Daily costs per person in CNY. Shanghai is surprisingly affordable — street food and metro fares are dirt cheap, but cocktail bars and observation decks add up fast.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: CNY (Yuan/RMB) (1 USD ≈ ¥7.25)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ¥50–150 | ¥300–700 | ¥1,500+ | Hostel → hotel → boutique/luxury |
| Food | ¥60–120 | ¥150–300 | ¥600+ | Street food & noodles → restaurants → fine dining |
| Transport | ¥15–30 | ¥40–80 | ¥200+ | Metro → taxi/DiDi → private driver |
| Activities | ¥40–100 | ¥150–350 | ¥500+ | Free museums & parks → observation decks → river cruise & shows |
| Drinks | ¥10–30 | ¥50–150 | ¥300+ | Beer & tea → craft beer → cocktail bars |
| Daily Total | ¥175–430 | ¥690–1,580 | ¥3,100+ | $24–59 → $95–218 → $427+ |
Money-saving tips
Street food paradise
Jianbing (¥8–15), shengjianbao (¥10–15/4 pcs), scallion oil noodles (¥15–25), wonton soup (¥12). Full meals for under ¥30 are easy to find in any neighborhood.
Metro efficiency
Shanghai Metro is cheap (¥3–9 per ride), extensive, and clean. Buy a Shanghai Public Transportation Card (¥20 deposit + top-up) for tap-and-go on metro, buses, and ferries.
Free attractions
The Bund walk, People's Park, French Concession, M50 Art District, Power Station of Art, and Fuxing Park are all free. Many museums offer free entry on certain days.
WeChat Pay
Set up WeChat Pay before arriving — it's used everywhere from street vendors to restaurants. Some places don't accept cash or cards anymore. Alipay is an alternative.
Budget accommodations
Hostels in the French Concession from ¥50–100/night. Budget hotels near People's Square from ¥200/night. Book on Trip.com (Ctrip) for best China hotel prices.
Haggle at markets
At markets (Dongtai Road, AP Plaza, Yu Garden), start at 20–30% of the asking price. Vendors expect negotiation and initial prices are marked up 3–5x.
