Getting Glasses & Eye Exams in Shanghai: Where to Go and What It Costs (2026)

One of the small joys of living in Shanghai is discovering that the thing that cost you a small fortune back home is suddenly, almost suspiciously, affordable. Glasses are the classic example. Friends fly in and leave with three pairs. If you wear glasses or have been squinting at your laptop for a year telling yourself you will "sort it out eventually," here is how getting an eye exam and new glasses actually works here, what it costs, and where English is easy. How much do glasses cost in Shanghai? A complete pair of prescription glasses from a mid-range optical shop in Shanghai typically runs about 300 to 800 RMB, frame and lenses included, with simple pairs cheaper and premium designer frames or high-index and progressive lenses costing more. Compared with what many of us paid at home, that is a genuine relief rather than a splurge. The eye exam itself is often free when you buy glasses at the same shop, or costs a small fee at a hospital eye department. The range is wide because it depends on three things: the frame brand, the lens quality and coatings, and where you shop. A no-name frame with standard lenses can be well under 300 RMB, while a Japanese or European designer…