Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Shanghai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Shanghai or Ottawa?
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 Ottawa. 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 Ottawa?
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".
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $115Ottawa $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $115, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $123. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $81Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $162Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Ottawa? 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: Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shanghai $3.87Ottawa $7.27
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 Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 $21Ottawa $17
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.42Ottawa $40
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 Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.68
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.35Ottawa $18
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 Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When comparing the travel costs between Shanghai and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Shanghai is in Asia and Ottawa is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shanghai or Ottawa?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai and Ottawa, 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 Ottawa?
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 Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa 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 a little warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Shanghai in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Ottawa averages at about 21°C (71°F).
In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Shanghai. In the summer, Shanghai often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Shanghai gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. Shanghai usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyShanghai 28°C (83°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Ottawa. 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 Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 19°C (65°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Shanghai usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Shanghai gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Shanghai gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberShanghai 19°C (65°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Ottawa. Many visitors come to Shanghai in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can be very cold during winter. Shanghai can get quite cold in the winter. Shanghai is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Shanghai often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Shanghai gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Shanghai usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryShanghai 4°C (39°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa 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 Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Shanghai in April average around 15°C (58°F), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).
Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Shanghai gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Shanghai. In April, Shanghai usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilShanghai 15°C (58°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Shanghai
| Shanghai | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 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.