Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Kiev?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kiev 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 Kiev and Krakow can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Kiev or Krakow?
Kiev
Kiev is the capital city and also the largest city in the Ukraine, with a population of almost 3 million in the metropolitan area. It is situated on the Dnieper River in the north central part of the country and is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, dating back to the fifth century. The people in Kiev are quite friendly and welcoming, and are happy to have you in their city. It can, however, be difficult to communicate and get around if you don't speak at least a little Russian. It is doable with a little sign language and the help of a guide book with translations though.
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 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKiev $26Krakow $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Kiev is $26, 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 Kiev and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKiev $17Krakow $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKiev $34Krakow $84
Compare Hotels in Kiev and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Kiev 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: Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kiev $1.03Krakow $6.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kiev
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kiev:
- Kiev Airport Transfers : Kiev Boryspil Airport KBP to Kiev City in Business Car: $60
- Kiev Airport Transfers : Kiev Boryspil Airport KBP to Kiev City in Luxury Van: $67
- Kiev Airport Transfers : Kiev City to Kiev Boryspil Airport KBP in Business Car: $60
- Kiev Airport Transfers : Kiev City to Kiev Zhulhany Airport IEV in Business Car: $55
- Kiev Airport Transfers : Kiev Zhulhany Airport IEV to Kiev City in Luxury Van: $60
- Kiev Arrival Private Transfers from Kiev Boryspil Airport KBP to Kiev City: $67
- Kiev Arrival Private Transfers from Kiev Zhulhany Airport IEV to Kiev City: $55
- Kiev Arrival Private Transfers from Kiev Zhulhany Airport IEV to Kiev City: $60
- Kiev Departure Private Transfers from Kiev City to Boryspil Airport KBP: $60
- Kiev Departure Private Transfers from Kiev City to Kiev Zhulhany Airport IEV: $60
- Luxury Arrival Transfer From Kyiv Boryspil International Airport (KBP): $80
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer from Kyiv Boryspil Airport: $30
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 Kiev or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Kiev 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 dayKiev $7.23Krakow $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kiev
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kiev.
- "Kiev Private Food Tour" - Taste the best Ukraine has to offer: $53
- Ukrainian cooking master class − the tastiest master class in Kyiv: $103
- Kyiv Restaurant Food Tour: Ukrainian Cuisine Tasting: $112
- Private Gastro/Food Tour In Kyiv : $144
- Cooking master class: $226
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.Kiev $2.03Krakow $20
Tours and Activities in Kiev
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kiev are as follows:
- Memories of a Revolution: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Kyiv: $6.22
- Custom Kyiv Walking Tour with Private Local Guide: $28
- 2 Hours Kyiv Street Art Tour : $32
- Underground Tunnels Exploration Tour: $34
- Kiev guided walking tour: discover highlights and hidden gems of the capital: $34
- Private Ukrainian Street Art Tour in Kiev: $35
- Sightseeing City Tour: $35
- Kyiv Podil District Private Walking Tour with Local Guide: $38
- Kyiv Old Town Private Walking Tour: $38
- Panoramic Kyiv by Night Driving Tour with Private Guide: $38
- Kiev Open Tour - History & Modern Life in 3 hours: $42
- Kyiv Street Art Tour: $44
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 dayKiev $6.37Krakow $6.75
Sample the Local Flavors in Kiev
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kiev:
- Kiev Bar Crawl - Private Nightlife Tour: $49
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 Kiev and Krakow, we can see that Krakow is more expensive. And not only is Kiev much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kiev would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kiev 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 Kiev.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kiev Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kiev or Krakow?
Kiev has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Kiev 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 Kiev 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 Kiev or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiev and Krakow.
Kiev is around the same temperature as Krakow in the summer. The daily temperature in Kiev averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
In July, Kiev usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Kiev gets 88 mm (3.5 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 JulyKiev 21°C (70°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Kiev or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kiev as well as Krakow.
In the autumn, Kiev is around the same temperature as Krakow. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kiev in October average around 10°C (49°F), and Krakow averages at about 11°C (51°F).
Kiev usually gets less rain in October than Krakow. Kiev gets 35 mm (1.4 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 OctoberKiev 10°C (49°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Kiev or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Kiev are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Krakow. It's quite cold in Kiev in the winter. In January, Kiev is generally much colder than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Kiev average around -4°C (24°F), and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In January, Kiev usually receives more rain than Krakow. Kiev gets 47 mm (1.9 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 JanuaryKiev -4°C (24°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Kiev or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Kiev during the spring are popular places to visit.
Kiev is around the same temperature as Krakow in the spring. The daily temperature in Kiev averages around 10°C (51°F) in April, and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Kiev usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Krakow. Kiev gets 49 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 AprilKiev 10°C (51°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Kiev
| Kiev | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (24°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | -3°C (27°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 2°C (36°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (51°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 10°C (49°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 3°C (38°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (30°F) | 52 mm (2 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.