Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Helsinki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Helsinki or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Krakow can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Helsinki or Krakow?
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
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 Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHelsinki €139Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €139, while the average daily cost in Krakow is €60. 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 Helsinki and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHelsinki €73Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki €146Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Helsinki 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: Helsinki Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Helsinki €22Krakow €6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by business car: $64
- Departure Transfer: Helsinki to Airport HEL in Business Car: $97
- Guided Tallinn Day Tour from Helsinki / Include hotel transfers: $218
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki West Terminal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
- Helsinki Airport (HEL): One-Way Transfer to/from Helsinki: $144
- Helsinki Airport (HEL): Transfer to Helsinki Cruise Terminal: $129
- Helsinki Airport VIP Transfers: Exclusive Comfort&Efficiency: $134
- Helsinki City hotels to Helsinki Airport (HEL) Departure Transfer: $41
- Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $82
- Helsinki Private Transfer: $158
- Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki city centre to Helsinki airport: $98
- Helsinki Stopover Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transfers: $139
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Zakopane to Chocholow Thermal Pools 3h Ticket with Hotel Transfer: $93
- Zakopane and Sleigh Ride with Transfers and Lunch Option: $186
- Zakopane Tour from Krakow with Transfers and Lunch Option: $65
- Zakopane Private Transfer from to Krakow or Krakow Airport: $253
- Wroclaw: Private Transfer from/to Krakow: $248
- Wooden Architecture Museum Private Transfer Round Trip: $153
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers: $65
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour from Krakow with Hotel Transfer: $77
- Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $747
- Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
- VAN Private transfer: Krakow Airport - Krakow City: $43
- Two Krakow Airport Transfers, Auschwitz-Birkenau & Salt Mine: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Helsinki 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 dayHelsinki €34Krakow €12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FOOD Tour with Rooftop Bar Visit in Helsinki: $106
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $108
- Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $164
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.Helsinki €27Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tip-Based City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Tip-based Free Walking Tour Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA TOURS: $5.13
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.95
- Helsinki Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $6.95
- Temppeliaukio Church Entrance Ticket: $8.56
- From Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna: $8.64
- Suomenlinna: Museum Ticket: $9.62
- Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- 4D Flying Cinema Tour of Helsinki Tickets: $14
- Self-Guided City Highlights Audio Tour: $14
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki €16Krakow €6.32
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 Helsinki and Krakow, we can see that Helsinki 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki or Krakow in the Summer?
Both Krakow and Helsinki during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Helsinki for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Helsinki is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Helsinki in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Krakow averages at about 19°C (67°F).
In Krakow, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Helsinki. In the summer, Helsinki often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Helsinki gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Helsinki usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHelsinki 17°C (62°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Krakow. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Helsinki is generally much colder than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 6°C (42°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Helsinki usually receives less sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Helsinki gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Helsinki usually receives more rain than Krakow. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHelsinki 6°C (42°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Krakow in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Krakow. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Krakow can be very cold. Helsinki can be very cold during winter. Helsinki is much colder than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around -6°C (21°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Helsinki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Helsinki gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Helsinki usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHelsinki -6°C (21°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the natural beauty.
The weather in Helsinki can be very cold. In the spring, Helsinki is much colder than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Helsinki in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Helsinki usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Helsinki gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Krakow. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHelsinki 3°C (37°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Helsinki
| Helsinki | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (26°F) | 58 mm (2.3 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.