Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Basel?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Basel or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Krakow, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Basel or Krakow?
Basel
Basel is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Switzerland, but despite this, it does have a lot to offer visitors as well as a beautiful medieval historic center. Every year it also hosts a Carnival festival that is one of the most popular in Europe, competing with those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro in its popularity. There are also some excellent museums and great examples of regional architecture around town. Basel also serves as an excellent entry point to the Swiss Jura mountains and a jumping off point to visit more popular cities such as Zurich or Lucerne.
Krakow
Krakow is Poland's second largest city. It sits on both sides of the Wisla River at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. There are more than 1.4 million residents in the metropolitan area. Krakow is known as a historical and beautiful city that is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Tourism makes up a large part of the city's economy, but there is also a university and several local colleges which are major employers as well. Technology has grown in recent years and the city has some notable employees including Google, IBM and Motorola. Other important industries include steel, pharmaceuticals and tobacco.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasel $236Krakow $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Basel is $236, while the average daily cost in Krakow is $64. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Basel and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasel $143Krakow $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasel $286Krakow $84
Compare Hotels in Basel and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Basel or Krakow? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Basel Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basel $45Krakow $6.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basel
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Basel:
- Arrival Private Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
- Basel Airport Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Business Car: $108
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Car: $157
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
- ONE WAY: Basel Train Station (ZDH) to / from Basel transfer: $88
- Private Direct Transfer from Basel to Zurich: $205
- Private One-way Transfer From Basel to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $186
- Private Transfer From Basel To Bern With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $224
- Private Transfer from Basel to Zurich with 3h Sightseeing Stops: $251
- Private Transfer: Basel Airport BSL to Zurich in Luxury Van: $261
- Private direct transfer from Basel to Lucerne with a local driver: $177
- Private transfer from Basel to Strasbourg with a local driver: $233
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Kraków: Kraków Airport to Central Bus Station Bus Transfer: $5.31
- From Auschwitz-Birkenau Roundtrip Bus Transfer: $6.19
- Balice Airport Luxury Vehicle Private Transfer: $9.91
- Private Transfer to or from Krakow Airport: $10
- Private Transfer to/from Krakow Airport (KRK): $11
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
- Krakow Airport Transfer Balice: $14
- Krakow Airport Private Transfers: $15
- Electric Car Transfer between Krakow and the Airport: $15
- Kraków: Airport Private Transfer by Luxury Car: $16
- Auschwitz - Birkenau Roundtrip Transfer with assistance: $17
- Kraków Airport Private Transfer - Kraków City Center: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Basel or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Basel change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBasel $61Krakow $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krakow
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Krakow.
- Walking Street Food Tour: $22
- From Polish Folk Show with All-You-Can-Eat Dinner: $32
- Polish Folk Show and Dinner From Krakow: $40
- Folk Show & 3-Course Dinner at Jama Michalika Café: $44
- Romantic Dinner with a Cruise on the Vistula River: $47
- Brewery Dinner -center of Krakow : $49
- Krakow : Folk Show Dinner Drinking and Fun ! Book Now!: $59
- Folk Show Dinner Drinking and Fun in Krakow: $63
- Cabaret Show with Optional Dinner: $69
- Half-Day Krakow Food Tour in Old Town and Kazimierz: $83
- 4-Hour Polish Food Tour: $88
- Polish Pierogi Cooking Class with Farmer's Market Shopping: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basel $37Krakow $20
Tours and Activities in Basel
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basel are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Basel Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
- Basel's Portrait: Self-Guided Reading City Tour: $5.47
- Basel's Portrait Self Guided Audio City Tour: $5.60
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Hidden Treasures Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $8.99
- The Best of Basel’s Hidden Treasures: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Uncover Basel's Charms: In-App Audio Tour of Cultural Gems: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Basel's Portrait: Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $11
- Old Town Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $15
- Basel (Kleinbasel) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $15
Tours and Activities in Krakow
Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kraków in a nutshell - walking tour: $1.24
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Old Town Audio-Guided Walking Tour with Headset: $3.72
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Old Town Audioguided walking Tour: $4.46
- Tadeusz Kościuszko Mound Entry Tickets: $4.71
- From Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour: $4.95
- Wawel Hill Tour with Audio Guide: $5.57
- Tadeusz Kościuszko Mound Entrance Tickets: $5.62
- From Kraków: Wieliczka Salt Mine Trip & Guided Tour: $6.19
- Skip the Line Ticket for Kościuszko Mound in Krakow: $6.59
- Wawel Hill Audioguide Tour: $6.69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasel $33Krakow $6.75
Sample the Local Flavors in Basel
Also in Basel, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Meet People and Hidden Bars and Clubs: $33
- Pinot Noir & Pinot Wine Tour to Baden-Württemberg: $279
- Fantastic, full day, private wine tour to Alsace!: $285
- Half Day Private Cheese & Wine Tasting in Vineyard in Basel: $289
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:
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Vodka$13
Sample the Local Flavors in Krakow
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Krakow:
- Pub Crawl with 1 Hour of Unlimited Alcoholic Drinks: $22
- Kazimierz Pub Crawl with 1-Hour of Unlimited Drinks: $22
- Pub Crawl - 1-hour Open Bar then Vip to 5 Clubs - Krakow: $24
- Halloween Pub Crawl - Krawl Through Krakow: $24
- Pub tour in Old Town with 1 hour open bar with a guide.: $25
- Kazimierz Pub Crawl + 1-hour Open Bar: $25
- Pub Crawl with Shots, Drinks & Skip-the-Line Entry: $25
- Pub Crawl of Kazimierz Jewish Quarter with a Local Guide : $25
- Three-Hour Pub Crawl: $39
- Wieliczka Vineyard: Wine tasting with local snacks: $44
- Hoppy tours - Krakow brewery tour : $56
- Krakow Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $176
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basel and Krakow, we can see that Basel is more expensive. And not only is Krakow much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Krakow would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krakow and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel than you might in Krakow.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basel Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basel or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Basel. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Krakow, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Basel or Krakow?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Basel or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Krakow. Many visitors come to Basel in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Basel is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basel in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Krakow averages at about 19°C (67°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krakow this time of the year. In Basel, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basel usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during summer. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Basel usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasel 21°C (70°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Basel or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Basel as well as Krakow. Most visitors come to Basel for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Basel is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 13°C (56°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Basel often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun.
Basel usually gets more rain in October than Krakow. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasel 13°C (56°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Basel or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Basel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. The weather in Basel can be very cold. Basel is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
Basel usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during winter. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Basel usually receives more rain than Krakow. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasel 3°C (37°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Basel or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Basel during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Basel this time of year.
In the spring, Basel is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basel in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In the spring, Basel often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun.
Basel usually gets more rain in April than Krakow. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasel 12°C (53°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Basel
| Basel | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.