Shanghai on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Shanghai can be done on a budget with hostels, the metro and dumpling shops, though it is pricier than inland Chinese cities. Plan on about 280 yuan per person per day (bed 150, food 80, sights 30, transport 20).
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | yuan150 | yuan450 | yuan1,500 |
| Food & drink | yuan80 | yuan220 | yuan600 |
| Sights & tickets | yuan30 | yuan180 | yuan450 |
| Local transport | yuan20 | yuan60 | yuan300 |
| Per person, per day | yuan280 | yuan910 | yuan2,850 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Shanghai day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the Bund and see the 1920s–1930s banks and hotels
- Walk the Lujiazui riverside in Pudong for views back to the Bund
- Visit the Shanghai Museum at People's Square (free, booking required)
- Walk the plane-tree streets of the former French Concession, such as Wukang Road
- Browse Tianzifang and the shikumen lanes of Xintiandi
- See the skyline lit up from the Bund after dark
Cheap eats
- Ci fan tuan (sticky rice roll) for breakfast: about ¥6–15
- Shengjian bao: about ¥10–25 for four
- Xiaolongbao: roughly ¥20–45 a basket
- Scallion oil noodles: about ¥12–25
- Wonton soup: about ¥12–25
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels around People's Square and Jing'an, central and on the metro, for about 250–450 yuan for a room; dorm beds cost less.
Getting around cheaply
The metro is the cheapest way around. From Pudong Airport, take metro Line 2 for the lowest fare, or the Maglev (about 50 yuan) plus the metro for speed. The public ferry across the Huangpu costs 2 yuan.
A sample budget day
- Morning: the Bund and Nanjing Road (free)
- Lunch: xiaolongbao (about ¥35)
- Afternoon: ferry to Pudong (2 yuan) and the riverside, then the Shanghai Museum (free)
- Evening: noodles and shengjian bao (about ¥40); metro rides about ¥15
- Total: about ¥100 plus your bed (about ¥150), so roughly ¥250–280
More ways to save
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card before you arrive.
- Book the Shanghai Museum and popular sights online in advance.
- Visit water towns such as Zhujiajiao by metro on a weekday.
- Rent shared bikes through Alipay for the French Concession.
- Carry a refillable bottle and buy large water bottles at convenience stores.
- Use translation and map apps that work in China, downloaded before arrival.
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Common questions
Can I visit Shanghai on a budget?
Yes, at about 280 yuan a day with a hostel, the metro and dumpling shops.
What is free in Shanghai?
The Bund, the Pudong riverside, the Shanghai Museum (booked), the French Concession streets and Tianzifang.
What is the cheapest way from Pudong Airport?
Metro Line 2; the Maglev (about 50 yuan) is faster but needs a metro connection.