Which place is cheaper, Philadelphia or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or Philadelphia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia?
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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $65Philadelphia $188
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $65, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $188. 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 Philadelphia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42Philadelphia $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84Philadelphia $238
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Philadelphia
Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.41Philadelphia $28
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 Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL): Private Transfer to Philadelphia: $355
- Philadelphia City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $135
- Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 $13Philadelphia $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 Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Locals' Favorites Food Tour: $52
- Best of Philly Food Tour: $55
- Best of Philadelphia Food Tour-Small Group Walking Tour: $59
- 9th Street Italian Market Walking Food Tour: $61
- Bites and Booze: Walking Food Tour in Philadelphia : $65
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Philadelphia's Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $66
- Secret Food Tour: $84
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $85
- Chef-Led Taste of the Italian Market Food Tour: $90
- Spirit of Philadelphia Signature Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krakow $20Philadelphia $28
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 Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals: $5.40
- Road to Revolution GPS Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
- The Road to Revolution: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Philadelphia: $8.99
- Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour : $9.00
- Philadelphia In App Walking Audio Tour: $9.00
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Philadelphia by Operation City Quest: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- National Liberty Museum Entrance Ticket: $12
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $13
- Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Fantastic Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrakow $6.76Philadelphia $21
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 Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
- Guided Tour with Pub Crawl: $45
- Half-Day Philadelphia's Brewery Bike Tour with Tastings: $100
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Philadelphia. Also, many visitors come to Philadelphia in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Krakow is generally cooler than Philadelphia. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 19°C (67°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Philadelphia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krakow this time of the year. In the summer, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Philadelphia. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 273 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Philadelphia. Krakow usually gets less rain in July than Philadelphia. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)Philadelphia 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Krakow or Philadelphia in the Autumn?
Both Philadelphia and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Philadelphia for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Krakow is cooler than Philadelphia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in Philadelphia. Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Philadelphia during autumn. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 202 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Krakow usually receives around the same amount of rain as Philadelphia. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)Philadelphia 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Krakow or Philadelphia in the Winter?
Both Philadelphia and Krakow during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
The weather in Philadelphia can be very cold. Krakow can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Krakow is much colder than Philadelphia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Krakow in January average around -2°C (29°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 30°F (-1°C).
In the winter, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Philadelphia. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 152 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets less rain in January than Philadelphia. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)Philadelphia 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Krakow or Philadelphia in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Philadelphia. Furthermore, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.
In April, Krakow is generally cooler than Philadelphia. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 10°C (50°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia this time of the year. Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Philadelphia during spring. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Krakow usually receives less rain than Philadelphia. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)Philadelphia 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Philadelphia and Krakow
| Krakow | Philadelphia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (76 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 inches (75 mm) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 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.