Prices in Shanghai
Moving or traveling to Shanghai can be a big step. It’s important to know what you are getting into and roughly how much money one can expect to spend or need in Shanghai. This guide to costs in Shanghai will help prepare you for your Chinese experience.
Food in Shanghai:
Street vendor food is the cheapest way to eat, however, one should note that it is warned against by Western travel agencies. Locals and foreign expats often take this route though as it is very inexpensive and usually very delicious. Food ranges in variety from different types of steamed buns and breads to dumplings, spicy noodles, kebobs, and that’s only naming a few. These items range in price from around 1 RMB-10RMB at the most. Street food is usually at the lower end of that spectrum. For example one can generally get 5 dumplings for 1 RMB. This is a great way to eat if you are on a budget, not to mention how fast and convenient it is.
Restaurants range in price a great deal depending on where you go and what you want to eat. Of course. Anything other than Chinese food is more expensive. Shanghai has a great deal of restaurants to offer with a wide variety of international cuisine. Italian is on the lower end of the price spectrum whereas Japanese sushi or Mexican is usually higher. Eating at one of these places will cost you anywhere from 30-100 a plate/person. A typical Chinese restaurant will cost anywhere from 8-50 a plate/person. However, one should not that typical Chinese restaurants serve family style dining and everyone shares the dishes ordered. This makes the meal very inexpensive, and allows one to try many different dishes. Depending on the location and how classy the restaurant is the price will vary. Those located at top tourist sites will run you more than quoted here, around 25-70 a plate/person, in some cases more. Be sure to check the menu before sitting down if you are on a strict budget.
Fast food in Shanghai:
There are a number of different fast food restaurants in Shanghai. Some are Chinese food, others Western foods like KFC and McDonalds. Shanghai even has the Yoshinoya bowl chain in more touristy areas. Places like McDonalds and KFC offer a slightly varied menu to suit Chinese tastes. You can generally buy a hamburger meal for around 20 RMB, slightly higher depending on the meal you want. KFC is similar in price. Expect to pay anywhere from 20-40RMB going to any Western style fast food restaurant. Chinese fast food is slightly cheaper and can usually be bought for 10-15 RMB.
The Cost of Typical Items in Shanghai:
Subway tickets range from 3-5 RMB depending on where you are going. That price is each way.
Bus tickets are 2 RMB each way. (Local)
Bottle of water 1-4 RMB
Can of Soda 2.5RMB
Bottle of Beer (40oz.) 3-8 RMB
Bag of chips (Western style) 3.5-5 RMB
Chinese crackers 2-4 RMB
Box of Kleenex 5.5RMB
Shampoo or conditioner: 20-40RMB (Chinese brands on the lower end, Western on the higher. Herbal Essence shampoo 25.5RMB.)
Toothpaste: 5-10RMB (Chinese brands on the lower end, Western on the higher. Tube of Colgate white 8RMB)
DVDs: 5-10RMB (Depending on the store. Street vendors are on the lower end, stores are generally 10RMB.)
CDs: 10-25RMB (Depending on the store. Street vendors are on the lower end, stores usually start around 12RMB. Only large cd compilations reach the 25RMB mark. Individual cds are on the lower end.)
PS2 games: 5-15RMB (Depending on where you buy them.)
Phone cards: 34-50RMB for 100RMB worth of time. This amount of time varies depending on the card you use and where you call. You shouldn’t pay anymore than these amount of money for a card.
Foreign books: 30 and up depending on the book. Foreign books are a good deal more expensive than Chinese.
Feminine Products: 3-5RMB
Notebooks: 1-5 RMB
Pencils/Pens: 1-5 RMB
Pack of Batteries: 4-8RMB
Bars/Nightlife in Shanghai:
A typical night out at one of the main bars on Mao Ming, Hengshan, or Tong Ren will be costly. Drinks are around 50RMB. Some bars charge a cover of this price as well but usually offer a drink with that cover. You buy your way in and a drink, so it evens out. However, there are also some places, such as Pegasus that offer 50-100 RMB drinks all night Once you’re in and you’ve paid its as much as you want all night! The price depends on the day you go and is only available certain times. For specifics you’ll have to check with the bar as it changes frequently.
Local bars or “dives” will be much less costly but are hard to find. If you know a local Shanghainese they can take you to the spots. Drinks there are around 10-25RMB for anything from beer to vodka.
Tourist Attractions in Shanghai:
Zoo: 35-50RMB
Aquarium: 80-100 RMB
Oriental Pearl TV Tower: 80-100 RMB
Shanghai History Museum: 50-100RMB (Dependent on age and date)
Century Park: 20RMB
Other local parks: 2-5RMB (Some free.)
Best thing to remember when shopping for clothes or souvenirs in Shanghai:
The most important thing to remember is to try and bargain for the best price. Things in tourist areas are priced to be higher than a local would pay. If you know some simple Chinese you can get by bargaining for the items at a lower cost. If you don’t know any Chinese you can simply use a calculator to show the price you are willing to pay. Remember this is bargaining. Be flexible, but there is no need to over pay.
