Which place is cheaper, New York City or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or New York City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or New York City? 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 New York City?
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.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $65New York City $326
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $65, while the average daily cost in New York City is $326. 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 New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42New York City $175
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Krakow and New York City
Looking for a hotel in Krakow or New York City? 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 New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.41New York City $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Zakopane: Private Transfer to Krakow: $139
- Zakopane and Sleigh Ride with Transfers and Lunch Option: $187
- Zakopane Tour & Thermal Baths with Private Transfers from Krakow: $164
- Zakopane Private Transfer from to Krakow or Krakow Airport: $254
- Zakopane Private Transfer: $148
- Zakopane Extreme Shooting Range with Hotel Transfer: $76
- Wroclaw: Private Transfer from/to Krakow: $249
- Wieliczka Salt mine private transfer-Krakow Balice Airport: $10
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers: $66
- Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $750
- Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
- VAN Private transfer: Krakow City - Krakow Airport: $43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 10-Minute Helicopter Transfer from Manhattan to JFK : $245
- 10-Minute Helicopter Transfer from Manhattan to Newark Airport: $245
- Airport Limousine Transfer one-way - LaGuardia Airport - Lincoln MKT: $275
- Airport Transfer and Chauffeur Services NYC & New Jersey : $150
- Arrival Private Transfer: Newark Airport EWR to New York in Business Car: $152
- Arrival Transfer from LaGuardia Airport LGA to Manhattan by Car: $130
- Arrival Transfer: Newark Airport EWR to New York by Luxury SUV: $163
- Bronx - LGA: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $100
- Bronx to JFK: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $108
- Brooklyn - JFK: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $100
- Central Park Private Walking Tour with Transfers : $171
- Central Park Zoo Skip the line Tickets and Private Transfers : $291
Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City 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 $13New York City $50
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 New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New York, Queens Culinary Stroll : Food Tour on Foot: $26
- Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
- Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
- Ultimate Greenwich Village NYC Food Tour: $63
- NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
- Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
- Greenwich Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- West Village Pizza Walk: $65
- East Village Pizza Walk: $65
- Downtown Brooklyn Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- Gastro Pub Pre/Post Theater Dinner in Times Square: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krakow $20New York City $180
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Central Park NYC: First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.23
- Brooklyn Bridge Self-Guided Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- Central Park: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Marvel Universe in New York In-app Audio Tour in English: $5.00
- New York City's Financial District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- New York World's Fair Site: Explore its utopian future on an audio tour: $5.39
- Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.39
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $5.45
- Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
- Private Haunted and Historic Audio Tour in Greenwich Village: $6.95
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrakow $6.76New York City $29
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 New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $22
- Pub Crawl and Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $29
- New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $34
- NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
- New York Rooftop Pub Crawl: $39
- NYC: Tour Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery with Tastings: $42
- Lower East Side & Alphabet City divebar crawl w the Bar Buds: $48
- Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
- New York Wine Tasting Experience : $98
- Guided Brooklyn Craft Brewery Tour: $99
- Hudson Valley Craft Brewery Bike Tour: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and New York City, we can see that New York City 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 New York City 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 New York City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or New York City?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and New York City, 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 New York City?
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 Krakow or New York City in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Krakow as well as New York City. Also, the summer months attract visitors to New York City because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Krakow is cooler than New York City. Typically, the summer temperatures in Krakow in July average around 19°C (67°F), and New York City averages at about 77°F (25°C).
It's quite rainy in New York City. Krakow usually gets less rain in July than New York City. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)New York City 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Krakow or New York City in the Autumn?
Both New York City and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
In October, Krakow is generally cooler than New York City. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 11°C (51°F), and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
In October, Krakow usually receives less rain than New York City. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)New York City 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Krakow or New York City in the Winter?
Both New York City and Krakow during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to New York City for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in New York City. It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. Krakow is much colder than New York City in the winter. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around -2°C (29°F) in January, and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).
Krakow usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)New York City 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Krakow or New York City in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and New York City. Furthermore, many visitors come to New York City in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Krakow is cooler than New York City. Typically, the spring temperatures in Krakow in April average around 10°C (50°F), and New York City averages at about 52°F (11°C).
In April, Krakow usually receives less rain than New York City. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)New York City 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for New York City and Krakow
| Krakow | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 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.