Which place is cheaper, Tromso or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or Tromso?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or Tromso? 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 Tromso?
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.
Tromso
The city of Tromso, in northern Norway, is named after the island of Tromsoya, on which it stands. Tromso is located 350 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle and is the largest city in Northern Norway. From September to March many people come to Tromso to see the northern lights. From 20 May to 20 July the midnight sun makes it possible to do as the locals and participate in various activities around the clock. In general, Tromso has a mild climate for such a northerly destination because of its seaside location and the warming effect of the Gulf stream. The area has a modern mix of outdoor activities, a vibrant nightlife, and places to eat local food.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Norway, and The Best Adventure Tours to Norway.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $64Tromso $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $64, while the average daily cost in Tromso is $112. 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 Tromso in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42Tromso $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84Tromso $110
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Tromso
Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Tromso? 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 Tromso Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.40Tromso $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Private Transfer to or from Berlin: $929
- Private Transfer to or from Budapest: $867
- Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $747
- From Gdansk or One-Way Private Transfer: $669
- Private Transfer to or from Bratislava: $619
- Private transfer! Warsaw Chopin Airport - Krakow City Center: $470
- Private transfer from Krakow to Budapest or from Budapest to Krakow: $299
- Private door-to-door transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $291
- Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
- Transfer from Krakow (Balice airport) to Krynica Zdroj : $283
- Private Transfer Airport to Warszawa Okęcie: $278
- Private transfer from Katowice AirPort to Krakow City: $272
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tromso
Also for Tromso, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Highway to Heaven - Aurora Cable Car Transfer in Tromsø: $93
- Private Airport and City Transfer in Tromso: $82
Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Tromso?
Prices for flights to both Tromso 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 $13Tromso $38
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tromso
For Tromso, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hours Private Walking Food Tour in Norway: $167
- Reindeer Camp Dinner with Chance of Northern Lights in Tromso: $173
- Night Reindeer Sledding with Camp Dinner and Chance of Northern Lights: $186
- Fjord Cruise Expedition with Dinner,Tromso: $206
- Luxury Northern Lights Cruise with Hot Tub and Dinner: $250
- Aurora Borealis Cruise with Dinner in Tromso: $299
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krakow $20Tromso $17
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
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Wieliczka Salt Mine 1-Day Tour: $141
- Rynek Underground Museum Guided Tour: $25
- Rynek Underground Museum, Old Town and St. Mary's Basilica Tour: $50
- 1 Day Auschwitz Birkenau Museum Guided Tour Hotel Pick up: $44
- 1 Day Trip Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Guided Tour from Krakow: $34
- 1-Hour Tour to Krakow's Old Town by Electric Golf Cart: $21
- 120 min Old Town Segway Tour in Krakow: $49
- 2 Days Tour in Wawel Hill, Jewish Quarter and Wieliczka with Guide and Lunch: $187
- 2 Hour Private Pinball and Arcade Museum Tour from Krakow: $273
- 2 Hours Old Town Guided Bike Tour in Krakow: $27
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in The Old Town of Krakow: $25
Tours and Activities in Tromso
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tromso.
- Touring-Trekking Bicycle Rental in Tromso - 1 to 2 Days: $46
- Experience the Full Steam Storytelling Package: $46
- Tromso Embrace the Spirits of the North Tasting Experience: $63
- 1 Hour Photo & History Cruise: $74
- Experience Cross-Country Adventure in Tromsø: $93
- Northern Lights Walking Tour: $111
- Fjord & History Cruise: $111
- Tromso Sightseeing with E-Bike: $112
- Half Day Arctic Fjord Cruise from Tromso: $117
- History Fjordcruise Around The Isle Of Tromso - Luxury Catamaran: $121
- From Tromso all- inclusive Midnight sun cruise by Boat: $126
- Puppy Training Experience at a Husky Farm in Tromso: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrakow $6.75Tromso $8.36
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 Tromso, we can see that Tromso 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 Tromso would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tromso 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 Tromso Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or Tromso?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tromso. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Tromso, 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 Tromso?
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 Tromso in the Summer?
Both Tromso and Krakow during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Tromso for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Krakow is much warmer than Tromso in the summer. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Tromso fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In Tromso, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Krakow. In the summer, Krakow often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tromso. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tromso receives 205 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets more rain in July than Tromso. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Tromso receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)Tromso 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Tromso in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Tromso. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Tromso because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
The weather in Tromso can be very cold. In the autumn, Krakow is much warmer than Tromso. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Krakow in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Tromso averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Krakow usually receives more sunshine than Tromso during autumn. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Tromso receives 49 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Tromso receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Krakow usually receives less rain than Tromso. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Tromso receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)Tromso 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Tromso in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Tromso. Additionally, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Tromso this time of year.
It's quite cold in Tromso in the winter. The weather in Krakow can be very cold. In January, Krakow is generally much warmer than Tromso. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around -2°C (29°F), and Tromso fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).
In the winter, Krakow often gets more sunshine than Tromso. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tromso receives 3 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets less rain in January than Tromso. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Tromso receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)Tromso -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Tromso in the Spring?
Both Tromso and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Tromso for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Tromso. Krakow is much warmer than Tromso in the spring. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Tromso fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).
Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Tromso during spring. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies, while Tromso receives 160 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Krakow usually receives less rain than Tromso. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Tromso receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)Tromso 1°C (33°F)
Typical Weather for Tromso and Krakow
| Krakow | Tromso | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 104 mm (4.1 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.