Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Zhangye?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Zhangye 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 Zhangye 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: Zhangye or Shanghai?
Zhangye
Zhangye, China is a city in the Gansu Province in the central north part of the country, close to Mongolia. This ancient city has often been used as a military strong hold, having been the headquarters of General Huo among many others. Zhangye is a fabulous day trip city to visit when staying in larger nearby cities.
Zhangye is privy to beautiful summer weather, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70's Fahrenheit. The best times to visit are between July and September, when temperatures and sunshine are at their highest. Autumn, Winter, and Spring tend to be a little chillier and rainier.
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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
-
Zhangye Prices
China PricesShanghai Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangye $110Shanghai $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangye is $110, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $139. 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 Zhangye and Shanghai in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangye $40Shanghai $86
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangye $80Shanghai $172
Compare Hotels in Zhangye and Shanghai
Looking for a hotel in Zhangye 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: Zhangye Hotel Prices and Shanghai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zhangye $41Shanghai $4.12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangye
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhangye:
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Hotel to Zhangye Airport (YZY): $59
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Airport (YZY) to Zhangye Hotel: $59
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Shanghai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:
-
Taxi Ride$3.82
-
Two Subway Tickets$0.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- Shanghai Yu Garden Ticket with Optional Private Transfer: $9.96
- Private Transfers to/from Shanghai Pudong Airport(PVG): $16
- Pudong PVG/Hongqiao SHA Private Transfer ⇄ City Center: $16
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $18
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area: $18
- Private Transfer to/from Shanghai Disneyland Park: $19
- Private Transfer: Hotel to Shanghai Stadium (Football Match, League of Legends): $20
- Private Transfer to Shanghai Railway Station from City Hotels or Outskirts: $22
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) to Shanghai City - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Private Transfer to ERA Acrobats Show at Shanghai Circus World: $22
- Shanghai Pudong and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Hotels Transfer: $24
- Shanghai Airport Transfer: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangye or Shanghai?
Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Zhangye 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
-
Food Meals for one dayZhangye $47Shanghai $39
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
-
Dumpling Breakfast$1.47
-
Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$21
-
Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.65
-
Cantelope$1.77
-
Dumplings and Soup$2.21
-
Duck Dinner$4.41
-
Pastries$3.09
-
Barbeque Dinner$9.41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- Authentic Local Food Tour In Downtown Shanghai-Tip Based: $3.46
- Online Cooking Class Dim Sum by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li: $20
- Shanghai Huangpu River Night Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $28
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour with Chi Gua Va: $35
- Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple and Local Food Tour: $49
- Private Home Cooking Class with local Auntie: $61
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $68
- Authentic Local Food Tour Near the Bund: $71
- Small Group: Shanghai After Dark Food Tour with 9 tastings: $74
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zhangye $11Shanghai $8.98
Tours and Activities in Zhangye
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zhangye are as follows:
- Private day tour to Zhangye Mati temple & Giant Buddha Temple start from Zhangye: $155
- Zhangye One Day City Tour: $170
- Zhangye Danxia Half Day tour: $195
- Private day tour to Zhangye Danxia Landform the Rainbow Mountain: $200
- Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes: $235
- Danxia Geopark & Giant Buddha Private Day Tour: $246
- Mati Temple Grottoes & Giant Buddha Temple Tour: $257
- Private Day Tour: Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform: $299
- Private Hiking Tour: Binggou Danxia and Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Zhangye: $299
- From 6-Day Private Photography Tour to Dunhuang: $1,099
Typical Entertainment Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:
-
30 Minute River Cruise for Two$29
-
Zoo for Two$15
Tours and Activities in Shanghai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:
- Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.46
- Shanghai Highlights Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.46
- Shanghai Evolution Free Walking Tour: $4.00
- Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st and Best Rated: $5.00
- Evening Walking Tour at the Bund: $5.00
- French Concession Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st & Best Rated: $5.00
- Journey Back to Dunhuang Experience Voucher: $5.69
- Shanghai Yu Garden Admission Ticket: $9.67
- The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Private Shanghai Full Day Tour Yu Garden, Bund and Oriental Pearl: $10
- Shanghai Day Tour with English Guide – Explore Yu Garden & More: $10
- Yuyuan Garden Entrance Ticket: $10
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangye $7.36Shanghai $7.83
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: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangye and Shanghai, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Zhangye much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangye would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangye 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 Zhangye.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zhangye Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zhangye or Shanghai?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Zhangye. When comparing the sizes of Zhangye 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.