Which place is cheaper, Roatan 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 Roatan?
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 Roatan. 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 Roatan?
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".
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Shanghai Prices
China PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $139Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $139, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $86Roatan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $172Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Roatan? 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: Roatan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shanghai $4.12Roatan $17
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$3.82
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Two Subway Tickets$0.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- Private Transfer Shanghai Airport PVG / SHA to Shanghai / Suzhou: $14
- Private Transfers to/from Shanghai Pudong Airport(PVG): $16
- Private Transfer to/from Shanghai Disneyland Park: $18
- Private Transfer: Hotel to Shanghai Stadium (Football Match, League of Legends): $20
- Private Transfer to Shanghai Railway Station from City Hotels or Outskirts: $22
- Private Transfer to ERA Acrobats Show at Shanghai Circus World: $22
- Shanghai City to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) to Shanghai City - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Shanghai Airport One Way Arrival and Departure Transfer: $24
- Shanghai Airport Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer from Shanghai Maglev Train Station to City Area: $25
- Shanghai Maglev Train Station Private Transfer from City Area: $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $25
- Ultimate West Bay Beach Day: Pass & Transfers Included: $55
- Roatan Private Sloths, Monkeys, Birds Encounters, City Tour and Transfer: $60
- Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
- Ground transfers and ticket ferry to Utila or La Ceiba: $80
- West Bay Beach Day Pass & Private Transfer – Roatán: $89
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
- West Bay Aquarium Snorkeling, Chocolate & Rum Factory, City Tour plus Transfer: $99
- Roatan Private Transfers: Airport, Cruise Port or Hotel: $110
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $114
- South Side Horseback Riding, Beach Break & Roundway Transfer: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $39Roatan $15
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.47
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$21
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.64
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Cantelope$1.76
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Dumplings and Soup$2.20
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Duck Dinner$4.41
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Pastries$3.08
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Barbeque Dinner$9.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- Authentic Local Food Tour In Downtown Shanghai-Tip Based: $3.55
- Online Cooking Class Dim Sum by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li: $20
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour with Chi Gua Va: $35
- Shanghai Huangpu River Night Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $35
- Private Home Cooking Class with local Auntie: $61
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $68
- Authentic Local Food Tour Near the Bund: $71
- Shanghai Breakfast Omakase A Home Cook Food Tour: $71
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Small Group: Shanghai After Dark Food Tour with 9 tastings: $80
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour by Walking or Cycling: $80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Catamaran Tiki Boat Sunset Snorkeling Dinner Cruise in Roatan: $125
- Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.96Roatan $25
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$29
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Zoo for Two$15
Tours and Activities in Shanghai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:
- Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.55
- Evening Walking Tour at the Bund: $5.00
- French Concession Multicultural Walking Tour: $5.00
- Shanghai Evolution Free Walking Tour: $5.00
- French Concession Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st & Best Rated: $5.00
- Shanghai Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 22 audio reviews: $7.00
- Shanghai Yu Garden Admission Ticket: $9.68
- The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Private Shanghai Full Day Tour Yu Garden, Bund and Oriental Pearl: $10
- Shanghai Natural History Museum Ticket Booking: $11
- Shanghai Day Tour with English Guide – Explore Yu Garden & More: $12
- Shanghai Yu Garden Ticket Booking: $12
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Cruise Passenger Beach Express: $25
- Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $37
- Roatan Private and Public Action Snorkel Tours and Charters: $39
- Roatan Island Tours, Sightseeing and Shopping Adventures: $39
- Roatan Private island tour In Honduras: $40
- Roatán Ron and Chocolate Custom Tour.: $40
- Half Day Roatan Sightseeing and Jungle Island Tour: $41
- Roatan Comprehensive Real Estate Tour Experience: $45
- Roatan Chocolate Factory Rum Factory and Beach Day Tour: $45
- Roatan Jungle Top Wildlife Guided Eco-Park Tour: $45
- Roatan VIP island tour: $45
- Roatan Private Tour , Culture and Views Experience: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.82Roatan $6.56
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 (Guided Bar Hopping) with Shots Included: $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and Roatan, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shanghai is in Asia and Roatan is in Central 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shanghai or Roatan?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 1940 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai and Roatan, 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.
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.