Which place is cheaper, Washington or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or Washington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or Washington? 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 Washington?
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.
Washington
Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America. It is also a city rich in history and culture. The city dates back to 1791 when the states of Maryland and Virginia donated the land to create the capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land that was ceded by Virginia and in 1871 it created a single municipal government with the remaining area. Today, Washington, DC has a population of over 600,000 people. The metropolitan area includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and has a population of about 5.8 million.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $65Washington $198
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $65, while the average daily cost in Washington is $198. 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 Washington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42Washington $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84Washington $226
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Washington
Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Washington? 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 Washington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.41Washington $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Private Transfer to or from Budapest: $871
- Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $750
- Private Transfer to or from Prague: $747
- From Gdansk or One-Way Private Transfer: $672
- Private Transfer to or from Bratislava: $622
- Private transfer! Warsaw Chopin Airport - Krakow City Center: $425
- Private transfer from Krakow to Budapest or from Budapest to Krakow: $299
- Transfer Kraków City - Warsaw WAW Airport: $294
- Private Transfer from Katowice city to Wroclaw (WRO) Airport: $292
- Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
- Private Transfer from Krakow to Warsaw with 2h of Sightseeing: $288
- Private transfer from Katowice AirPort to Krakow City: $274
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Washington
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
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Metro Day Pass$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Washington
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer DCA to/from Washington DC Downtown Area only: $147
- Arrival Private Transfer: National Airport DCA to Washington in Business Car: $141
- Arrival Private Transfer: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury SUV: $170
- Arrival Transfer Dulles Airport IAD to Washington DC by Sedan: $106
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Baltimore Airport BWI in Luxury SUV: $188
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury Car: $211
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury SUV: $157
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury Van: $157
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to National Airport DCA in Business Car: $141
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury SUV: $170
- Departure Transfer: Washington to Airport BWI by Business Car: $123
- Private Airport Transfer: Washington to Baltimore Airport BWI in Luxury SUV: $188
Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Washington?
Prices for flights to both Washington 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 $13Washington $38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krakow
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Krakow.
- Discovering Cracow's Local Flavour: Food Tour: $22
- Walking Street Food Tour: $22
- Small-Group Online Cooking Class Polish Pierogi : $27
- 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
- Folk Show Dinner Drinking and Fun in Krakow: $69
- Cabaret Show with Optional Dinner: $70
- 4-Hour Polish Food Tour: $88
- Polish Pierogi Cooking Class with Farmer's Market Shopping: $97
- The 10 Tastings of Krakow With Locals: Private Food Tour : $111
Typical Food Prices in Washington
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
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Water$2.00
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Snacks on Monuments Tour$6.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Washington
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- DC: Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise on the Spirit: $69
- Washington DC Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $70
- DC: Gourmet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise on the Odyssey: $74
- Acquired Taste Food Tour in Georgetown: $85
- Washington D.C.: Georgetown Guided Secret Food Tour: $98
- Washington, DC: African American History Tour with Dinner: $108
- Washington,DC: Union Market Private Food Tour: $125
- Washington D.C.: Taste of Georgetown Walking Food Tour: $129
- Washington DC: Christmas Eve Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $140
- Washington DC Premier Dinner Cruise: $144
- Washington DC: Personalized & Private Food Tour with a Local: $152
- Private Traditional Filipino Cooking Class Near Washington DC : $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krakow $20Washington $24
Tours and Activities in Krakow
Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Wieliczka Salt Mine 1-Day Tour: $141
- Krakow Jewish Quarter Tour in a Small Group. : $49
- The Footsteps of John Paul II & Divine Mercy Private Tour: $137
- 1 Day Auschwitz Birkenau Museum Guided Tour Hotel Pick up: $35
- 1 Hour Traditional Gondola Sightseeing Vistula River Cruise: $16
- 1-Hour Krakow Sightseeing Cruise Catamaran on the Vistula River: $25
- 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 Days Tour in Wawel Hill, Jewish Quarter and Wieliczka with Guide and Lunch: $187
- 2 Hour Private Pinball and Arcade Museum Tour from Krakow: $274
- 2 Hours Old Town Guided Bike Tour in Krakow: $27
- 2-Hour City Walking Tour in Creepy Krakow: $16
Tours and Activities in Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Washington: $5.45
- Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- The Kennedy Homes of Georgetown: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Scandals & Secrets on Embassy Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- DC's Presidents, Pubs, and Parties: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- The Kennedy Homes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Blossoming Friendship: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin: $5.99
- Secrets on Embassy Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Washington DC: $5.99
- Washington, DC: Lincoln Assassination Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Washington DC: National Mall Self Guided App Walking Tour: $6.50
- Lincoln Memorial to the Cap Hill D.C. Smart Phone App/GPS Tour: $6.75
- Washington DC Outdoor Escape Game Tour: FBI vs. Bank Robbers: $7.09
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrakow $6.76Washington $19
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
- Pub Crawl with Shots, Drinks & Skip-the-Line Entry: $25
- Pub Crawl + Unlimited Drinks + VIP entry + Drinking Games & Photographer : $25
- Krakow Animals Pub Crawl with Free Alcohol +4 Clubs/Bars: $28
- Three-Hour Pub Crawl: $39
- Wieliczka Vineyard: Wine tasting with local snacks: $44
- Hoppy tours - Krakow brewery tour : $56
- Tyskie Brewery Tour from Katowice: $120
Sample the Local Flavors in Washington
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
- Epic Washington DC Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
- Washington DC: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Small-Group History Tour Pub Crawl of Washington, D.C.: $59
- Washington, D.C.: History Tour Pub Crawl: $59
- DC: Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $105
- From Washington DC: Seneca Creek Region Wine Tour with Lunch: $175
- Full-Day Private Virginia Wine Tour Experience from Washington : $242
- Private Washington DC Virginia Winery Wine Tasting Tour -Spirited: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and Washington, we can see that Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Washington 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 Washington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or Washington?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of Washington. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Washington, 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 Washington?
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 Washington in the Summer?
Both Washington and Krakow during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Washington for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Krakow is cooler than Washington. Typically, the summer temperatures in Krakow in July average around 19°C (67°F), and Washington averages at about 79°F (26°C).
In Washington, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Krakow. In the summer, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Washington. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Washington receives 278 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Washington. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Washington receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)Washington 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Krakow or Washington in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Washington. Also, many visitors come to Washington in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Krakow is generally cooler than Washington. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 11°C (51°F), and Washington fluctuates around 60°F (15°C).
Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Washington during autumn. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Washington receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Krakow usually receives less rain than Washington. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)Washington 60°F (15°C)
Should I visit Krakow or Washington in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Washington. Also, most visitors come to Washington for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
Washington can be very cold during winter. Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. Krakow is much colder than Washington in the winter. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around -2°C (29°F) in January, and Washington fluctuates around 35°F (1°C).
In the winter, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Washington. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Washington receives 139 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets less rain in January than Washington. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)Washington 35°F (1°C)
Should I visit Krakow or Washington in the Spring?
Both Washington and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Washington because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Krakow is cooler than Washington. Typically, the spring temperatures in Krakow in April average around 10°C (50°F), and Washington averages at about 56°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in Washington. Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Washington during spring. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies, while Washington receives 228 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Krakow usually receives less rain than Washington. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)Washington 56°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Washington and Krakow
| Krakow | Washington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 35°F (1°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 37°F (3°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (82 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.