Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Wuyuan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Wuyuan or Shanghai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Wuyuan and Shanghai can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Wuyuan or Shanghai?
Wuyuan
Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWuyuan $57Shanghai $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Wuyuan is $57, 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 Wuyuan and Shanghai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWuyuan $26Shanghai $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWuyuan $52Shanghai $162
Compare Hotels in Wuyuan and Shanghai
Looking for a hotel in Wuyuan 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wuyuan $13Shanghai $3.87
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:
- 1 Day-Pass for Disneyland Shanghai and Private Transfer Package: $245
- Shanghai-Suzhou private day tour with private transfer and Lunch: $204
- Ningbo City Private Arrival Transfer from Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $177
- Shanghai to Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Self-Guide Trip with Private Transfer: $171
- Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) Departure Transfer (central Shanghai to Airport): $168
- Shanghai to Hangzhou Private Transfer with Stop at Wuzhen : $166
- Shanghai Airport to Ningbo City Private Arrival Transfer: $149
- Round-trip Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $149
- Round Trip Private Transfer City Center - Shanghai Disneyland: $147
- Shanghai to Wuzhen watertown Round way private transfer in a day: $140
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) Departure Transfer (central Shanghai to Airport): $135
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) Arrival Transfer (Airport to central Shanghai): $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Wuyuan or Shanghai?
Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Wuyuan 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 dayWuyuan $20Shanghai $21
Typical Food Prices in Wuyuan
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wuyuan:
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Gummy Candy$0.28
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Cookies$0.69
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$7.19
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Cantelope$1.66
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Dumplings and Soup$2.07
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Duck Dinner$4.15
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Pastries$2.90
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Barbeque Dinner$8.85
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 Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Private Cooking Class: Make Your Own Dim Sum In Shanghai: $67
- 3-Hour Biking and Local Food Tour: $69
- 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
- Shanghai Hot pot dinner foodie tour with guide and one way private transfer: $113
- Private Authentic Chinese Cooking Class in Shanghai with a Lovely Local: $116
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Wuyuan $19Shanghai $8.44
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:
- Half-Day Private Tour of Shanghai Bund with River Cruise or Tower View: $90
- Private Shanghai Flexible City Highlight Tour with Night Cruise: $221
- Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights: $108
- Yiwu International Trade City Private Day Tour from Shanghai by Bullet Train: $183
- water village of shagnhai tour: $248
- 1 Day Shanghai Airport Layover Private Tour for City Highlights: $202
- 1 Day Shanghai Highlight Small Group Tour: $124
- 1 Day Shanghai Private Tour: $180
- 1 day Shanghai City Mini Group tour: $92
- 1-Day Private Tour to Shanghai Museum,Yu Garden, the Bund and Nanjing Road: $190
- 1-Day Private Tour to Shanghai Museum,Yu Garden,the Bund & Huangpu River Cruise : $213
- 1-Day Private Tour to Suzhou from Shanghai: $272
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWuyuan $14Shanghai $7.36
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: unique bar-hopping tour 2024: $20
- Shanghai Luxury Bar Crawl in 5-star Hotel or Boutique Hotel: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wuyuan and Shanghai, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Wuyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Wuyuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wuyuan Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan or Shanghai in the Summer?
Both Shanghai and Wuyuan during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Shanghai for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Wuyuan is around the same temperature as Shanghai in the summer. The daily temperature in Wuyuan averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Shanghai fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
Shanghai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Wuyuan. Wuyuan usually gets more rain in July than Shanghai. Wuyuan gets 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWuyuan 30°C (85°F)Shanghai 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Wuyuan or Shanghai in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wuyuan and Shanghai. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Wuyuan is around the same temperature as Shanghai. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Wuyuan in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Shanghai averages at about 19°C (65°F).
In October, Wuyuan usually receives more rain than Shanghai. Wuyuan gets 82 mm (3.2 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 OctoberWuyuan 20°C (68°F)Shanghai 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Wuyuan or Shanghai in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Wuyuan as well as Shanghai. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.
It's quite cold in Shanghai in the winter. In January, Wuyuan is generally much warmer than Shanghai. Daily temperatures in Wuyuan average around 6°C (43°F), and Shanghai fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Wuyuan usually gets more rain in January than Shanghai. Wuyuan gets 63 mm (2.5 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 JanuaryWuyuan 6°C (43°F)Shanghai 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Wuyuan or Shanghai in the Spring?
Both Shanghai and Wuyuan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Shanghai for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Wuyuan is a little warmer than Shanghai in the spring. The daily temperature in Wuyuan averages around 18°C (64°F) in April, and Shanghai fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. It's quite rainy in Wuyuan. In April, Wuyuan usually receives more rain than Shanghai. Wuyuan gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Shanghai receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWuyuan 18°C (64°F)Shanghai 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Shanghai and Wuyuan
| Wuyuan | Shanghai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 123 mm (4.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (78°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (47°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.