1. Campanile Shanghai Hotel

• Location: South Suzhou Road, Jing’an District

• Features: Free Wi-Fi, modern rooms, on-site restaurant, great accessibility

• Why Stay Here: Walking distance to famous tourist sites

• CHECK PRICE

2. Fish Inn Bund

• Location: Huangpu District

• Features: Boutique style, cozy rooms, luggage storage, helpful staff

• Nearby: The Bund, Nanjing Road shopping street

• CHECK PRICE

3. Shanghai Soho Garden Hotel

• Location: Tai’an Road (Tai’an Lu), Changning District

• Features: Stylish design, bar, café, modern amenities

• Nearby: Jing’an Temple, French Concession

• CHECK PRICE

4. Jinjiang Inn, Select Shanghai Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

• Location: Huangpu District

• Features: Business-friendly, clean rooms, great location

• Perfect For: Business + leisure travelers

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5. Yitel Collection (Shanghai People’s Square)

• Location: Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

• Features: Mid-range budget, sleek rooms, breakfast options

• Nearby: Shanghai Railway Station

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6. Hanting Hotel Shanghai East Nanjing Road

• Location: Huangpu

• Features: Comfortable rooms, clean bathrooms, TV, Wi-Fi

• Perk: Direct access to metro & shopping

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7. Hi Inn Shanghai, Lujiazui Software Park

• Location: Pudong District

• Features: Compact rooms, budget rates, daily housekeeping

• Good For: Travelers near business parks

• CHECK PRICE

8. Heyitang Hotel Shanghai International Tourism Resort

• Location: Near Shanghai Disneyland

• Features: Local guesthouse-style hotel, family-friendly

• Ideal For: Disney visitors on a budget

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9. Meta Tree Hotel – People’s Square

• Location: People’s Square, Huangpu

• Features: Modern rooms, unbeatable location, metro access

• Ideal For: Tourists, short stays in city center

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10. Motel 168 Shanghai Railway Station

• Location: Sinan Road, Huangpu District

• Features: Ideal for early/late train schedules, no-frills comfort

• Nearby: Major train stations, local eateries

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12. Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Gubei

• Location: Changning District

• Key Features: Free breakfast, clean rooms, good for business travelers

• Ideal For: Professionals or travelers near the Hongqiao transport hub

• Nearby: Zhongshan Park, metro line 10

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13. Xin Hui City Hotel – Shanghai Railway Station

• Location: Jing’an District

• Key Features: Close to train station, compact rooms, 24/7 reception

• Ideal For: Transit travelers, solo backpackers

• Nearby: Shanghai Railway Station, local eateries

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14. Rest Hotel (Shanghai)

• Location: Various branches – this refers to downtown outlets

• Key Features: Budget rooms, family options, AC, Wi-Fi

• Ideal For: Travelers needing short overnight stays

• Nearby: Metro lines, local street food

• CHECK PRICE

15. Chuxin Moshe Hotel

• Location: Near Pudong Airport

• Key Features: Airport pickup (in some packages), neat rooms

• Ideal For: Early flights or layovers

• Nearby: Pudong Airport (10-15 mins)

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16. Shanghai Farmhouse

• Location: Songjiang or Qingpu districts (suburban)

• Key Features: Quiet nature escape, local-style rooms, rural vibe

• Ideal For: Travelers looking for offbeat, countryside vibes

• Nearby: Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town (if in Qingpu)

• CHECK PRICE

17. HanTing Hotel (Multiple Branches)

• Location: City-wide, including People’s Square, Lujiazui

• Key Features: Simple, clean, affordable chain, free Wi-Fi

• Ideal For: Backpackers, solo travelers, short stays

• Nearby: Metro stations, shopping streets (depending on branch)

• CHECK PRICE 

18. Shanghai Lan House

• Location: Jing’an or Huangpu (depending on location)

• Key Features: Boutique design, loft-style interiors, cozy atmosphere

• Ideal For: Couples or design-conscious travelers

• Nearby: Nightlife zones, central districts

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19. Holiday Inn Express – Shanghai Pudong Airport

• Location: Pudong Airport area

• Key Features: Free shuttle, breakfast buffet, business center

• Ideal For: Overnight flyers, early departures

• Nearby: Airport, Maglev Station

• CHECK PRICE

20. Meego Qingwen Hotel

• Location: Jing’an District, near Suzhou Creek

• Key Features: Hostel-hotel hybrid, shared & private rooms, library lounge

• Ideal For: Digital nomads, budget travelers

• Nearby: Jing’an Temple, Suzhou River Walks

• CHECK PRICE

21. Shanghai Citadines Hotel (Hongqiao or Xujiahui)

• Location: Residential areas, close to business hubs

• Key Features: Apartment-style rooms, kitchenette, workspaces

• Ideal For: Extended stays, workation travelers

• Nearby: Metro stations, malls, cafes

• CHECK PRICE

22. Novotel Shanghai Pudong Chuansha

• Location: Chuansha Town, Pudong

• Key Features: International chain comfort, near Disneyland & Airport

• Ideal For: Families or business travelers on a budget

• Nearby: Shanghai Disney, PVG Airport

• CHECK PRICE

23. Golden Tulip Bund New Asia

• Location: Hongkou (near Bund)

• Features: Classy rooms, excellent price for quality

• Ideal For: Stylish budget travelers, longer stays

• CHECK PRICE

24. Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Hongqiao

• Location: Near Hongqiao Station & Airport

• Features: Free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, business services

• Ideal For: Business travelers, train transit

• CHECK PRICE

Click now:

• More Budget Hotels Under 40$

• Best Hostels in Shanghai

🗺️ Budget-Friendly Areas to Stay in Shanghai

• Huangpu District: Central, near The Bund, museums, shopping

• Jing’an District: Trendy, hipster cafes, expat crowd

• People’s Square: Excellent metro access, city center

• Pudong: Near skyscrapers & financial center, ideal for business

• Hongkou: Cheaper, local markets, less touristy

✈️ How to Reach Central Shanghai

• From Pudong Airport: Take Metro Line 2 or Maglev + Line 2

• From Hongqiao Airport/Rail Station: Direct on Line 10

• Taxis & Didi (Chinese Uber): Widely available and affordable

🧳 Travel Tips

• Carry a translated hotel address in Chinese for taxis

• Use Alipay or WeChat Pay – most places don’t accept international cards

• Download MetroMan or Baidu Maps for navigation

• Learn a few key Mandarin phrases – it goes a long way

📌 Final Thoughts

Shanghai offers plenty of budget hotels that don’t skimp on comfort or convenience. From art-inspired hostels to modern business hotels, you can explore China’s futuristic city without burning your budget.

Read: Most Amazing Places in China to Visit