Inexpensive hotel

I kindly suggest you choose some middle chain brand hotels, like Ibis Hotel, Echarm Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Shanghai New Hongqiao or Jinjiang Inn Select. All I mentioned are around 400 RMB per night for one standard room. As I know, some of international hotel brands have their own express and budget hotel, so you may book these hotels. And most young people in China can speak simple English, and Shanghai is a first-tier city in China, I don't think it will be very difficult to communicate. Besides, you can install a translate translation App on your phone for more convenience.