How much spending money do I need for Shanghai?
If you have a trip to Shanghai coming up - as a tourist, to visit friends and family, for work or for any other reason - it’s important to know how much spending money is needed based on your plans. This guide looks at the prices in Shanghai for tourists, including some budgeting tips and ideas, for luxury and budget travel alike.
How Much Money Should You Take to Shanghai?
So - your question might well be: how much do I need in CNY (Chinese Yuan Renminbi) for a week in Shanghai?
We'll break down how much money you should take to Shanghai by different spending types later - but first, an overview. Here are some handy estimates to give you a flavour, looking at the costs of accommodation, food, transport and sightseeing, so you can start to budget, and decide how much money to bring to Shanghai, based on your spending for a day or for a week.
| Travel Style | Average Daily cost | One Week cost |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (Cheap) | £36 CNY 352 | £256 CNY 2,488 |
| Mid-range | £97 CNY 942 | £678 CNY 6,593 |
| High-end (Luxury) | £275 CNY 372 | £1,922 CNY 18,700 |
How Much Cash Should You Take to Shanghai?
Let's kick off with some key points when it comes to deciding how much cash to take to Shanghai.
Cash is very widely used in Shanghai (China), so having some with you at all times will be important. You can carry travel cash with you when you head to Shanghai, exchange at the airport, or use ATMs on arrival.
Bear in mind that exchange rates at airports and hotels are often pretty poor - and before you fly out with lots of cash on you, check the latest cash limit you can take to Shanghai before you need to declare it to the customs authorities. Ultimately, carrying lots of cash at any one time can be a security risk and make you a target for thieves.
Using an international travel debit card from a provider like Wise to make ATM withdrawals on arrival could be safer and cost less in the end.
Wise travel card
Order a Wise travel card to buy, hold and exchange 40+ currencies. You’ll be able to spend conveniently in Shanghai - and all currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with no markup.
Card holders get some free ATM withdrawals available every month, and there’s no annual or monthly fees to pay, and no minimum balance requirement.
Is Shanghai Expensive to Visit (in 2025)?
Ultimately, the cost of visiting Shanghai varies depending on your plans, and how you like to enjoy yourself when you're abroad.
Overall, Shanghai, is rated as a "somewhat expensive" place to visit by BudgetYourTrip. Accommodation, food, and activities are all available to suit any budget - but you'll need to plan your time to make sure you're making the most of both your time and your money while you're away.
What currency should I take to Shanghai?
The official local currency used in Shanghai is the Chinese Yuan Renminbi-CNY. If you plan to take cash with you to spend while you're away, you'll need Chinese Yuan Renminbi.
The currency symbol is ¥, which is what you'll see in stores and on restaurant menus.
| Chinese Yuan Renminbi | |
|---|---|
| Currency name | Chinese Yuan Renminbi |
| Currency symbol | ¥ |
| Currency code | CNY |
| Exchange rate today | 1 GBP = 9.7271 CNY 1 CNY = 0.102806 GBP |
How to Save Money in Shanghai - Traveller tips
No matter what you're planning on doing during your trip to Shanghai, you want to make sure your money goes as far as possible.
Here are some top tips to save money in Shanghai:
- Book your hotels or accommodation in advance to secure the best available deals
- Use public transport where possible, or approved taxi and ride hailing operators
- Use Google maps and reviews to find good restaurants. You'll often find better food and more reasonable prices away from the most touristy areas of town
- Look online for recommendations of free or low-cost attractions and activities in Shanghai - blogs and travel magazines are a great place to start
- Use travel cards that offer fair exchange rates with transparent fees such as Wise, to keep down the costs of currency conversion and ATM use while you're away
Get a free multi-currency account and card to buy, hold, convert and send over 40 currencies. Fast, secure, easy and cheap transfers at the commercial exchange rate.
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Costs and Prices in Shanghai for Tourists
Let's move on to the typical prices in Shanghai for tourists. Below we've got a handy overview of prices for accommodation, food and services for tourists in Shanghai. Use this along with your own research to figure out the likely costs and prices you'll come across during your visit.
Accommodation Costs in Shanghai
Accommodation is usually one of the biggest costs on any trip abroad - but what you pay in the end will depend a lot on the accommodation type you pick. Below is an example of accommodation costs in Shanghai based on one person sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room.
| Types of accommodation | Prices per night |
|---|---|
| Budget | £21
CNY 208 |
| Mid-Range | £60
CNY 582 |
| Luxury | £191
CNY 1,855 |
Daily Food Costs in Shanghai
Food is an important feature of a trip abroad for many of us - but what you spend can vary significantly depending on where you purchase your meals in Shanghai. As you might expect, buying food from local markets and stores can be one of the cheapest options, or you could choose to eat at mid-range restaurants, or sample some high-end establishments.
Here's an example of how much a meal costs in Shanghai based on different restaurant types.
| Types of Meal | Average Daily Cost |
|---|---|
| Budget | £11
CNY 108 |
| Mid-Range | £27
CNY 266 |
| Luxury | £65
CNY 633 |
Cost of Drink & Beverages
Let's move on to the cost of beer, wine, water and other beverages in Shanghai:
| Drink & Beverages | Prices |
|---|---|
| Beer (bottle) | £1 CNY 6 |
| Wine (bottle) | £9 CNY 90 |
| Can of Coca-cola /Pepsi | £0 CNY 4 |
| Mineral water (1.5L bottle) | £0 CNY 4 |
| Coffee, Cappuccino, Hot Chocolate | £3 CNY 25 |
Cost of Entertainment
Entertainment and sightseeing are key aspects of any trip to Shanghai, and your spending will depend on where and how you choose to experience them. You've got a range of options, from budget-friendly activities to more luxurious experiences.
Below is how much you'll generally spend on things like going out, sightseeing and general entertainment:
| Entertainment | Average Daily Cost |
|---|---|
| Budget | £2
CNY 22 |
| Mid-Range | £6
CNY 58 |
| Luxury | £18
CNY 173 |
Travel Costs in Shanghai
Once you've arrived in Shanghai you still need to figure out how to get around. The cost of travel can be different depending on your preferences - and how much of a hurry you're in. Using public transport is often our cheapest choice, but getting a taxi or hiring a car could be faster and more flexible, depending on your budget.
Some common ways to save money on transport in Shanghai include:
- Where possible use airport shuttles on arrival to get to the city centre
- Use buses, metro, trams or other public transport where you can - Google Maps can help you navigate more easily
Plan activities to limit the travel needed by covering the popular sites in one area before exploring the next, to avoid excess travel time
Use known taxi operators and approved ride-hailing companies.
| Transport costs | Average Daily Cost |
|---|---|
| Budget | £1
CNY 14 |
| Mid-Range | £3
CNY 72 |
| Luxury | £18
CNY 173 |
Data Roaming, Internet, Local Sim Cards
Having easy access to your phone while you're away is important - not only to keep in touch with your friends and family, but also to navigate, look up good places to eat or visit, and to translate if needed. Make sure you don't get stuck without your phone - or with a big roaming bill - when you're in Shanghai with these tips:
- Turn off your data roaming if you're concerned about running up excess fees, and only use your phone on secure wifi networks while you're away
- Check the roaming costs with your mobile operator - you may be able to add a roaming data package to your normal plan for a fairly low price
- Consider getting an international eSIM if your phone is compatible with eSIMs - these can be low hassle ways to keep access to your data, without needing to install a physical SIM card
- Check the SIM card price for tourists in China, before travelling - you'll likely find people trying to sell you a local SIM in the airport when you arrive, so knowing the price you should pay can help you avoid scams
How Much Should You Tip in Shanghai?
Tipping etiquette can vary a lot between countries, and naturally depends a lot on the type of establishment you're in, or service you've received. Generally, tipping around 10-15% of the bill when you are happy with the service is in line with expectations.
Bear in mind that in some places a service fee - which is a percentage of the amount you spend - is already added to the bill, and means you don't need to add an additional tip unless you really want to. Check your bill before you pay - or just ask if the tip has already been included or not.
How to Get the Best Exchange Rate for Chinese Yuan Renminbi
Naturally you want to get the very best GBP to CNY exchange rate. However, bear in mind that you'll also need to pick a secure and reputable provider when you exchange money. Black market money changers may look like they're offering great rates but they're not safe or reliable. Look out for the GBP - CNY exchange rate online or at the currency exchange office.
Always seek out official exchange companies that offer fair rates and transparent fees. Or, consider getting a travel money card, such as Wise, to ensure your transactions are secure and convenient. Use your Wise card to pay where card transactions are supported, or to get cash from the ATM whenever you need it during your visit to Shanghai.
The live exchange rate today is:
1 GBP = 9.7271 CNY
1 CNY = 0.102806 GBP
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