Comparison · Shanghai vs Singapore · China / Singapore
Shanghai vs Singapore
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Shanghai for The Bund, Pudong skyline and lower day-to-day costs; choose Singapore for Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay, beaches and a milder winter. Shanghai is generally less expensive, and the two are about 3,810 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 3,810 km
- Less expensive
- Shanghai
- Best time for Shanghai
- April–May and October–November
- Best time for Singapore
- February–April and July–August
Side by side
| Shanghai | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | Singapore |
| Known for | The Bund, Pudong skyline and Xiaolongbao | Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands |
| Best time to visit | April–May and October–November | February–April and July–August |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$250 | $160–$300 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | March, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 8°C (46°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | Palawan Beach |
| Airports | PVG, SHA | SIN |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Shanghai for…
The Bund, Pudong skyline and lower day-to-day costs. Shanghai splits along the Huangpu River: on the west bank, the 1920s and 1930s banks and hotels of the Bund, the Old City around Yu Garden and the plane-tree streets of the former French Concession; on the east bank, the Lujiazui towers led by the 632-metre…
Choose Singapore for…
Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay, beaches and a milder winter. Singapore fits Marina Bay's skyline, the Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay, a UNESCO-listed botanic garden and the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan quarters of the old town into an island about 50 km across. The MRT links almost everything within 40…
Top sights compared
| # | Shanghai | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bund | Gardens by the Bay |
| 2 | Yu Garden | Marina Bay Sands SkyPark |
| 3 | Shanghai Tower | Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade |
| 4 | Oriental Pearl Tower | Singapore Botanic Gardens |
| 5 | Shanghai Museum | Buddha Tooth Relic Temple |
Food compared
| Shanghai | Singapore |
|---|---|
| Soup dumplings | Hainanese chicken rice |
| Pan-fried pork buns | Laksa |
| Red-braised pork belly | Chilli crab |
| Scallion oil noodles | Char kway teow |
Which is cheaper?
Shanghai is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $130–$250 per person there, against $160–$300 in Singapore (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Shanghai on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 3,810 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Shanghai or Singapore cheaper?
Shanghai is usually less expensive: about $130–$250 a day mid-range against $160–$300 (estimates).
+Is Shanghai or Singapore better for a first trip?
Pick Shanghai for The Bund, Pudong skyline and lower day-to-day costs, or Singapore for Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay, beaches and a milder winter.
+How far is Shanghai from Singapore?
About 3,810 km in a straight line.