Which place is cheaper, Hangzhou or Shanghai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Shanghai or Hangzhou?
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 Hangzhou. 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 Hangzhou?
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".
Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a city in Eastern China, about an hour by train from Shanghai, renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. Each year it attracts more than 20 million tourists who come to see what the city has to offer. Set amongst the natural scenery of lakes and mountains, Hangzhou is modern city that coexists with the old. Historic pagodas and cultural sites built around the central lake sit like they belong amidst the skyscrapers and bustling markets of today.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $115Hangzhou $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $115, while the average daily cost in Hangzhou is $65. 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 Hangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $81Hangzhou $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $162Hangzhou $46
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Hangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Hangzhou? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shanghai $3.87Hangzhou $8.13
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 between Shanghai Pudong Int'l Airport & Hongqiao Airport : $45
- Private Transfer from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to City Center : $30
- 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 City by Standard Sedan: $74
- Arrival Private Transfer: Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai in Business Car : $112
- Arrival Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Hotel: $79
- Chauffeur service, Limousine airport transfer in Shanghai-English speaking: $51
- Departure Private Transfer: Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG in Business Car: $112
- Departure Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Hotel to Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $79
- Flexible Hours of Private Shanghai Layover or Transfer Tour: $129
- Flexible Hours of Shanghai Layover and Transfer Tour with Driver Only: $119
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hangzhou:
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Local Bus for Two$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hangzhou:
- Private Transfer between Hangzhou Songcheng Park and City Area: $23
- Private Transfer to Impression West Lake show in Hangzhou: $27
- Hangzhou Private Transfer: City Hotels to Railway Station: $28
- [Airport Transfer] Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport ⇔ Hangzhou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $29
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int'l Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $29
- Hangzhou Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $29
- Hangzhou Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Hangzhou East Railway Station Transfer To Hangzhou Downtown City: $32
- Hangzhou Private Transfer: Railway Station to City Hotels: $33
- Hangzhou Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $34
- Private Hangzhou Airport Transfer from Railway Station: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Hangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Hangzhou 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 $21Hangzhou $18
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
Typical Food Prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hangzhou:
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Breakfast Pastries$2.35
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Pizza Hut Lunch$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hangzhou.
- All Inclusive Night Tour with Impression West Lake Show VIP Ticket and Dinner: $117
- VIP Seated Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Show Tour with Authentic Dinner: $127
- Private Amazing Hangzhou Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option : $170
- Wuzhen Ancient Water Town Private Night Tour from Hangzhou with Dinner Option: $185
- Enduring Memories of Hangzhou West Lake Show VIP Ticket with Authentic Dinner: $191
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.44Hangzhou $20
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:
- The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Shanghai Yu Garden Ticket Booking: $14
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket and Optional Attractions: $14
- Shanghai Yu Garden Tour：Harmony & Spirituality in Garden Art: $20
- Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour: $29
- Like a Local Customized Guided Tour: $35
- Shanghai Hotels to Wusongkou Cruise Port:Private with Meet & Great service: $38
- Shanghai Downtown Hotel to Baoshan Cruise Port:Private with Meet & Greet service: $38
- Shanghai Wusongkou Cruise Port to Hongqiao Airport:Private with Meet service: $40
- Fudan University Student Guide Tour: $42
- Haipai Culture Tour｜Shanghai's Past, Present & Future On One Road: $43
- Shanghai Tower Tickets Booking: $43
Tours and Activities in Hangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Hangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Hangzhou Lingyin Temple Tour : $28
- Hangzhou Longjing Tea Plantation Culture Experience Tour: $53
- Hangzhou Longjing Tea Culture Experience Tour : $53
- Best Price: Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $59
- Skip the Line: Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $65
- Zuiyi Hangzhou Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $69
- Half-Day Hangzhou Tianzhu Buddhist Mountain Hiking Tour with Green Tea Village : $89
- Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Show Ticket with Private Transport: $89
- Independent Tour to Shaoxing City from Hangzhou: $94
- Night Tour with Impression West Lake Show VIP Ticket and Hefang Heritage Street : $95
- Hangzhou Impressoin West Lake- Enduring Memory of Hangzhou Show Tour: $100
- Songcheng Park & Lengend of Song Dynasty Show Ticket: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.36Hangzhou $10
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 Shanghai and Hangzhou, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Hangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hangzhou 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 Hangzhou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Hangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shanghai or Hangzhou?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Hangzhou. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai and Hangzhou, 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 Hangzhou?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Shanghai or Hangzhou in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Hangzhou. The summer months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Shanghai is around the same temperature as Hangzhou in the summer. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Hangzhou fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Hangzhou receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shanghai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Shanghai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hangzhou. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyShanghai 28°C (83°F)Hangzhou 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Hangzhou in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Hangzhou. 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.
In the autumn, Shanghai is around the same temperature as Hangzhou. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Shanghai in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Hangzhou averages at about 19°C (66°F).
Shanghai usually gets less rain in October than Hangzhou. Shanghai gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberShanghai 19°C (65°F)Hangzhou 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Hangzhou in the Winter?
Both Hangzhou and Shanghai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Shanghai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Hangzhou can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Shanghai. In January, Shanghai is generally cooler than Hangzhou. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 4°C (39°F), and Hangzhou fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In January, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Hangzhou. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryShanghai 4°C (39°F)Hangzhou 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Hangzhou in the Spring?
Both Hangzhou and Shanghai during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Shanghai in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Shanghai is cooler than Hangzhou in the spring. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and Hangzhou fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
Hangzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. Shanghai usually gets less rain in April than Hangzhou. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilShanghai 15°C (58°F)Hangzhou 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Hangzhou and Shanghai
| Shanghai | Hangzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 159 mm (6.3 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 49 mm (1.9 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.