Shanghai Hostel Prices

How much do hostels in Shanghai cost?

Available dorm-bed prices in Shanghai, China range from $7 to $46/night over the next 3 months. HostelHound compares 50 hostels.

On a typical date, the cheapest available dorm bed is around $7.

At $7/night and up, Shanghai is a mid-range hostel destination in China.

How these prices work: Hostelworld listings, based on one night and the selected dorm-bed type. “Typical starting price” is the median of daily minimum prices across 22 contributing properties—not the typical hostel’s price. Amounts are converted to USD; verify availability and final taxes and fees on Hostelworld. Filters can narrow the advertised results below, but this summary remains citywide. Latest city scrape: 2026-09-12T01:31:53.929Z.

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Local knowledge for Shanghai

Where to stay

Most budget hostels cluster around People's Square and the northern edge of the French Concession, where Metro Lines 1 and 2 intersect and Nanjing Road is walkable. A handful of cheaper options sit near Yuyuan Garden in the old city, good for the waterfront but a bit further from the main transit corridors.

Getting around

Pick up a Shanghai Public Transportation Card at any metro station on arrival. It works on the metro, most buses, and some ferry crossings, and each ride costs slightly less than a single-journey token.
If you land at Pudong International Airport, Metro Line 2 gets you to People's Square for a small fare. The Maglev is faster in the air but drops you at Longyang Road, where you still need the metro, so it rarely saves meaningful time unless your hostel is in Pudong.
Food stalls and sit-down spots right inside the Yuyuan Bazaar charge tourist prices. Walk a couple of blocks away toward Fuxing Road and you will find the same soup dumplings and noodles for noticeably less.

When to go

Expect the lowest hostel rates from mid-November through mid-December. Beds fill fast and prices climb during Golden Week (October 1 to 7) and Chinese New Year, which falls in late January or February depending on the year.

Frequently asked questions

How much do hostels in Shanghai cost?

On a typical date, the cheapest available dorm bed is around $7. Dorm beds currently range from $7 to $46/night across the next 3 months of availability.

How many hostels does HostelHound track in Shanghai?

HostelHound currently tracks 50 hostels in Shanghai, China.

Is Shanghai affordable compared to other hostel cities in China?

Shanghai is a mid-range hostel destination in China, with dorm prices starting from $7/night.

Where do backpackers stay in Shanghai?

Most budget hostels cluster around People's Square and the northern edge of the French Concession, where Metro Lines 1 and 2 intersect and Nanjing Road is walkable. A handful of cheaper options sit near Yuyuan Garden in the old city, good for the waterfront but a bit further from the main transit corridors.

What is the best time of year to visit Shanghai?

Expect the lowest hostel rates from mid-November through mid-December. Beds fill fast and prices climb during Golden Week (October 1 to 7) and Chinese New Year, which falls in late January or February depending on the year.