Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Lyon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lyon or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon or Krakow, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Lyon or Krakow?
Lyon
Lyon, located within the region of Southeastern France, is France's third largest city in terms of population, with just over 500,000 inhabitants. This makes the city large, yet still small and personable enough to be explored properly in a short visit. Known as the gastronomic capital of Europe, your culinary needs are exceptionally well catered to here, and for those with historical and cultural interests, you will never be at a loss for new things to do and see.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLyon €125Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Lyon is €125, while the average daily cost in Krakow is €60. 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 Lyon and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLyon €53Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLyon €106Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Lyon and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Lyon or Krakow? 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: Lyon Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lyon €17Krakow €6.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:
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Funiculaire€5.20
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Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus€19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City by Business Car: $78
- Arrival Private Transfer from Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City by Luxury Van: $92
- Arrival Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Business Car: $86
- Departure Private Transfer Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS by Business Car: $79
- Departure Private Transfer Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS by Luxury Van: $93
- Departure Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Business Car: $86
- Departure Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Luxury Van: $94
- Excellecar Private Driver - Stations & Airports Transfers: $82
- Group transfer from Lyon airport to City Center: $118
- Lyon Airport (LYS) to Val d'Isere/Espace Killy: Arrival Transfer: $76
- Lyon City Card with Airport Transfer: $52
- Lyon Exupery Airport to Les Deux La Clusaz Round Trip Transfer: $142
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 Lyon or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Lyon 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 dayLyon €41Krakow €12
Typical Food Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:
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Pastry€1.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lyon.
- Street Food Tour: $64
- Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $64
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $66
- Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $76
- Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $80
- Cultural Walking Food Tour in the Vieux Lyon District: $86
- Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $93
- Old Town Food Tour: $96
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
- Guided Evening Food Tour: $102
- Lyon Evening Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Food Tour in Lyon - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
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.Lyon €20Krakow €19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:
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Lunch for 2€45
Tours and Activities in Lyon
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Hop-On Hop-Off City Cruise: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Lyon Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $6.42
- Lyon Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.54
- Private Self-Guided Tour of the Curse Quest of Old Lyon: $8.72
- Access to a Self-Guided Tour of the archaeological site of Lyon: $8.72
- Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.72
- Lyon Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- French Resistance Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $9.61
- Old Lyon Walking In App Audio Tour: $9.77
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLyon €24Krakow €6.32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:
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Drinks for 2€6.80
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Bottle of Wine€15
Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon
Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $96
- Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $98
- Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
- Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
- Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $106
- Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $106
- From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $106
- Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $106
- From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $106
- Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $108
- Beaujolais 100% wine tour Small-Group Tour with Tasting from Lyon: $108
- Guided tour and wine tasting Northern Rhône Valley: $108
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 Lyon and Krakow, we can see that Lyon 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 Lyon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lyon 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 Lyon Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lyon or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 60% larger than the population of Lyon. When comparing the sizes of Lyon and Krakow, 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 Lyon or Krakow?
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 Lyon or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Lyon and Krakow. Many visitors come to Lyon in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Lyon is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lyon in July average around 22°C (71°F), and Krakow averages at about 19°C (67°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krakow this time of the year. In Lyon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lyon usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during summer. Lyon gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Lyon usually receives less rain than Krakow. Lyon gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLyon 22°C (71°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Lyon or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Lyon as well as Krakow. Most visitors come to Lyon for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Lyon is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Lyon average around 14°C (56°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Lyon often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Lyon gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun.
Lyon usually gets more rain in October than Krakow. Lyon gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLyon 14°C (56°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Lyon or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Lyon are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Lyon because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. The weather in Lyon can be very cold. Lyon is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
Lyon usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during winter. Lyon gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Lyon usually receives more rain than Krakow. Lyon gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLyon 4°C (39°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Lyon or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Lyon during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Lyon this time of year.
In the spring, Lyon is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lyon in April average around 11°C (53°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In the spring, Lyon often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Lyon gets 174 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun.
Lyon usually gets more rain in April than Krakow. Lyon gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLyon 11°C (53°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Lyon
| Lyon | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (70°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.