Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Shenzhen?
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 Shenzhen or Shanghai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Shenzhen and Shanghai can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Shenzhen or Shanghai?
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
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".
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.
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Shenzhen Prices
China PricesShanghai Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShenzhen $149Shanghai $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $149, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $141. 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 Shenzhen and Shanghai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShenzhen $97Shanghai $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShenzhen $194Shanghai $176
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Shanghai
Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen or Shanghai? 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: Shenzhen Hotel Prices and Shanghai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shenzhen $16Shanghai $4.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfers to/from Bao'an Airport(SZX): $20
- shenzhen airport private transfer: $31
- A One-Way Disneyland Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Hotel: $33
- Shenzhen to Shenzhen Airport (SZX) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- AIRPORT TRANSFER service Kowloon with Mercedes Benz: $39
- Shenzhen Private transfer and Ongoing assistance: $39
- Private Transfer - Kai Tak Cruise Port to Hong Kong Airport (HKG): $45
- Hong Kong hotels to Hong Kong Airport (HKG) - Departure Private Transfer: $50
- Hong Kong MiniBus Transfer: Hotel / Cruise Terminal and Airport: $53
- HK: Lantau Priority Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car with Hotel Transfer: $54
- Shenzhen Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $55
- Stress-Free Hong Kong hotels to HongKong Airport Private Transfer: $55
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$3.89
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Two Subway Tickets$0.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- private transfer from Wusongkou CruisePort to Disneyland and back: $64
- Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Self-Guide 10-Hour Private Transfer Tour: $138
- 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 Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $20
- Yiwu Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area: $20
- Yiwu Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $20
- Wuzhen and Xitang Water Town Private Transfer from Shanghai: $133
- Wusongkou Cruise Terminal Share Transfer Service, Baoshan Port Pick up Service: $30
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Shanghai?
Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Shenzhen 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 dayShenzhen $37Shanghai $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Shenzhen Food Tour with Locals: $46
- Hong Kong: 7-Course Hong Kong Street & Restaurant Food Tour: $59
- Hong Kong Victoria Harbour Sunset Tour with Star Ferry & Dinner: $88
- Best Street Food Tour With a Local Guide in Hong Kong: $94
- Hong Kong's Tin Hau Hidden Gems Food Tour with 7+ Local Tastings: $107
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Sham Shui Po District: $107
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $107
- Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $115
- Temple Street Night Market Tour plus Victoria Harbour Dinner Cruise: $131
- The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour: $185
- Hong Kong Elite Night Tour: Cruise, Aquarium Dinner, Peak: $193
- Kowloon Night Street Food Tour with a Local: Private & Customized: $197
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.49
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$22
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.77
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Cantelope$1.79
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Dumplings and Soup$2.24
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Duck Dinner$4.48
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Pastries$3.14
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Barbeque Dinner$9.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- City Center Authentic Local Food Tour-Tip Based: $3.41
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Dim Sum by Sunflower Li: $20
- Small Group Shanghai After Dark Food Tour with 9 tastings: $38
- Old Shanghai Signature Food Tour with 14+ Tasters by FoodaQuest: $59
- Yu Garden to French Concession: Old Lanes & Street Food Tour: $59
- 2-Hour Shanghai Street Food Tour: Dumplings, Tea & Old City Bites: $65
- Market to Table Chinese Cooking Experience: $69
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $69
- Authentic Local Food Tour Near the Bund: $71
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shenzhen $18Shanghai $9.12
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hong Kong Observation Wheel Ticket: $4.00
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Hong Kong: $4.56
- Skip the Line! Walk to the Peak: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- Podcast Tour Hong Kong The Hidden Power of Victoria Harbour: $5.47
- Markets in Motion: Audio Tour of Mong Kok: $6.99
- Victoria Peak: Climb to the summit via the Mid-Levels escalato on an audio tour: $6.99
- Lights, Harbour, Action! A Self-Guided Tsim Sha Tsui Walking Tour: $8.99
- Hong Kong International Airport Rail Experience: $9.53
- Kowloon Tong: An Audio Tour of Hong Kong: $9.99
- Hong Kong Ghost Tour (Self-Guided Audio Tour): $10
- Hong Kong Tai O Sightseeing Dolphin Boat Tour + free gift: $13
- Monopoly Dreams Hong Kong Ticket Peak Galleria 4D Fun: $13
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$30
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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:
- 1 Day Shanghai Airport Layover Private Tour for City Highlights: $230
- 1 Day Shanghai Private Tour: $180
- 1 Day Shanghai Retail Innovation Tour: $169
- 1 Day Suzhou Private Tour (Departure from Shanghai): $240
- 1-Day Private Shanghai City Tour to See Its Past, Present and Future: $229
- 1-Day Private Tour to Shanghai Zhujiajiao Water Town,Nanjing Road and the Bund: $221
- 1-Day Private Tour to Suzhou from Shanghai: $272
- 1-Day Private Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town,the Bund and World Financial Center: $256
- 1-Day Shanghai Tour to Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yu Garden and Jade Buddha Temple: $224
- 13 day private tour : Splendid China+ important highlights: $4,106
- 1Day Suzhou & Zhouzhuang Water Town Tour From Shanghai Or Suzhou: $298
- 2-Day Zhujiajiao Water Town, Shanghai and Suzhou Private Tour: $300
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShenzhen $21Shanghai $7.95
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: $23
- Shanghai Bar Crawl: TCM Cocktails & Local Craft Beer: $89
- Cheers, Beers and No Fears: Shanghai Bar Crawl: $100
- TCM and Divination Chinese Style Pub Crawl Bar Hopping Night: $169
When comparing the travel costs between Shenzhen and Shanghai, we can see that Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shenzhen or Shanghai?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Shenzhen. When comparing the sizes of Shenzhen and Shanghai, 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 Shenzhen or 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.
Should I visit Shenzhen or Shanghai in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Shenzhen as well as Shanghai. Additionally, many travelers come to Shanghai for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Shenzhen is generally around the same temperature as Shanghai. Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 30°C (85°F), and Shanghai fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shenzhen this time of the year. In the summer, Shenzhen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Shanghai. Shenzhen gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shanghai receives 232 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Shanghai. Shenzhen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shenzhen usually gets more rain in July than Shanghai. Shenzhen gets 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyShenzhen 30°C (85°F)Shanghai 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Shanghai in the Autumn?
Both Shanghai and Shenzhen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, 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.
Shenzhen is a little warmer than Shanghai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Shanghai fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
Shenzhen usually receives more sunshine than Shanghai during autumn. Shenzhen gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Shanghai receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. In October, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Shanghai. Shenzhen gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberShenzhen 26°C (78°F)Shanghai 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Shanghai in the Winter?
Both Shanghai and Shenzhen during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Shanghai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Shanghai can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Shenzhen is much warmer than Shanghai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Shenzhen in January average around 16°C (60°F), and Shanghai averages at about 4°C (39°F).
In the winter, Shenzhen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Shanghai. Shenzhen gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shanghai receives 135 hours of full sun.
Shenzhen usually gets less rain in January than Shanghai. Shenzhen gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryShenzhen 16°C (60°F)Shanghai 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Shanghai in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenzhen and Shanghai. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Shenzhen is generally much warmer than Shanghai. Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 23°C (73°F), and Shanghai fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Shanghai during spring. Shenzhen gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Shanghai receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.
Shanghai receives a lot of rain in the spring. Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Shanghai. Shenzhen gets 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilShenzhen 23°C (73°F)Shanghai 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Shanghai and Shenzhen
| Shenzhen | Shanghai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.