Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Tianjin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
IN getAveragesForCity 1792947
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Should I visit Tianjin or Shanghai? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $76, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $115. 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 Tianjin and Shanghai in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin 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.
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Tianjin 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
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 in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Shanghai, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Tianjin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tianjin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tianjin 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 Tianjin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Tianjin. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin 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.
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.
Both Shanghai and Tianjin during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Tianjin is around the same temperature as Shanghai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tianjin in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Shanghai averages at about 28°C (83°F).
In Shanghai, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tianjin. In the summer, Tianjin often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Shanghai. Tianjin gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shanghai receives 232 hours of full sun.
Shanghai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tianjin. Tianjin usually gets more rain in July than Shanghai. Tianjin gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tianjin and Shanghai. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.
In October, Tianjin is generally cooler than Shanghai. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 15°C (58°F), and Shanghai fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In Tianjin, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tianjin usually receives more sunshine than Shanghai during autumn. Tianjin gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Shanghai receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Shanghai. Tianjin gets 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Tianjin as well as Shanghai. Also, many travelers come to Shanghai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Shanghai. It's quite cold in Tianjin in the winter. Tianjin is much colder than Shanghai in the winter. The daily temperature in Tianjin averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Shanghai fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tianjin this time of the year. In the winter, Tianjin often gets more sunshine than Shanghai. Tianjin gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shanghai receives 135 hours of full sun.
Tianjin usually gets less rain in January than Shanghai. Tianjin gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Shanghai and Tianjin are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Shanghai in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Tianjin is around the same temperature as Shanghai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tianjin in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Shanghai averages at about 15°C (58°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tianjin. Tianjin usually receives more sunshine than Shanghai during spring. Tianjin gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Shanghai receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. In April, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Shanghai. Tianjin gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Tianjin | Shanghai | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
Feb | -1°C (31°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
May | 21°C (69°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
Oct | 15°C (58°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Dec | -1°C (31°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |