A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Birmingham vs. Krakow for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Birmingham or Krakow?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Birmingham and Krakow can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Birmingham or Krakow?

Birmingham

Birmingham, England, is often known as Britain's second-largest city. It is located in the western Midlands of England. Birmingham is nearly in the center of England, so almost all rail and motorways cross here. The city gained popularity and status during the industrial revolution and is still one of the main cities for industrial production and power, ranging from electricity to metal. Because of its importance as an industrial hub, it is one of the most populated cities in England. In more recent years, Birmingham has done a lot to add to the overall cultural scene of the city with the addition of museums and art.

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 Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Birmingham?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Birmingham is £133, while the average daily cost in Krakow is £52. 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 Birmingham and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Birmingham £66
    Krakow £34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Birmingham £132
    Krakow £68
Compare Hotels in Birmingham and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Birmingham 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.

Hotels in Birmingham


Hotels in Krakow


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: Birmingham Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Birmingham £25
    Krakow £5.15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Birmingham

Also for Birmingham, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arrival Private Transfers from Airport BHX to Birmingham in Luxury Van: $76
  • Birmingham Airport (BHX): Private Transfer to Birmingham: $111
  • Birmingham Airport Transfers: Airport BHX to Birmingham City in Luxury Car: $101
  • Birmingham Airport Transfers: Birmingham City to Airport BHX in Business Car: $64
  • Birmingham Private Transfer from Birmingham Airport to City centre: $114
  • Birmingham Private Transfer from Birmingham city centre to Birmingham Airport: $114
  • Birmingham to Heathrow Airport private taxi transfers: $280
  • Manchester Airport: BUS Transfer to/from Birmingham: $8.12
  • Private Birmingham Arrival Transfer - Airport to Hotel / Accommodation: $57
  • Private Transfer from Birmingham Airport to Birmingham City: $36
  • Private Transfer from Birmingham to Manchester Airport (MAN): $199

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:

  • Private Transfer to or from Berlin: $929
  • Private Transfer to or from Budapest: $867
  • Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $747
  • From Gdansk or One-Way Private Transfer: $669
  • Private Transfer to or from Bratislava: $619
  • Private transfer! Warsaw Chopin Airport - Krakow City Center: $470
  • Private transfer from Krakow to Budapest or from Budapest to Krakow: $299
  • Private door-to-door transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $291
  • Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
  • Transfer from Krakow (Balice airport) to Krynica Zdroj : $283
  • Private Transfer Airport to Warszawa OkÄ™cie: $278
  • Private transfer from Katowice AirPort to Krakow City: $272

Is it cheaper to fly into Birmingham or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Birmingham 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Birmingham £38
    Krakow £11
Typical Food Prices in Birmingham

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Birmingham:


  • Two Subs at Birmingham Bus Station
    £5.58

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Birmingham

For Birmingham, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Birmingham Slogging Gangs Walking and Food Tour: $70

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Birmingham £48
    Krakow £16

Tours and Activities in Birmingham

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Birmingham.

  • On the Origins of Charles Darwin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Shrewsbury: $6.99
  • Winterbourne House and Garden Admission Ticket: $9.99
  • Skip the Line: House and Garden Admission Ticket : $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Birmingham Private Self-Guided Walking Tour: $11
  • Self-Guided Smartphone Sightseeing Treasure Hunt: $12
  • City Center Walking Tour (10:30am & 5:00pm): $15
  • Birmingham Walking Tour: Migration Stories from the Stratford Road : $15
  • Birmingham City Centre Daily Walking Tour (10:30am & 5pm): $15
  • Discovering Birmingham Walking Tour: $17
  • 2.5-Hours Walking Tour of Birmingham into Black Heritage Madiba: $18
  • Victorian Canals to Today's City Walking Tour: $19

Tours and Activities in Krakow

Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Guided Tour from Krakow: $64
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Wieliczka Salt Mine 1-Day Tour: $141
  • Rynek Underground Museum Guided Tour: $25
  • Rynek Underground Museum, Old Town and St. Mary's Basilica Tour: $50
  • 1 Day Auschwitz Birkenau Museum Guided Tour Hotel Pick up: $44
  • 1 Day Trip Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Guided Tour from Krakow: $34
  • 1-Hour Tour to Krakow's Old Town by Electric Golf Cart: $21
  • 120 min Old Town Segway Tour in Krakow: $49
  • 2 Days Tour in Wawel Hill, Jewish Quarter and Wieliczka with Guide and Lunch: $187
  • 2 Hour Private Pinball and Arcade Museum Tour from Krakow: $273
  • 2 Hours Old Town Guided Bike Tour in Krakow: $27
  • 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in The Old Town of Krakow: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Birmingham £11
    Krakow £5.43

Sample the Local Flavors in Birmingham

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Birmingham:

  • Birmingham Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $47

Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:


  • Vodka
    £11

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 Birmingham and Krakow, we can see that Birmingham 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 Birmingham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Birmingham 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 Birmingham Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Krakow?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham 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 Birmingham or Krakow?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Birmingham or Krakow in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as Krakow. Most visitors come to Birmingham for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Birmingham is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 17°C (63°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. In the summer, Birmingham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Birmingham gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Birmingham 17°C (63°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Birmingham or Krakow in the Autumn?

Both Krakow and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the shopping scene and the music scene.

Birmingham is around the same temperature as Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Birmingham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during autumn. Birmingham gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Birmingham usually receives more rain than Krakow. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Birmingham 11°C (52°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Birmingham or Krakow in the Winter?

Both Krakow and Birmingham during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Birmingham this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Krakow. It's quite cold in Birmingham in the winter. In the winter, Birmingham is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Birmingham in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).

In the winter, Birmingham often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Birmingham gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Birmingham 3°C (38°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Birmingham or Krakow in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and Krakow.

In April, Birmingham is generally cooler than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 9°C (48°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Birmingham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during spring. Birmingham gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Krakow. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Birmingham 9°C (48°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Birmingham

Birmingham Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (38°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb 4°C (40°F) 51 mm (2 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 6°C (42°F) 51 mm (2 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 9°C (48°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 12°C (53°F) 52 mm (2.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 17°C (63°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 14°C (58°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 11°C (52°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 5°C (40°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)