Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Karlovy Vary?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary and Krakow can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Karlovy Vary or Krakow?
Karlovy Vary
Founded in 1370, Karlovy Vary translates to "Charles' Bath" for its founder Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, as well as its famous hot springs. It is located in Bohemia in the western Czech Republic and is also known as Karlsbad (German) or Carlsbad (English). Another highlight is the International Film Festival in July with draws celebrities and other film enthusiasts worldwide.
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 Cultural Tours in Czech Republic, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Czech Republic, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKarlovy Vary $81Krakow $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Karlovy Vary is $81, 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 Karlovy Vary and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKarlovy Vary $39Krakow $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKarlovy Vary $78Krakow $84
Compare Hotels in Karlovy Vary and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Karlovy Vary 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: Karlovy Vary Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Karlovy Vary $26Krakow $6.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Karlovy Vary
Also for Karlovy Vary, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Karlovy Vary to Prague Vaclav Havel Airport : $66
- Private Transfer from Karlovy Vary to Prague, English-speaking driver: $120
- Transfer from Karlovy Vary to Prague: Private daytrip with 2h for sightseeing: $128
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 Okęcie: $278
- Private transfer from Katowice AirPort to Krakow City: $272
Is it cheaper to fly into Karlovy Vary or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Karlovy Vary 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 dayKarlovy Vary $26Krakow $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.Karlovy Vary $12Krakow $20
Tours and Activities in Karlovy Vary
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Karlovy Vary.
- Hot Springs Tasting Tour: $32
- Hot Springs Tasting Tour: $35
- Prague: Karlovy Vary Tour with Lunch and Moser Museum Visit: $77
- Karlovy Vary & Marianske Lazne Tour from Prague with Lunch: $112
- Private tour of best of Karlovy Vary - Sightseeing, Food & Culture with a local: $168
- Touristic highlights of Karlovy Vary on a Private half day tour with a local: $168
- Karlovy Vary Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $209
- A day in the life of Karlovy Vary - Private tour with a local: $224
- Private Walking Tour: $227
- LOCATION: Karlovy Vary City Tour: $255
- Full-Day Private Karlovy Vary Tour from Prague: $298
- Private Tour to Karlovy Vary: $353
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 dayKarlovy Vary $6.54Krakow $6.75
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 Karlovy Vary and Krakow, we can see that Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Karlovy Vary or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Karlovy Vary. When comparing the sizes of Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Karlovy Vary as well as Krakow.
In July, Karlovy Vary is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Karlovy Vary average around 20°C (68°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 Karlovy Vary this time of the year. In the summer, Karlovy Vary often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Karlovy Vary gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Karlovy Vary usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Karlovy Vary gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JulyKarlovy Vary 20°C (68°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Karlovy Vary or Krakow in the Autumn?
Both Krakow and Karlovy Vary are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Karlovy Vary is around the same temperature as Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Karlovy Vary averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Karlovy Vary usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Karlovy Vary gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Karlovy Vary usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Karlovy Vary gets 48 mm (1.9 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 OctoberKarlovy Vary 11°C (51°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Karlovy Vary or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Karlovy Vary during the winter are popular places to visit.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Krakow. It's quite cold in Karlovy Vary in the winter. In the winter, Karlovy Vary is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Karlovy Vary in January average around 1°C (33°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Karlovy Vary often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Karlovy Vary gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Karlovy Vary usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Karlovy Vary gets 38 mm (1.5 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 JanuaryKarlovy Vary 1°C (33°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Karlovy Vary or Krakow in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Karlovy Vary and Krakow.
In April, Karlovy Vary is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Karlovy Vary average around 10°C (50°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Karlovy Vary usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Karlovy Vary gets 151 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Karlovy Vary usually receives more rain than Krakow. Karlovy Vary gets 53 mm (2.1 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 AprilKarlovy Vary 10°C (50°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Karlovy Vary
| Karlovy Vary | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 1°C (33°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (36°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 15°C (58°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (35°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.