Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge or Shanghai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Shanghai or Tiger Leaping Gorge?
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 Tiger Leaping Gorge. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge?
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".
Tiger Leaping Gorge
One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $117Tiger Leaping Gorge $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $117, while the average daily cost in Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $82Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $164Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Tiger Leaping Gorge
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shanghai $3.95Tiger Leaping Gorge $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$3.66
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Two Subway Tickets$0.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- Mount Mogan Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai by Private Transfer: $108
- Private Transfer between Shanghai Pudong Int'l Airport & Hongqiao Airport : $45
- 1 Day-Pass for Disneyland Shanghai and Private Transfer Package: $245
- 3-hour Private Transfer to Shanghai ERA Acrobatic Show from City Center: $53
- Amazing Shanghai Night Lights:River Cruise &Private Transfer: $125
- Arrival Private Transfer Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai City by Standard Sedan: $74
- Arrival Private Transfer: Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai in Business Car : $116
- Arrival Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Hotel: $79
- Chauffeur service, Limousine airport transfer in Shanghai-English speaking: $51
- Departure Private Transfer: Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG in Business Car: $116
- Departure Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Hotel to Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $79
- Hongqiao Airport (SHA) to Shanghai Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Tiger Leaping Gorge?
Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 $22Tiger Leaping Gorge $16
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.41
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$21
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.32
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Cantelope$1.69
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Dumplings and Soup$2.11
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Duck Dinner$4.22
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Pastries$2.96
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Barbeque Dinner$9.01
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 Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Aunthentic Local Food Tour in Downtown Shanghai : $32
- Evening Walking Food Tour: $69
- 3-Hour Biking and Local Food Tour: $72
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Late night food tour in Shanghai's French Concession: $88
- Shanghai's Koreatown Food Tour: $91
- 3-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai Night Tour with Local Dinner Option: $100
- Shanghai Hot pot dinner foodie tour with guide and one way private transfer: $113
- Sichuan Hot Pot Dinner with Shanghai Cuisine Tasting: $125
- Shanghai Huangpu River Night Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.59Tiger Leaping Gorge $15
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:
- The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket and Optional Attractions: $14
- Yu Garden Shanghai Entry Tickets Booking: $15
- Shanghai Yu Garden Entrance Tickets Booking Service: $16
- Shanghai Yu Garden Entrance Tickets Reservation Service: $17
- Shanghai Yu Garden Tour：Harmony & Spirituality in Garden Art: $20
- Shanghai Jinmao Tower 88th floor sightseeing hall: $23
- Shanghai Highlights Walking Tour: $29
- Shanghai bar hopping tour in the former french concession: $29
- Zotter Chocolate Indulgence Tour in Shanghai: $30
- Like a Local Customized Guided Tour: $35
- Shanghai Downtown Hotel to Baoshan Cruise Port:Private with Meet & Greet service: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.49Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Shanghai
Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 4-Hour Shanghai Pub Crawl (bars & nightclub hopping): $21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and Tiger Leaping Gorge, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Tiger Leaping Gorge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tiger Leaping Gorge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive?.
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.