How much do five days in Shanghai cost?
Budget around €816 per person for five days in Shanghai (China), flight included: €541 for the return ticket — the best fare actually observed, from Paris in November 2026 — and about €275 on the ground, that is €55 a day for simple accommodation, meals and local transport. This destination is affordable: prices on the ground stay below western European levels, especially for food and transport; accommodation is what varies with the season.
Budget by length of stay
| Length | Return flight | On the ground | Total budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | €541 | €165 | €706 |
| 5 days | €541 | €275 | €816 |
| 7 days | €541 | €385 | €926 |
| 10 days | €541 | €550 | €1091 |
| 14 days | €541 | €770 | €1311 |
Per person, flight at the best observed fare (€541 from Paris), living costs at the country average (€55/day). The fare barely depends on the length of the trip if you stay flexible on dates; it is time on the ground that drives the bill.
By travel style (five days)
| Style | Per day | Five days on the ground | Total with flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoestring | €39 | €193 | €734 |
| Standard | €55 | €275 | €816 |
| Comfort | €99 | €495 | €1036 |
- Shoestring: hostel or a room in someone’s home, street food and markets, public transport.
- Standard: two- or three-star hotel or a rental, simple restaurants, the odd taxi and one paid visit a day.
- Comfort: well-located four-star hotel, good restaurants, taxis or a rental car, activities without counting.
Indicative split of a “standard” day in Shanghai: accommodation ≈ €25, meals ≈ €19, transport and sundries ≈ €11.
The flight: which city to leave from?
| From | Best return fare | Month | Five-day budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | €541 | November 2026 | €816 |
| Brussels | €555 | February 2027 | €830 |
| Lyon | €642 | November 2026 | €917 |
| Geneva | €669 | November 2026 | €944 |
| Nice | €723 | December 2026 | €998 |
| Toulouse | €838 | December 2026 | €1113 |
Latest fare recorded for each city (recorded on Oct 4), best month for each. Click a city for its next 12 months.
When to go to Shanghai to pay less
Five-day budget including the flight, for the months where a fare was recorded. Temperatures are monthly normals (Open-Meteo), not forecasts.
For the same budget, you could also go to…
- BergenNorway · €816 for five days, flight from €191
- TrondheimNorway · €812 for five days, flight from €187
- ZurichSwitzerland · €821 for five days, flight from €121
- BeijingChina · €821 for five days, flight from €546
- JohannesburgSouth Africa · €826 for five days, flight from €551
- Abu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates · €829 for five days, flight from €229
- BaselSwitzerland · €801 for five days, flight from €101
- QingdaoChina · €832 for five days, flight from €557
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
How much do five days in Shanghai cost?
Budget around €816 per person for five days in Shanghai, flight included: €541 for the return flight (best fare observed from Paris in November 2026) and about €275 on the ground (€55 a day for simple accommodation, meals and transport). On a shoestring you get down to €734; in comfort you climb to €1036.
What daily budget should I plan for in Shanghai?
About €55 per person per day for a “standard” trip (national average — China: simple accommodation, three meals, local transport), €39 on a shoestring and €99 in comfort. Paid activities, insurance and shopping not included.
Is Shanghai an expensive destination?
At €55 a day, Shanghai is affordable: prices on the ground stay below western European levels, especially for food and transport; accommodation is what varies with the season.
How much is the plane ticket to Shanghai?
The best return fare recorded in the last three days is €541 from Paris, up to €838 from Toulouse. The full 12-month calendar is on each route page.
Go further
Cheap flights to Shanghai: every fare by city and month, weather and 90-day low · Every destination by budget · The map in “flight + trip” mode
Where do these prices come from?
The fares shown are real observed prices from recent flight searches (round trip, per person), refreshed continuously. They give a reliable snapshot of the market, but can change hour to hour: the final price is always verified with the booking partner when you book.
To go further, the Fareaway interactive map puts all these destinations on a world map: set your budget and dates and instantly see where you can go — including that month's weather, local cost of living and visa requirements.