Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Kaunas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kaunas or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kaunas and Krakow. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Kaunas or Krakow?
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second biggest city in Lithuania, located at the country's center. It is a city of medieval history as well as modern entertainment with castle ruins, churches, and cathedrals, as well as galleries, museums, theatres, and outdoor recreation.
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 Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKaunas €95Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Kaunas is €95, 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 Kaunas and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKaunas €44Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKaunas €88Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Kaunas and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Kaunas 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: Kaunas Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kaunas €17Krakow €6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kaunas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kaunas:
- Departure Private Transfer Kaunas City to Kaunas Airport KUN by Minivan: $56
- Private Kaunas Airport to City Transfer: $48
- Private Transfer from Kaunas City to Kaunas Airport KUN by car: $46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Kraków: Kraków Airport to Central Bus Station Bus Transfer: $5.31
- From Auschwitz-Birkenau Roundtrip Bus Transfer: $6.19
- Balice Airport Luxury Vehicle Private Transfer: $9.91
- Private Transfer to or from Krakow Airport: $10
- Private Transfer to/from Krakow Airport (KRK): $11
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
- Krakow Airport Transfer Balice: $14
- Krakow Airport Private Transfers: $15
- Electric Car Transfer between Krakow and the Airport: $15
- Kraków: Airport Private Transfer by Luxury Car: $16
- Auschwitz - Birkenau Roundtrip Transfer with assistance: $17
- Kraków Airport Private Transfer - Kraków City Center: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Kaunas or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Kaunas 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 dayKaunas €37Krakow €12
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.Kaunas €19Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Kaunas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaunas are as follows:
- Kaunas Old Town tour + IX Fort Museum (BONUS): $55
- Recreational Tour in Kaunas - The City of Freedom: $64
- Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Kaunas: $76
- Kaunas Private Walking Tour: $84
- Kaunas Tour: Love Stories: $86
- Kaunas Old Town: 2-Hour Ghost Tour: $86
- Kaunas city center tour + IX Fort Museum (BONUS): $109
- Kaunas, Lithuania 2-Hour Sightseeing Tour: $144
- Kaunas Tour: Love Stories: $170
- Kaunas Old Town: 2-Hour Ghost Tour: $170
- Kayak Tour in Nemunas: $185
- 2-Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour: $191
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 dayKaunas €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 Kaunas and Krakow, we can see that Kaunas 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 Kaunas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaunas 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 Kaunas Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kaunas. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas 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 Kaunas 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 Kaunas or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Krakow. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kaunas this time of year.
Kaunas is around the same temperature as Krakow in the summer. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krakow this time of the year. In Kaunas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kaunas usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during summer. Kaunas gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Kaunas usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 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 JulyKaunas 18°C (64°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Kaunas or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kaunas as well as Krakow. Many travelers come to Kaunas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Kaunas is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kaunas in October average around 8°C (46°F), and Krakow averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Kaunas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Kaunas gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun.
Kaunas usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Krakow. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 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 OctoberKaunas 8°C (46°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Kaunas or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Kaunas in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Krakow can be very cold during winter. Kaunas can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Kaunas is generally much colder than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around -5°C (23°F), and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
Kaunas usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during winter. Kaunas gets 40 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Kaunas usually receives more rain than Krakow. Kaunas gets 39 mm (1.5 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 JanuaryKaunas -5°C (23°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Kaunas or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Kaunas during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Kaunas for the activities around the city during these months.
Kaunas is cooler than Krakow in the spring. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the spring, Kaunas often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Kaunas gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun.
Kaunas usually gets less rain in April than Krakow. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 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 AprilKaunas 7°C (44°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Kaunas
| Kaunas | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (25°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 0°C (33°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (44°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.