Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa?
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.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $65Ottawa $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $65, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $123. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.41Ottawa $7.27
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 $13Ottawa $17
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krakow $20Ottawa $40
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
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.68
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrakow $6.76Ottawa $18
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 Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ottawa 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 Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Ottawa, 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 Ottawa?
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 Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Ottawa.
Krakow is cooler than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krakow this time of the year. In the summer, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ottawa. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In the autumn, Krakow is a little warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Krakow in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).
Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Krakow usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Krakow during the winter are popular places to visit.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Krakow. In January, Krakow is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around -2°C (29°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Ottawa.
Krakow is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Krakow usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Krakow
| Krakow | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 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.