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

Should you visit Islamabad 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 Islamabad 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: Islamabad or Krakow?

Islamabad

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, specially built in the 1960's to replace the former capital, Karachi. Most of the city's population are employees of the government, though many people come from all over Pakistan to enjoy the city's peaceful atmosphere and green spaces, museums, and monuments.

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 Adventure Tours to Pakistan, The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Islamabad?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Islamabad is $42, while the average daily cost in Krakow is $65. 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 Islamabad and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Islamabad $20
    Krakow $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Islamabad $40
    Krakow $84
Compare Hotels in Islamabad and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Islamabad 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 Islamabad


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: Islamabad Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Islamabad $7.67
    Krakow $6.41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad

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

  • Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55
  • Islamabad International Airport Departure Drop off Transfer : $55
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer: $35
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
  • Islamabad Round Trip Airport Transfer & Customizable Day Trip: $95
  • Premium Services: Islamabad Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfers.: $170
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
  • Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
  • Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
  • Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $110

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:

  • Private Transfer to or from Budapest: $871
  • Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $750
  • Private Transfer to or from Prague: $747
  • From Gdansk or One-Way Private Transfer: $672
  • Private Transfer to or from Bratislava: $622
  • Private transfer! Warsaw Chopin Airport - Krakow City Center: $425
  • Private transfer from Krakow to Budapest or from Budapest to Krakow: $299
  • Private door-to-door transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $292
  • From Krakow to Wroclaw Airport Private Transfer: $291
  • Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
  • Private Transfer from Krakow to Warsaw with 2h of Sightseeing: $287
  • Private Transfer Airport to Warszawa Okęcie: $279

Is it cheaper to fly into Islamabad or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Islamabad 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
    Islamabad $15
    Krakow $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
  • Discovering Cracow's Local Flavour: Food Tour: $22
  • From Polish Folk Show with All-You-Can-Eat Dinner: $32
  • Folk Show & 3-Course Dinner at Jama Michalika Café: $44
  • Polish Folk Show with 3 course dinner in Krakow legendary restaurant: $45
  • Krakow : Folk Show Dinner Drinking and Fun ! Book Now!: $64
  • Cabaret Show with Optional Dinner: $70
  • Pierogi Cooking Class: Mastering the Art of Polish Dumplings: $74
  • 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
  • Krakow Bites and Sights Food Tour: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Islamabad $9.48
    Krakow $20

Tours and Activities in Islamabad

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

  • Islamabad In & Around Full Day Customized City Tour: $80
  • Full-Day Sightseeing Tour Of Islamabad: $80
  • Private Tour: Half Day Islamabad Saidpur Village Exploration Tour: $80
  • Private Tour: Hidden Gems of Islamabad Exploration Tour: $90
  • Guided Top 5 Wonders Exploration Tour: $95
  • Islamabad Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $95
  • City Tour with Faisal Mosque and Lake View Park: $95
  • Full Day Private City Tour Of Islamabad: $99
  • Best of Islamabad Half Day Tour With Meal At Monal Restaurant (Morn & Eve Slots): $100
  • Top Ten Wonders of Islamabad Guided City Tour: $120
  • Private Tour: Guided Day Trip To Murree from Islamabad: $130
  • From Full Day Guided Taxila Ruins Exploration Tour: $150

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
  • Krakow Jewish Quarter Tour in a Small Group. : $49
  • Rynek Underground Museum Guided Tour: $25
  • Magic Christmas tour in Wieliczka: $153
  • 1 Day Auschwitz Birkenau Museum Guided Tour Hotel Pick up: $51
  • 1 Day Trip Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Guided Tour from Krakow: $34
  • 1 Hour Traditional Gondola Sightseeing Vistula River Cruise: $16
  • 1-Hour Tour to Krakow's Old Town by Electric Golf Cart: $21
  • 2 Day Private Krakow City Tour, Old Town and Jewish Quarter: $153
  • 2 Hour Private Pinball and Arcade Museum Tour from Krakow: $273
  • 2 Hours Old Town Guided Bike Tour in Krakow: $27
  • 2-Hour Guided Tour in Kraków-Płaszów Concentration Camp : $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Islamabad $2.88
    Krakow $6.76

Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow

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


  • 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
  • Pub Crawl 1 hour Open Bar and 5 Hours Clubs in Krakow with VIP: $24
  • Halloween Pub Crawl - Krawl Through Krakow: $24
  • Pub tour in Old Town with 1 hour open bar with a guide.: $25
  • Pub Crawl with Shots, Drinks & Skip-the-Line Entry: $25
  • Pub Crawl + Unlimited Drinks + VIP entry + Drinking Games & Photographer : $25
  • Three-Hour Pub Crawl: $39
  • Wieliczka Vineyard: Wine tasting with local snacks: $44
  • Tyskie Brewery Tour from Katowice: $120


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Islamabad and Krakow, we can see that Krakow is more expensive. And not only is Islamabad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Islamabad is in Asia and Krakow is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Islamabad would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Islamabad 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 Krakow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krakow than you might in Islamabad.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Islamabad Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Islamabad or Krakow?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Islamabad. When comparing the sizes of Islamabad 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 Islamabad 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 Islamabad or Krakow in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Islamabad as well as Krakow.

Islamabad can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Islamabad is generally much warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Islamabad average around 32°C (90°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Islamabad this time of the year. In the summer, Islamabad often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Islamabad gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Islamabad receives a lot of rain in the summer. Islamabad usually gets more rain in July than Krakow. Islamabad gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Islamabad 32°C (90°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Islamabad or Krakow in the Autumn?

Both Krakow and Islamabad are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

Islamabad is much warmer than Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Islamabad averages around 26°C (80°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Islamabad. Islamabad usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Islamabad gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Islamabad usually receives less rain than Krakow. Islamabad gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Islamabad 26°C (80°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Islamabad or Krakow in the Winter?

Both Krakow and Islamabad during the winter are popular places to visit.

The weather in Krakow can be very cold. In the winter, Islamabad is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Islamabad in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).

It's quite sunny in Islamabad. In the winter, Islamabad often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Islamabad gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

Islamabad usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Krakow. Islamabad gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Islamabad 14°C (57°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Islamabad or Krakow in the Spring?

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

In April, Islamabad is generally much warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Islamabad average around 27°C (80°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In Islamabad, it's very sunny this time of the year. Islamabad usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Islamabad gets 258 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Islamabad usually receives less rain than Krakow. Islamabad gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Islamabad 27°C (80°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Islamabad

Islamabad Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb 16°C (61°F) 50 mm (2 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 21°C (70°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 27°C (80°F) 37 mm (1.4 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 32°C (89°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 35°C (94°F) 52 mm (2 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 32°C (90°F) 237 mm (9.3 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 31°C (89°F) 221 mm (8.7 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 31°C (87°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 26°C (80°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)


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