Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Cardiff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cardiff or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cardiff or Krakow? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cardiff or Krakow?
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and a major port on the country's southern coast. Though Cardiff boomed with the coal industry during the Industrial Revolution, the city began its history as a Roman fort on the River Taff-perhaps taking its name from a combination of the Welsh word for fort (caer) and the name of the river (Taff). The fort still stands today along with many other landmarks that attract tourists each year.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCardiff £156Krakow £52
The average daily cost (per person) in Cardiff is £156, 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 Cardiff and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCardiff £93Krakow £34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCardiff £186Krakow £68
Compare Hotels in Cardiff and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Cardiff 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: Cardiff Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cardiff £21Krakow £5.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cardiff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cardiff:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport CWL to Cardiff by Luxury Vehicle: $95
- Barry Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Bristol Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $13
- Cardiff Airport (CWL): Transfer to Cardiff Accommodation: $139
- Cardiff Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport to City centre: $79
- Cardiff to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Departure Private Transfer from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport CWL by Luxury Vehicle: $95
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $16
- Newport Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Private Cardiff Arrival Transfer- Airport to Hotel / Accommodation : $58
- Private Cardiff Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport: $58
- Private Transfer from Holyhead Port to Manchester Airport (MAN): $102
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $160
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $171
- Airport Transfer (Krakow - Katowice): $100
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Business Car: $39
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Luxury Van: $54
- Auschwitz - Birkenau Roundtrip Transfer with assistance: $17
- Auschwitz Birkenau Transfer Service- Private Driver from Krakow: $109
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $217
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Guided Tour with Ticket and Transfer: $35
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour with Transfer, eBook and Optional Guide: $32
- Balice KRK airport OneWay PRIVATE TRANSFER to/from Krakow’s hotel: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Cardiff or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Cardiff 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 dayCardiff £44Krakow £11
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.Cardiff £25Krakow £16
Tours and Activities in Cardiff
Here are a few actual costs in Cardiff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ghosts of Llandaff Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- A Journey through Tudor A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cardiff’s Bay and Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- The Ghosts of Llandaff: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Bay and Barrage: $5.99
- Cardiff's Civic Centre: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Essential Caerphilly: Explore the town’s history on a self-guided audio tour: $6.22
- Uncover Ghostly Chester: In-App Audio Tour of Eerie Tales: $11
- Uncover Spectral Secrets with the Llandaff Ghosts Audio Tour: $11
- Cardiff Bay Private Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Llanberis, Conwy and Caernarfon Castle: A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Snowdonia: $15
- Cardiff Bay Boat 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 dayCardiff £13Krakow £5.43
Sample the Local Flavors in Cardiff
Also in Cardiff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gin Tour at Hensol Castle Distillery: $32
- Cardiff Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $44
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£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 Cardiff and Krakow, we can see that Cardiff 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 Cardiff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cardiff 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 Cardiff Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cardiff or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cardiff. When comparing the sizes of Cardiff 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 Cardiff 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 Cardiff or Krakow in the Summer?
Both Krakow and Cardiff are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Cardiff because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Cardiff is around the same temperature as Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cardiff in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Krakow averages at about 19°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Krakow. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cardiff. Cardiff usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during summer. Cardiff gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Cardiff usually receives less rain than Krakow. Cardiff gets 62 mm (2.4 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 JulyCardiff 17°C (63°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Krakow in the Autumn?
Both Krakow and Cardiff during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cardiff this time of year.
In October, Cardiff is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Cardiff average around 11°C (52°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Cardiff often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Cardiff gets 95 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cardiff. Cardiff usually gets more rain in October than Krakow. Cardiff gets 101 mm (4 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 OctoberCardiff 11°C (52°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Krakow in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cardiff and Krakow. Many travelers come to Cardiff for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Cardiff. Cardiff is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
Cardiff usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during winter. Cardiff gets 57 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Krakow. Cardiff gets 95 mm (3.7 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 JanuaryCardiff 3°C (38°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Krakow in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Cardiff as well as Krakow. Many visitors come to Cardiff in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Cardiff is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cardiff in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In the spring, Cardiff often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Cardiff gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun.
Cardiff usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Krakow. Cardiff gets 47 mm (1.9 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 AprilCardiff 9°C (48°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Cardiff
| Cardiff | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 80 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 96 mm (3.8 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.