Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Shanghai?
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 Shanghai or Boracay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Shanghai and Boracay. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Shanghai or Boracay?
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".
Boracay
A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines.
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Shanghai Prices
China PricesBoracay Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $132Boracay $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $132, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $66. 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 Shanghai and Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $82Boracay $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $164Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Boracay? 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.Shanghai $3.93Boracay $28
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:
- Mount Mogan Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai by Private Transfer: $130
- Tongli and Xitang Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai by Private Transfer: $114
- 3-hour Private Transfer to Shanghai ERA Acrobatic Show from City Center: $53
- Arrival Private Transfer Pudong Airport PVG to Shanghai by Sedan: $60
- Arrival Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Hotel: $79
- Chartered Transfer Vehicle in Shanghai: $200
- Chauffeur service, Limousine airport transfer in Shanghai-English speaking: $51
- Departure Private Transfer: Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG in Business Car: $123
- Departure Transfer by High-Speed Maglev Train: Hotel to Shanghai Pudong International Airport: $79
- Departure Transfer from Shanghai to Pudong Airport PVG by Sedan: $60
- ERA Acrobatics Show Ticket with Private Transfer: $54
- Flexible Hours of Private Shanghai Layover or Transfer Tour: $129
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $23
- Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Arrival Private Transfer : $24
- Boracay to Caticlan Airport (MPH) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
- Boracay to Caticlan Airport (MPH) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
- Caticlan: 1-Way or Roundtrip Airport Transfer to Boracay: $27
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $29
- Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $30
- Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer to Boracay: $34
- Two-way Shared Transfer from/to Airport to Hotel: $34
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay and Shanghai 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 dayShanghai $38Boracay $25
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: $3.58
- MingleX Dinner with Shanghai locals: $19
- Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li : $20
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Dim Sum 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
- Late Night Food Tour in the Shanghai's French Concession: $85
- Shanghai Cooking Dumpling and Taste Local Food w/Vegan Option: $87
- Private Cooking Class: Make Your Own Dim Sum In Shanghai: $88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.55Boracay $15
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:
- Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.58
- Evening Walking Tour at the Bund: $5.00
- Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st and Best Rated: $5.00
- French Concession Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st & Best Rated: $5.00
- Shanghai Yu Garden Tickets with options (near the Bund): $8.50
- Yuyuan Garden Entrance Ticket: $9.00
- The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Shanghai Natural History Museum Ticket Booking: $11
- Yu/Yuyuan Garden Entry Ticket-E ticket: $13
- Shanghai City Sightseeing Bus Hop On Hop Off City Tour: $19
- JinMao Tower Ticket Pass Experience: $22
- Huangpu River sightseeing Cruise Ticket from ShiliuPu Pier: $23
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience: $6.27
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $8.95
- Banana Boat Adventure: $10
- Boracay Private Land Tour: $13
- Flying Donut Water Tubing Experience: $14
- All-Terrain Vehicle or Buggy Car Experience: $15
- Boracay UFO Adventure: $16
- Sunset Cruise with Water Activities: $16
- Boracay Sunset Cruise: $16
- Boracay Island Rhythm Sunset Cruise: $17
- Bandwagon Ride Experience: $17
- Sunset Cruise Boat Party by Haqqy Life: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.46Boracay $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and Boracay, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boracay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boracay 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 Boracay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shanghai or Boracay?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 6350 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai and Boracay, 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.