Which place is cheaper, Shanghai or Bangalore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bangalore or Shanghai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bangalore and Shanghai can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bangalore or Shanghai?
Bangalore
Bangalore is the capital city of the state of Karnataka, in India. It's also India's third largest city with a population of about 8.5 million. It's considered one of the most liveable cities in the country and was historically known for its many gardens and lush green spaces. Today those areas are all but gone, having given way to the growing population and sprawling metropolises. Bangalore is also the information technology hub of the country and is sometimes referred to as India's Silicon Valley.
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 Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Bangalore Prices
India PricesShanghai Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangalore $51Shanghai $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangalore is $51, while the average daily cost in Shanghai is $132. 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 Bangalore and Shanghai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangalore $19Shanghai $82
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangalore $38Shanghai $164
Compare Hotels in Bangalore and Shanghai
Looking for a hotel in Bangalore 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangalore $9.20Shanghai $3.93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Shanghai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:
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Taxi Ride$3.64
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Two Subway Tickets$0.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- private transfer from Wusongkou CruisePort to Disneyland and back: $64
- [Airport Transfer] Shanghai Pudong Airport / Hongqiao Airport ⇔ Shanghai City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $23
- Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Self-Guide 10-Hour Private Transfer Tour: $138
- Zhujiajiao Water Town Self-Guided Tour with Private Transfer from Shanghai: $75
- Zhouzhuang and Tongli Water Town Private Transfer Service from Shanghai : $106
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $18
- Yiwu City Private Transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport : $74
- Yiwu Airport Private Transfer, airport pick up drop off services: $20
- Yiwu Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $20
- Wuzhen and Xitang Water Town Private Transfer from Shanghai: $133
- Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal-Pudong Airport One Way Private Transfer: $35
- Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal-Downtown Hotel Private One Way Transfer: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangalore or Shanghai?
Prices for flights to both Shanghai and Bangalore 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
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Food Meals for one dayBangalore $21Shanghai $38
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.40
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$20
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.29
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Cantelope$1.68
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Dumplings and Soup$2.10
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Duck Dinner$4.21
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Pastries$2.94
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Barbeque Dinner$8.97
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: $3.57
- MingleX Dinner with Shanghai locals: $19
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li : $20
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour with Chi Gua Va: $35
- Public Chinese Cooking Class in Shanghai : $50
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $68
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Shanghai Cooking Dumpling and Taste Local Food w/Vegan Option: $87
- Late Night Food Tour in the Shanghai's French Concession: $89
- Huangpu River Crystal Princess Cruise Ticket with dinner: $92
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangalore $10Shanghai $8.55
Tours and Activities in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Delhi: Sunrise Taj Mahal, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $5.64
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Agra Fort, and Baby Taj Tour: $24
- Taj Mahal and Agra Private Tour with free Airport pickup: $57
Typical Entertainment Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:
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30 Minute River Cruise for Two$28
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Zoo for Two$14
Tours and Activities in Shanghai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:
- Half-Day Private Tour of Shanghai Bund with River Cruise or Tower View: $124
- Private Shanghai Flexible City Highlight Tour with Night Cruise: $221
- Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights: $108
- Shanghai Layover Tour to Xinchang Water Town with City Highlights Option : $135
- Shanghai Yu Garden and Bund Private Walking Tour: $25
- Shanghai private Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town and tallest tower: $230
- Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Museum Private Shanghai Day Tour: $175
- Zhouzhuang Water Town Self-Guided Day Tour from Shanghai: $88
- 1 Day Shanghai Airport Layover Private Tour for City Highlights: $202
- 1 Day Shanghai City Private Tour + Zhujiajiao Water Town: $230
- 1 Day Shanghai Highlight Small Group Tour: $198
- 1 Days Shanghai Quality Group Tour: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangalore $8.61Shanghai $7.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangalore and Shanghai, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Bangalore much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bangalore would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bangalore 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 Bangalore.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangalore Expensive? and Is Shanghai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangalore or Shanghai?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bangalore. When comparing the sizes of Bangalore 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.