Which city is cheaper, Washington 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 Washington. 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 a bustling, trendy, and modern port city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.
Washington is a international, diverse, and active city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Washington and Shanghai. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Plenty of people visit the sights and museums in both Shanghai and Washington.
The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Shanghai are among the most recognizable in the world. The city's sights mix culture with modern innovation. From the futuristic skyline and the iconic waterfront area known as the Bund, to the classic Yu Garden, there are a diversity of sights around the city. There are also museums like the Shanghai Museum, which educate visitors on Chinese culture.
With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Washington has many famous sights for visitors. The city has world class museums that are often free. The Smithsonian Museums are arguably some of the most impressive museums in the United States. The city also has a large collection of monuments that are dedicated to past presidents or historical events.
Foodies will find both Shanghai and Washington both to be unique destinations.
Eat your way through Shanghai, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The city's cuisine has a long history with many distinct traditional dishes. The foods incorporate a lot of soy sauce and sugar and you'll find most dishes are rice based as opposed to using wheat products. Popular local dishes include the famous Shanghai soup dumplings, steamed crab, and braised pork. The city is also famous for its snacks, which can be purchased at one of the many snack houses or street stalls.
For foodies, Washington is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. You can find restaurants from almost any cuisine here, so it's worth exploring and stepping out of your comfort zone.
Evening events are similar in both Shanghai and Washington.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Shanghai. A night out can quickly become very expensive. Many of the venues are spread out so you'll likely spend at least some of the time in a taxi. The Bund is one of the most popular areas for nightlife, but this area also has the most expensive bars and clubs. They often offer impressive views of Pudong and the Huangpu River though.
Washington has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. Head into Dupont Circle, U Street, and even Arlington to enjoy some of the area's best nightlife.
Both Shanghai and Washington are good shopping destinations.
The abundance of shops in Shanghai make it a world-class shopping destination. The city has many large shopping malls with department stores, name brand fashion, and trendy shops. It is also known for its cheap electronics and tailor-made clothes.
Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Washington. Head to Georgetown and Dupont Circle for some of the city's best local shopping.
Both Shanghai and Washington are family-friendly destinations.
Shanghai is a very kid-friendly port city. Of course there's Disneyland, but kids will also enjoy soaking up the city's culture, trying fun new snacks, and exploring the many science and kid-friendly museums. There are also parks and outdoor spaces as well as skyscrapers and towers that offer incredible views of the city.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Washington. It is a fun and educational destination where kids can explore world class museums and try unique foods from all around the world.
While Washington and Shanghai are both popular destinations, overall Shanghai is considered to be a more popular choice.
Shanghai is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. With its east meets west personality, couples will be able to enjoy an amazing culinary experience, beautiful gardens, and luxury hotels and spas. There are many romantic areas around this bustling city, making it the perfect place for a romantic city getaway.
Washington is a good port city for couples to visit. The city lights up at night, so couples will enjoy wandering by the monuments in the evening or taking in a dinner and show.
Shanghai and Washington are both good destinations for students and younger travelers.
Many students visit Shanghai. The city attracts international and study abroad students who enjoy its long history and fascinating culture. It's a world financial capital with many businesses headquartered here, so employment opportunities are abundant.
Many students frequent Washington. International students come from around the world to study, learn, intern, and work in the capital of the United States.
Both Shanghai and Washington offer public transit options.
Shanghai has some very good public transit options. There is a metro system as well as buses and taxis which are relatively affordable.
Visitors in Washington can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The metro system and the bus system are reliable and efficient ways to explore the city.
Shanghai and Washington both are comparable when exploring on foot.
Shanghai is a very walkable port city. It's possible to explore the major tourist areas on foot but it can be very hot and humid during the summer months.
It's very easy to get around on foot in Washington. Many neighborhoods around the city are easy to explore on foot. Most tourists spend a lot of time in the Mall area, which is very pedestrian friendly.
Both Shanghai and Washington have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Washington than Shanghai.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Shanghai is 2-5 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Washington is 3-7 days.
When visiting Shanghai, people usually allow for lots of time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
The beautiful city of Washington offers shopping and museums. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
When visiting Shanghai, people usually allow for lots of time. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this port city.
Washington is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
Shanghai, a popular port city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this port city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Washington is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Washington, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Shanghai is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Washington is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Washington has to offer. This city offers something for everyone.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $98, while the average daily cost in Washington is $155. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Shanghai and Washington in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Washington? 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 typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Washington 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and Washington, we can see that Washington is more expensive. And not only is Shanghai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shanghai is in Asia and Washington is in North 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 Shanghai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shanghai 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 Washington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Washington than you might in Shanghai.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Washington. Many travelers come to Shanghai for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Washington in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Shanghai is generally around the same temperature as Washington. Temperatures in Shanghai average around 28°C (83°F), and Washington stays around 79°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Washington. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shanghai this time of the year. In the summer, Shanghai often gets less sunshine than Washington. Shanghai gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Washington receives 278 hours of full sun.
Shanghai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shanghai usually gets more rain in July than Washington. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Washington receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Washington and Shanghai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Shanghai in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Washington for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Shanghai is a little warmer than Washington in the autumn. The temperature in Shanghai is usually 19°C (65°F) in October, and Washington stays around 60°F (15°C).
Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Washington during autumn. Shanghai gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Washington receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Washington. Shanghai gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Washington and Shanghai during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Shanghai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Washington because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
The weather in Washington can be very cold. Shanghai can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Shanghai is much warmer than Washington. Typically, the winter temperatures in Shanghai in January are around 4°C (39°F), and Washington is about 35°F (1°C).
In the winter, Shanghai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Washington. Shanghai gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Washington receives 139 hours of full sun.
Shanghai usually gets less rain in January than Washington. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Washington. The spring months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Washington this time of year.
In April, Shanghai is generally around the same temperature as Washington. Temperatures in Shanghai average around 15°C (58°F), and Washington stays around 56°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Washington this time of the year. Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Washington during spring. Shanghai gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Washington receives 228 hours of full sun in the spring.
Shanghai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Shanghai usually receives more rain than Washington. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Shanghai | Washington | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 35°F (1°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 37°F (3°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
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