Which place is cheaper, Nanjing or Shanghai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Shanghai and Nanjing. 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.
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".
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $115, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $96. 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 Nanjing in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Nanjing? 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and Nanjing, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Nanjing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nanjing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nanjing 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 Nanjing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Nanjing Expensive?.
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Nanjing. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai and Nanjing, 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Nanjing. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.
Shanghai is around the same temperature as Nanjing in the summer. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Nanjing fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
Nanjing receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shanghai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Nanjing. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Nanjing. Many travelers come to Shanghai for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Shanghai is around the same temperature as Nanjing. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Shanghai in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Nanjing averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Shanghai usually gets more rain in October than Nanjing. Shanghai gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Nanjing and Shanghai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Shanghai in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Nanjing can be very cold during winter. Shanghai can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Shanghai is generally a little warmer than Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 4°C (39°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In January, Shanghai usually receives more rain than Nanjing. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Nanjing and Shanghai during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Shanghai for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Shanghai is around the same temperature as Nanjing in the spring. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and Nanjing fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
Nanjing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. Shanghai usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Nanjing. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Shanghai | Nanjing | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |