Budget · Shanghai · China
Shanghai on a budget
What a trip to Shanghai really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Shanghai is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $50–$90 per person per day on a tight budget, $130–$250 mid-range and $400–$1,000 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in June–September and December–March.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $50–$90 a day
- Mid-range
- $130–$250 a day
- Luxury
- $400–$1,000 a day
- Local currency
- CNY
- Free sights
- 7
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $50–$90 | $150–$270 | $250–$450 | $350–$630 |
| Mid-range | $130–$250 | $390–$750 | $650–$1,250 | $910–$1,750 |
| Luxury | $400–$1,000 | $1,200–$3,000 | $2,000–$5,000 | $2,800–$7,000 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Shanghai, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro ride | about ¥3–¥10 |
| Basket of xiaolongbao at a local shop | about ¥15–¥40 |
| Bowl of noodles | about ¥15–¥35 |
| Coffee at an independent café | about ¥25–¥45 |
| Maglev single to Pudong Airport | about ¥50 |
| Observation-deck ticket | about ¥160–¥250 |
| Dinner at a mid-range Shanghainese restaurant | about ¥100–¥200 per person |
| Cocktail in a bar | about ¥80–¥120 |
Money-saving tips
- The Shanghai Museum is free with a reservation, and the Bund, the French Concession and the parks cost nothing.
- Local dumpling and noodle shops serve filling meals for a fraction of mall restaurant prices.
- Choose one observation deck rather than several; the Bund promenade gives the skyline view for free.
- Hotel prices jump during national holidays and big trade fairs; book well ahead or travel outside them.
- Use the Metro and the public Huangpu ferry instead of taxis and tourist boats when budgets are tight.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you arrive so you are not limited to cash-only options.
Free things to do
- The Bund — The riverside promenade along Zhongshan Road East is lined with more than 50 early-20th-century buildings, including the domed former HSBC building and the green-roofed Fairmont Peace Hotel.
- Nanjing Road — Nanjing Road East is a pedestrian shopping street of about 1.2 km running from the Bund to People's Square, lined with department stores, food halls and neon signs.
- Shanghai Museum — The drum-shaped museum on People's Square holds one of China's finest collections of ancient bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, jade and furniture, with clear English labelling.
- Former French Concession walk — A walk from the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion along Wukang Road, Anfu Road and Fuxing Road passes 1920s and 1930s villas, apartment blocks and lane houses under plane trees, many marked with heritage plaques.
- Xintiandi — Xintiandi is a pedestrian block of restored shikumen stone-gate houses south of Huaihai Road, now restaurants, bars and shops.
- Tianzifang — Off Taikang Road, Tianzifang is a warren of narrow lanes where former workshops and homes now hold craft shops, tea stalls, small galleries and cafés.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, culture and families
Old City (Yuyuan)
Yu Garden, temple-style shopping streets and old lanes around Laoximen
$$ · Best for budget, culture and quiet stays
North Bund and Hongkou
Older residential streets, Duolun Road and the former Jewish refugee quarter
$$ · Best for budget and families
Hongqiao
Transport hub for Hongqiao Airport and the high-speed rail station
Eating well for less
- Pan-fried pork buns — Specialist shengjian chains and corner shops across the city, especially at breakfast and lunch.
- Sticky rice roll — Morning breakfast stalls near Metro stations and in residential lanes, usually until mid-morning.
- Crab shell pastry — Old bakeries and snack shops in the Old City and around Huanghe Road.
Getting around for less
Shanghai Public Transportation Card
A rechargeable card for the Metro, buses, ferries and many taxis; a deposit is refunded at designated stations.
Metro day passes
One-day and three-day Metro tickets offer unlimited rides and suit days with many journeys; the three-day ticket can include the Maglev.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Shanghai cost?
About $650–$1,250 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $250–$450 on a tight budget.
+Is Shanghai expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. The Shanghai Museum is free with a reservation, and the Bund, the French Concession and the parks cost nothing.
+How much money do I need per day in Shanghai?
Roughly $50–$90 on a budget and $130–$250 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Shanghai?
Usually in June–September and December–March.