Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Ubud?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ubud or Shanghai?
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 Ubud and Shanghai. 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: Ubud or Shanghai?
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUbud $150Shanghai $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Ubud is $150, 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 Ubud and Shanghai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUbud $133Shanghai $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUbud $266Shanghai $162
Compare Hotels in Ubud and Shanghai
Looking for a hotel in Ubud 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: Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ubud $1.82Shanghai $3.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- Bali Airport Transfer: $5.34
- Bali Airport Private Transfer to Kerobokan: $5.34
- Ubud Airport & Ground Transfers: $7.00
- Private Arrival Transfer: Bali Airport to Hotel: $7.40
- Bali Denpasar Airport (DPS) - Private Transfer to/from Denpasar City: $8.00
- Airport Transfer From (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Legian Area: $8.00
- Seminyak Premium Airport Transfer : $8.00
- Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Jimbaran Area: $8.00
- Hotel to Airport:Bali Departure Private Transfer (Daytime): $8.15
- Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Nusa Dua Area: $9.00
- Bali Airport - Bali Transfer to all area in Bali - Bali driver: $9.00
- Bali Ubud Hotel Transfer with an English-speaking driver service: $10
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$3.59
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Two Subway Tickets$0.83
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
- Private Transfer from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to City Center : $30
- Private Transfer from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Pudong Airport : $43
- Tongli and Xitang Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai by Private Transfer: $114
- 1 Day-Pass for Disneyland Shanghai and Private Transfer Package: $245
- Arrival Private Transfer Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai City by Standard Sedan: $74
- Arrival Private Transfer: Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai in Business Car : $112
- Arrival Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Hotel: $79
- Departure Private Transfer: Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG in Business Car: $113
- Departure Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Hotel to Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $79
- Flexible Hours of Private Shanghai Layover or Transfer Tour: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Ubud or Shanghai?
Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Ubud 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 dayUbud $12Shanghai $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Jimbaran Bay Sunset Dinner with Discount Voucher and Return Transport : $12
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Balinese Traditional Cooking Classes with Market Tour: $22
- Balinese Traditional Cooking Class with Market Tour: $22
- Ubud Cooking : All Inclusive Cooking Class: $23
- Cooking Class with Transfers and Optional Market Visit: $23
- Balinese Cooking Class and Market Tour with Transfers: $23
- Balinese Cooking Class with Hotel Transfers: $26
- Jimbaran Beach Candle Light Dinner : $26
- Subak cooking class (Balinese cooking school) 9 Dish Cooking and Market Tour: $26
- 8 Hours Private Balinese Cooking Class with Tirta Empul Temple: $28
- Jambangan bali cooking class with morning market tour: $29
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.38
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$20
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.18
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Cantelope$1.66
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Dumplings and Soup$2.07
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Duck Dinner$4.14
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Pastries$2.90
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Barbeque Dinner$8.83
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 General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Private Cooking Class: Make Your Own Dim Sum In Shanghai: $67
- 3-Hour Biking and Local Food Tour: $70
- 2.5hrs Chinese Kitchen Cooking Class: Xiaolongbao Soup Dumplings: $70
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Late night food tour in Shanghai's French Concession: $85
- Late Night Food Tour in the Shanghai's French Concession: $89
- 4-Hour Food Tour in Qibao Water Town from Shanghai by Subway: $95
- 3-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai Night Tour with Local Dinner Option: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ubud $10Shanghai $8.42
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Tandem or single Adventure Experience With Guaded: $1.54
- ATV Single or Tandem Guided Jungle Adventure: $2.56
- Ubud : ATV Single & Tandem Ride Adventure Local Guided: $3.59
- ATV Single & Tandem Ride and Zipline Adventure: $4.61
- Seminyak Driver ( Customized Tour): $5.00
- Bali Gate Of Heaven, Jungle Swing & Waterfall Private Tour: $5.00
- Mount Batur 4WD Jeep Sunrise Combo Experience in Bali: $5.00
- Bali: Ubud Palace Legong Dance Show Ticket: $6.40
- Ubud Monkay Forest,Waterfall & Rice Terrace Private Tour: $7.68
- Bali: Private Full-day Customized Tours With Transpers: $7.68
- All-inclusive - Private 3 Days Tours Package: Bali Highlights: $8.00
- Bali Tour Customized with Private Tour Driver: $8.46
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: $7.99
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket and Optional Attractions: $14
- Shanghai Yu Garden Tour：Harmony & Spirituality in Garden Art: $20
- Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour: $29
- Shanghai Highlights Walking Tour: $29
- Like a Local Customized Guided Tour: $35
- Shanghai Downtown Hotel to Baoshan Cruise Port:Private with Meet & Greet service: $38
- Shanghai Hotels to Wusongkou Cruise Port:Private with Meet & Great service: $38
- Fudan University Student Guide Tour: $42
- Shanghai Tower Tickets Booking: $43
- 4-Hour Nightlife Adventure & Tasting Bike Tour: $45
- Oriental Pearl Tower Tickets Booking: $47
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUbud $6.88Shanghai $7.35
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 - Bar-hopping/Night life tour: $20
- Shanghai Luxury Bar Crawl in 5-star Hotel or Boutique Hotel: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ubud and Shanghai, we can see that Ubud is more expensive. And not only is Shanghai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud than you might in Shanghai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ubud Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ubud or Shanghai?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 510 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Ubud 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.
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.