Three numbers. The ones that decide the meeting.
When the world meets at work.
Read the day in both zones.
If it's this in Shanghai, it's that in San José.
When it's 8:00 am in Shanghai, it's 6:00 pm in San José — evening there, the previous day.
When it's 10:00 am in Shanghai, it's 8:00 pm in San José — evening there, the previous day.
When it's 12:00 pm in Shanghai, it's 10:00 pm in San José — night there, the previous day.
When it's 3:00 pm in Shanghai, it's 1:00 am in San José — late night there, the same day.
When it's 5:00 pm in Shanghai, it's 3:00 am in San José — late night there, the same day.
When it's 9:00 pm in Shanghai, it's 7:00 am in San José — morning there, the same day.
Crossing the border. Money, language, plugs.
Money changes hands at the border: Shanghai uses the CNY (¥) and San José uses the CRC (₡). Language shifts too — Chinese in Shanghai, Spanish in San José. Cars drive on the right in both, so rentals feel familiar.
- Country
- China
- Capital
- Beijing
- Currency
- Chinese yuan (CNY · ¥)
- Language
- Chinese
- Calling code
- +86
- Drives on
- Right
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Capital
- San José
- Currency
- Costa Rican colón (CRC · ₡)
- Language
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +506
- Drives on
- Right
Quick answers. Before you book the call.
What's the time difference between Shanghai and San José?
Shanghai is 14 hours behind San José. Shanghai runs on GMT+8 and San José on GMT-6. The gap can shift by an hour when either side enters or leaves daylight saving — the live clocks above always reflect the current offset.
When it's 10 am in Shanghai, what time is it in San José?
10:00 am in Shanghai is 8:00 pm in San José the previous day — evening there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When it's 3 pm in Shanghai, what time is it in San José?
3:00 pm in Shanghai is 1:00 am in San José on the same day — late night there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When's the best time to schedule a meeting?
Standard 09:00–17:00 workdays don't intersect. Most teams compromise with one side meeting early (before 09:00) or late (after 17:00).
Does daylight saving time change the difference?
Yes, if either city observes DST. When one side shifts and the other doesn't, the gap changes by one hour. The DST badges under each clock show whether each zone is currently shifted and when the next transition lands.
How far is Shanghai from San José?
About 14,689 km as the crow flies (great-circle distance). A non-stop commercial flight cruises that in roughly 17h 47m, not counting airport time, winds, or routing around restricted airspace.
Can I send this meeting time as a calendar invite?
Yes. Pick a time on the slider above, open the meeting card, customize the title and duration, then download the .ics file. It imports cleanly into Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar with the correct timezone attached.
What currency do Shanghai and San José use?
Shanghai uses the Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥); San José uses the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡). Check the live rate before transferring money or paying with a card abroad — most banks add a 1–3 % FX margin on top of the mid-market rate.
How do I call Shanghai from San José?
Dial the international prefix used by your carrier (often 00), then +86, then the local number — drop any leading zero of the city or mobile code. For free calls, WhatsApp, Signal, and FaceTime work over Wi-Fi regardless of country code.
What language is spoken in Shanghai and San José?
Shanghai primarily speaks Chinese; San José speaks Spanish. English is widely used in business contexts in major cities of both, but written contracts may need translation.
Do Shanghai and San José drive on the same side of the road?
Yes — both drive on the right. Rental cars feel identical between the two.