Which place is cheaper, Montevideo or Shanghai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Shanghai or Montevideo?
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 Montevideo. 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 Montevideo?
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".
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, and The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $115Montevideo $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $115, while the average daily cost in Montevideo is $64. 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 Montevideo in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $81Montevideo $40
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $162Montevideo $80
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Montevideo
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Montevideo? 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: Montevideo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shanghai $3.87Montevideo $7.38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Shanghai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:
-
Taxi Ride$3.59
-
Two Subway Tickets$0.83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- Private Layover Transfer with Attractions Tickets: $517
- 1 Day-Pass for Disneyland Shanghai and Private Transfer Package: $245
- Shanghai Pudong Int’l Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Yiwu City Area : $226
- Shanghai-Suzhou private day tour with private transfer and Lunch: $204
- Ningbo City Private Arrival Transfer from Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $177
- Shanghai to Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Self-Guide Trip with Private Transfer: $171
- Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) Departure Transfer (central Shanghai to Airport): $168
- Shanghai to Hangzhou Private Transfer with Stop at Wuzhen : $166
- Shanghai to Hangzhou Private Transfer with Stop at Xitang Water Town: $157
- Shanghai Pudong Airport To Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport one way private transfer: $155
- Shanghai to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Hongqiao Station Transfer: $150
- Shanghai Era Theatre Acrobatics Show with Hotel Transfer: $149
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montevideo Airport (MVD) -Montevideo City: $19
- Carrasco Airport Transfer: $20
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $26
- Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo Port: $30
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $35
- Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers: $36
- Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $45
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
- 1 - way - Transfer from Carrasco Interational Airport to Montevideo: $51
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport MVD: $72
- TRANSFER FROM OR TO THE AIRPORT (4 to 12 paxs): $80
- Carrasco International Airport (MVD) to Montevideo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Montevideo?
Prices for flights to both Montevideo 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
-
Food Meals for one dayShanghai $21Montevideo $14
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
-
Dumpling Breakfast$1.38
-
Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$20
-
Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.18
-
Cantelope$1.66
-
Dumplings and Soup$2.07
-
Duck Dinner$4.14
-
Pastries$2.90
-
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $85
- El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $98
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.42Montevideo $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:
-
30 Minute River Cruise for Two$28
-
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 Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $13
- Tourist Bus "Discover Montevideo": $25
- Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $25
- Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
- Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers - AudioGuided: $26
- City tour Montevideo: $27
- Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $28
- Shared Montevideo Tour for Cruisers: $30
- Old City Walking Tour with Private Photographer: $30
- Walking Tour with Photographer and Audioguide: $31
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.35Montevideo -
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Half Day Tour at Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $120
- The best wine tour: $140
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and Montevideo, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shanghai is in Asia and Montevideo is in South America, 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 Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Montevideo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Montevideo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shanghai or Montevideo?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Montevideo. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai and Montevideo, 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 Montevideo?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Montevideo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Shanghai has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Shanghai or Montevideo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Montevideo. Most visitors come to Shanghai for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Shanghai is a little warmer than Montevideo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Shanghai in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Montevideo averages at about 24°C (75°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shanghai this time of the year. In the summer, Shanghai often gets less sunshine than Montevideoin January. Shanghai gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 296 hours of full sun.
Shanghai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shanghai usually gets more rain in July than Montevideoin January. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryShanghai 28°C (83°F)Montevideo 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Montevideo in the Autumn?
Both Montevideo and Shanghai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Shanghai is generally around the same temperature as Montevideoin April. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 19°C (65°F), and Montevideo fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Shanghai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montevideo during autumn. Shanghai gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 171 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. In October, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Montevideoin April. Shanghai gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilShanghai 19°C (65°F)Montevideo 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Montevideo in the Winter?
Both Montevideo and Shanghai during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.
It's quite cold in Shanghai in the winter. Shanghai is much colder than Montevideo in the winter. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Montevideo fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in July.
In the winter, Shanghai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Montevideoin July. Shanghai gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 135 hours of full sun.
Shanghai usually gets less rain in January than Montevideoin July. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyShanghai 4°C (39°F)Montevideo 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Montevideo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Montevideo. Many travelers come to Shanghai for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Shanghai is cooler than Montevideo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Shanghai in April average around 15°C (58°F), and Montevideo averages at about 17°C (63°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montevideo this time of the year. Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Montevideo during spring. Shanghai gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.
Montevideo receives a lot of rain in the spring. Shanghai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Shanghai usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montevideoin October. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberShanghai 15°C (58°F)Montevideo 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Montevideo and Shanghai
| Shanghai | Montevideo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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.