Which place is cheaper, Chicago or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or Chicago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or Chicago? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Krakow or Chicago?
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.
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $65Chicago $288
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $65, while the average daily cost in Chicago is $288. 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 Krakow and Chicago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42Chicago $198
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84Chicago $396
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Chicago
Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Chicago? 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 and Chicago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.41Chicago $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $160
- Airport to Cracow transfer by Luxurious VIP limo: $56
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Business Car: $39
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City in Luxury Van: $49
- Arrival Private Transfers from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City: $38
- Auschwitz Birkenau Transfer Service- Private Driver from Krakow: $109
- Auschwitz and Birkenau Round-Trip Transfer Premium from Krakow: $273
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Live Guided Tour and Transfer from Krakow: $32
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $217
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Guided Tour with Ticket and Transfer: $35
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Self-Guided Visit from Krakow with Private Transfers: $131
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
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Parking$19
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Taxi Ride$10
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Taxi from Airport$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
- Chicago to Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD): Departure Transfer: $57
- Airport transfer between Chicago O'Hare and Milwaukee: $38
- Arrival Private Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago in Business Car: $152
- Arrival Private Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago in Luxury Car: $234
- Arrival Private Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago in Luxury SUV: $203
- Chicago Airport Transfer: Chicago to O'Hare Airport ORD in Business Car: $152
- Chicago Airport Transfer: Chicago to O'Hare Airport ORD in Luxury SUV: $203
- Chicago Airport Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago in Business Car: $152
- Chicago Airport Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago in Luxury SUV: $203
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago -Arrival Private Transfer: $58
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $105
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Chicago?
Prices for flights to both Chicago and Krakow 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 dayKrakow $13Chicago $49
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
Typical Food Prices in Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
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Dinner for 1$24
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Dinner for 3$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
- Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Downtown Pizza Guided Walking Tour with Tastings: $58
- Chicago's Delicious Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour: $63
- Chicago Small Group Food Tour: $69
- Lake Michigan Gourmet Brunch/Lunch/Dinner Cruise: $72
- Chicago Pizza Tour: $75
- Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Self-Guided Tour: $75
- Chicago Bucktown-Wicker Park Pizza Crawl: $79
- Chicago West Loop Pizza Crawl: $79
- Downtown Family Food Tour by Bike with Sightseeing: $80
- Nitti's Supper Club Dinner and Show: $80
- Lake Michigan Buffet Brunch, Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krakow $20Chicago $47
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: $3.23
- Old Town Audio-Guided Walking Tour with Headset: $3.73
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.31
- Old Town Audioguided walking Tour: $4.48
- Home Army Museum Emil Fieldorf “Nil” - Entrance Ticket: $4.54
- From Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour: $4.98
- Wawel Hill Tour with Audio Guide: $5.60
- From Kraków: Wieliczka Salt Mine Trip & Guided Tour: $6.22
- Wawel Hill Audioguide Tour: $6.72
- Krakow Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $7.00
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Sears Tower (family of 4)$102
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Aquarium for 4$118
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Water Taxi (family of 4)$22
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IMAX Movie for Two$35
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Shakespeare Play (2)$116
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Art Institute (2)$36
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U-Boat Tour (2)$8.00
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discovering Chicago with Walking In App Audio Tour: $6.00
- Haunted Sites Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.50
- Vice, Crime and Gangsters Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Chicago’s Ragtime & Jazz Eras: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Vice, Crime and Gangsters in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Must-Sees & Hidden Gems In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $9.00
- Chicago White Sox Baseball Game Ticket: $9.25
- Chicago White Sox Baseball Game Ticket at Guaranteed Rate Field: $9.32
- App Chicago self-guided tours with multilingual audioguides: $9.69
- Millennium Park Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Riverwalk Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Free Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Bucket List: The Best Places to See, and The Best Museums in Chicago.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrakow $6.76Chicago $25
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
- 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
Sample the Local Flavors in Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
- Malt Row Walking Brewery Tour: $30
- Walking tour to Chicago dive bars: $41
- Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour: $100
- Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and Chicago, we can see that Chicago is more expensive. And not only is Krakow much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Krakow is in Europe and Chicago is in North America, 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 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 Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago 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 Krakow Expensive? and Is Chicago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or Chicago?
Chicago has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Chicago, 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 Krakow or Chicago?
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 Krakow or Chicago in the Summer?
Both Chicago and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Chicago for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Krakow is cooler than Chicago in the summer. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Chicago fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
It's quite sunny in Chicago. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Chicago during summer. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 326 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Chicago. In July, Krakow usually receives less rain than Chicago. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)Chicago 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Krakow or Chicago in the Autumn?
Both Chicago and Krakow during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Chicago in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Krakow is cooler than Chicago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Krakow in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Chicago averages at about 56°F (14°C).
In the autumn, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Chicago. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 195 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets less rain in October than Chicago. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)Chicago 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Krakow or Chicago in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Chicago. Furthermore, most visitors come to Chicago for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
Chicago can be very cold during winter. Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Krakow is generally much warmer than Chicago. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around -2°C (29°F), and Chicago fluctuates around 25°F (-4°C).
Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Chicago during winter. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 134 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Krakow usually receives less rain than Chicago. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 1.9 inches (47 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)Chicago 25°F (-4°C)
Should I visit Krakow or Chicago in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Chicago. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Chicago because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Krakow is cooler than Chicago in the spring. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Chicago fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chicago. In the spring, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Chicago. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 218 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Chicago. Krakow usually gets less rain in April than Chicago. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 4.3 inches (108 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)Chicago 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Chicago and Krakow
| Krakow | Chicago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
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.