Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang or Shanghai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Shanghai or Pyeongchang?
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 Pyeongchang. 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 Pyeongchang?
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".
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.
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Shanghai Prices
China PricesPyeongchang Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $132Pyeongchang $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $132, while the average daily cost in Pyeongchang is $133. 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 Pyeongchang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $82Pyeongchang $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $164Pyeongchang $122
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Pyeongchang
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Pyeongchang? 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: Pyeongchang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shanghai $3.93Pyeongchang $24
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$3.64
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Two Subway Tickets$0.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- private transfer from Wusongkou CruisePort to Disneyland and back: $64
- [Airport Transfer] Shanghai Pudong Airport / Hongqiao Airport ⇔ Shanghai City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $23
- Zhujiajiao Water Town Self-Guided Tour with Private Transfer from Shanghai: $75
- Zhouzhuang and Tongli Water Town Private Transfer Service from Shanghai : $106
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $18
- Yiwu City Private Transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport : $74
- Yiwu Airport Private Transfer, airport pick up drop off services: $20
- Wuzhen and Xitang Water Town Private Transfer from Shanghai: $133
- Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal-Pudong Airport One Way Private Transfer: $35
- Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal-Downtown Hotel Private One Way Transfer: $28
- Wusongkou Cruise Terminal to Pudong Airport Private Transfer: $95
- Wusongkou Cruise Terminal to Hongqiao Airport Chauffeur Service, Port Transfer: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Pyeongchang?
Prices for flights to both Pyeongchang 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 $38Pyeongchang $47
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.40
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$20
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.29
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Cantelope$1.68
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Dumplings and Soup$2.10
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Duck Dinner$4.21
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Pastries$2.94
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Barbeque Dinner$8.97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li : $20
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour with Chi Gua Va: $35
- Public Chinese Cooking Class in Shanghai : $50
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $68
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Late Night Food Tour in the Shanghai's French Concession: $89
- Huangpu River Crystal Princess Cruise Ticket with dinner: $92
- 2.5hrs Chinese Kitchen Cooking Class: Xiaolongbao Soup Dumplings: $99
- 3-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai Night Tour with Local Dinner Option: $100
- Shanghai night cruise walking tour with delicious dinner: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.55Pyeongchang $50
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:
- Half-Day Private Tour of Shanghai Bund with River Cruise or Tower View: $124
- 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
- Shanghai Yu Garden and Bund Private Walking Tour: $25
- Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Museum Private Shanghai Day Tour: $175
- Zhouzhuang Water Town Self-Guided Day Tour from Shanghai: $88
- 1 Day Shanghai Airport Layover Private Tour for City Highlights: $202
- 1 Day Shanghai City Private Tour + Zhujiajiao Water Town: $230
- 1 Day Shanghai Highlight Small Group Tour: $198
- 1 Days Shanghai Quality Group Tour: $110
- 1-Day Private Shanghai City Tour to See Its Past, Present and Future: $229
Tours and Activities in Pyeongchang
For Pyeongchang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Balwangsan Cable Car & Samyang Ranch One Day Tour: $78
- Alpensia 2D1N Ski Lift Tour: $141
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.46Pyeongchang $8.69
When comparing the travel costs between Shanghai and Pyeongchang, we can see that Pyeongchang 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Pyeongchang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Shanghai or Pyeongchang?
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 Pyeongchang in the Summer?
Both Pyeongchang and Shanghai during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Shanghai in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Shanghai is generally a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 28°C (83°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
It's quite sunny in Shanghai. In the summer, Shanghai often gets more sunshine than Pyeongchang. Shanghai gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 144 hours of full sun.
Pyeongchang 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 July than Pyeongchang. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyShanghai 28°C (83°F)Pyeongchang 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Pyeongchang. Most visitors come to Shanghai for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Shanghai is a little warmer than Pyeongchang in the autumn. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Pyeongchang during autumn. Shanghai gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 185 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Shanghai gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberShanghai 19°C (65°F)Pyeongchang 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Pyeongchang in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Pyeongchang. The winter months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Pyeongchang in the winter. The weather in Shanghai can be very cold. In the winter, Shanghai is much warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the winter temperatures in Shanghai in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 0°C (33°F).
In the winter, Shanghai often gets less sunshine than Pyeongchang. Shanghai gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 190 hours of full sun.
Shanghai usually gets less rain in January than Pyeongchang. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryShanghai 4°C (39°F)Pyeongchang 0°C (33°F)
Should I visit Shanghai or Pyeongchang in the Spring?
Both Pyeongchang and Shanghai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.
In April, Shanghai is generally a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 15°C (58°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
It's quite sunny in Pyeongchang. Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Pyeongchang during spring. Shanghai gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Shanghai. In April, Shanghai usually receives more rain than Pyeongchang. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilShanghai 15°C (58°F)Pyeongchang 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Shanghai
| Shanghai | Pyeongchang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 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.