19°C (65°F)Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Gothenburg in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Gothenburg. Many visitors come to Shanghai in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Gothenburg can be very cold during winter. Shanghai can get quite cold in the winter. Shanghai is much warmer than Gothenburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Gothenburg fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Shanghai often gets more sunshine than Gothenburg. Shanghai gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 40 hours of full sun.
Shanghai usually gets less rain in January than Gothenburg. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryShanghai 4°C (39°F)Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Gothenburg in the Spring?
Both Gothenburg and Shanghai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Shanghai for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Shanghai is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Shanghai in April average around 15°C (58°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 5°C (41°F).
Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Gothenburg during spring. Shanghai gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Shanghai. In April, Shanghai usually receives more rain than Gothenburg. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilShanghai 15°C (58°F)Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Shanghai
| Shanghai | Gothenburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 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.