Which place is cheaper, Zagreb or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or Zagreb?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or Zagreb? 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 Zagreb?
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.
Zagreb
Zagreb, in central Croatia, is the country's capital. It has a wonderful old town that has cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a great atmosphere. Many people travel to Croatia specifically for its beaches and coastal towns, but if you overlook this lovely capital city, you'll miss a large part of the culture and personality that is Croatia.
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 Dubrovnik, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Split.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $64Zagreb $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $64, while the average daily cost in Zagreb is $82. 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 Zagreb in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42Zagreb $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84Zagreb $102
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Zagreb
Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Zagreb? 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 Zagreb Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.40Zagreb $9.69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $160
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $171
- Airport Transfer (Krakow - Katowice): $100
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Business Car: $39
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Luxury Van: $54
- Auschwitz - Birkenau Roundtrip Transfer with assistance: $17
- Auschwitz Birkenau Transfer Service- Private Driver from Krakow: $109
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $217
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Guided Tour with Ticket and Transfer: $35
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour with Transfer, eBook and Optional Guide: $32
- Balice KRK airport OneWay PRIVATE TRANSFER to/from Krakow’s hotel: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagreb
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagreb:
- Airport Zagreb Transfer and Shuttle : $98
- Arrival Private Transfer from Zagreb Airport ZAG to Zagreb City by Business Car: $47
- Departure Private Transfer from Zagreb City to Zagreb Airport ZAG by Minivan: $66
- Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG) to Zagreb-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
- From Sarajevo: One-Way Transfer to Zagreb & Plitvice Lakes: $428
- From Split: Transfer to Zagreb with Stop at Plitvice Lakes: $149
- From Plitvice Lakes Round-Trip Comfort Bus Transfer: $16
- From Transfer to Split & Plitvice Lakes Guided Tour: $159
- Guided transfer from Zagreb to Split with Plitvice Lakes stop: $152
- Luxury Private Transfer Zagreb - Zagreb Airport: $40
- Luxury Private Transfer Zagreb Airport to Hotels and Vice Versa: $87
- One-Way Private Transfer to/from Zagreb Airport: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Zagreb?
Prices for flights to both Zagreb 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 $13Zagreb $18
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 Zagreb
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zagreb.
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $74
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $75
- Private Authentic Croatian Cooking Class in Central Zagreb: $114
- Private Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class in the Heart of Zagreb: $144
- PRIVATE Half-Day Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of Zagreb With Locals: $196
- Wine & Food tour of Plešivica near Zagreb: $952
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krakow $20Zagreb $13
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 Zagreb
Here are a few actual costs in Zagreb for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Nikola Tesla Technical Museum Ticket: $4.28
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Skip-the-Ticket-Line Museum of Broken Relationships: $7.49
- Zagreb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket: $9.62
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Zagreb's Old Town: Walking In-App Audio Tour(ENG): $11
- Small-Group Walking Highlights Tour: $16
- City Walking Tour w/ Funicular Ride and WW2 Tunnels: $19
- City Walking Tour with Funicular Ride & WW2 Tunnels: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrakow $6.75Zagreb $9.49
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Zagreb
Also in Zagreb, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Zagreb Pub Crawl: $16
- Zagreb:Private Bar Crawling and Alcohol Testing with a Guide: $32
- Zagreb Wine Tasting & Jarun Lake Tour: $75
- Plesivica countryside Wine Tasting: $199
- Fairytale castle & delicious wine tasting and lunch: $202
- Private Wine Tasting Tour from Zagreb: $208
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and Zagreb, we can see that Zagreb 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 Zagreb would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zagreb 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 Zagreb Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or Zagreb?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Zagreb. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Zagreb, 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 Zagreb?
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 Zagreb in the Summer?
Both Zagreb and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Zagreb because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Krakow is generally cooler than Zagreb. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 19°C (67°F), and Zagreb fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in Zagreb. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Zagreb during summer. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Zagreb receives 266 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Krakow usually receives around the same amount of rain as Zagreb. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)Zagreb 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Zagreb in the Autumn?
Both Zagreb and Krakow during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Zagreb this time of year.
Krakow is cooler than Zagreb in the autumn. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Zagreb fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
In the autumn, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Zagreb. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zagreb receives 133 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets less rain in October than Zagreb. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)Zagreb 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Zagreb in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Zagreb. Furthermore, many travelers come to Zagreb for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Zagreb. It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. In the winter, Krakow is much colder than Zagreb. Typically, the winter temperatures in Krakow in January average around -2°C (29°F), and Zagreb averages at about 1°C (35°F).
Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Zagreb during winter. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while Zagreb receives 54 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Krakow usually receives less rain than Zagreb. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)Zagreb 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Zagreb in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Zagreb. Additionally, many visitors come to Zagreb in the spring for the activities around the city.
In April, Krakow is generally cooler than Zagreb. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 10°C (50°F), and Zagreb fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
In the spring, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Zagreb. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zagreb receives 163 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets less rain in April than Zagreb. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)Zagreb 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Zagreb and Krakow
| Krakow | Zagreb | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.