Which place is cheaper, Rijeka or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or Rijeka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or Rijeka? 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 Rijeka?
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.
Rijeka
Rijeka is the main seaport city of Croatia. It is located in Kvarner on the Kvarner Bay, which is an inlet of the Adriatic Sea. There are over 100,000 residents, making it Croatia's third largest city. The city's economy is heavily dependent on shipbuilding and maritime transport. There is also the University of Rijeka, which was founded in 1973 with roots dating back to 1632.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best Adventure Tours to Croatia, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Croatia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $64Rijeka $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $64, while the average daily cost in Rijeka is $101. 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 Rijeka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42Rijeka $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84Rijeka $108
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Rijeka
Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Rijeka? 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 Rijeka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.40Rijeka $17
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 Krakow or Rijeka?
Prices for flights to both Rijeka 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 $13Rijeka $36
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.Krakow $20Rijeka $9.48
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
Tours and Activities in Rijeka
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rijeka are as follows:
- Drava Sup Exploring Adventure: $44
- History of Military Forts Guided Tour: $64
- Tour the underground with no experience required: $64
- From Golden Island of Krk Tour: $93
- Pula, Rovinj, and Panoramic Istrian Coast Tour: $121
- Istria Highlights Tour from Rijeka or Pula: $122
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $127
- Private Walking Cultural Tour of Rijeka: $235
- Ucka Mountain: Guided Hiking Tour: $449
- Private Sunset Boat Tour: $631
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrakow $6.75Rijeka $17
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 Krakow and Rijeka, we can see that Rijeka is more expensive. And not only is Krakow much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Rijeka would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rijeka 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 Rijeka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or Rijeka?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Rijeka. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Rijeka, 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 Rijeka?
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 Rijeka in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Rijeka. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rijeka for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Krakow is cooler than Rijeka in the summer. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Rijeka fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rijeka this time of the year. In Krakow, it's very sunny this time of the year. Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Rijeka during summer. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Rijeka receives 288 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Krakow usually receives more rain than Rijeka. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)Rijeka 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Rijeka in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Rijeka. Additionally, many visitors come to Rijeka in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Krakow is cooler than Rijeka. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Krakow in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Rijeka averages at about 16°C (60°F).
In the autumn, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Rijeka. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 167 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets less rain in October than Rijeka. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)Rijeka 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Rijeka in the Winter?
Both Rijeka and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Rijeka for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Krakow is generally much colder than Rijeka. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around -2°C (29°F), and Rijeka fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Rijeka during winter. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while Rijeka receives 96 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Krakow usually receives less rain than Rijeka. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)Rijeka 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Rijeka in the Spring?
Both Rijeka and Krakow during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Rijeka because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
Krakow is cooler than Rijeka in the spring. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Rijeka fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In the spring, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Rijeka. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 177 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets less rain in April than Rijeka. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)Rijeka 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Rijeka and Krakow
| Krakow | Rijeka | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.