Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Mainz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mainz or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Mainz and Krakow can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Mainz or Krakow?
Mainz
On the Rhine River, the ages of the medieval stand before you in their half-timbered constructions, giving this quaint, old town a hint of the spellbinding. A time capsule of Germany, Mainz is enriched by its vast history as well as its cosmopolitan air. Dating back to around 38 BC, Mainz was built by Romans and founded as the the episcopal seat of the influential Prince-Electors. With its history spanning more than 2,000 years, Mainz is rich in its exquisite architecture, such as its stunning cathedrals, medieval market squares, and Renaissance fountains. However, Mainz also has been blessed with the joys and comforts of modernization, giving way to fantastic shopping centers, tasty restaurants, and absolutely fascinating museums. A media hub and regional capital, Mainz is also known as the wine capital of Germany as its civilians have a long history of winegrowing throughout the city. Whether you seek to oogle at artifacts at the Gutenberg Museum or sit a spell at one of the town's fine eateries, the possibilities are endless in Mainz!
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMainz €142Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Mainz is €142, 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 Mainz and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMainz €74Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMainz €148Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Mainz and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Mainz 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: Mainz Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mainz €37Krakow €6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Zakopane to Chocholow Thermal Pools 3h Ticket with Hotel Transfer: $93
- Zakopane and Sleigh Ride with Transfers and Lunch Option: $186
- Zakopane Tour from Krakow with Transfers and Lunch Option: $65
- Zakopane Private Transfer from to Krakow or Krakow Airport: $253
- Wroclaw: Private Transfer from/to Krakow: $248
- Wooden Architecture Museum Private Transfer Round Trip: $153
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers: $65
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour from Krakow with Hotel Transfer: $77
- Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $747
- Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
- VAN Private transfer: Krakow Airport - Krakow City: $43
- Two Krakow Airport Transfers, Auschwitz-Birkenau & Salt Mine: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Mainz or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Mainz 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 dayMainz €41Krakow €12
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.Mainz €33Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Mainz
For Mainz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Romantic Old Town Self-guided Discovery Tour: $8.45
- Guided tour in Mainz on the Rhine in german and english: $21
- Mainz Syndicate City Escape Game Self Guided Tour: $22
- 2-Hour Advent Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Rhine: $22
- Crime-Tour - Escape Game: $42
- Self-Guided Urban Adventure Game: $43
- Urban Adventure Game in Mainz with an app: $44
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $51
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive Tour: $74
- Mainz E-Bike City Tour: $74
- Private Guided Walking Tour in Mainz: $82
- Guided Hotrod City Starter Tour: $95
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMainz €22Krakow €6.32
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 Mainz and Krakow, we can see that Mainz 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 Mainz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mainz 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 Mainz Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mainz or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Mainz. When comparing the sizes of Mainz 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 Mainz or Krakow?
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 Mainz or Krakow in the Summer?
Both Krakow and Mainz during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Mainz for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Mainz is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 19°C (66°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
In Krakow, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mainz. In the summer, Mainz often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Mainz gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Mainz usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Mainz gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMainz 19°C (66°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Mainz or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mainz and Krakow. Many visitors come to Mainz in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Mainz is around the same temperature as Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mainz averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Mainz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during autumn. Mainz gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Mainz usually receives more rain than Krakow. Mainz gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMainz 11°C (51°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Mainz or Krakow in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mainz as well as Krakow. Most visitors come to Mainz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Krakow can be very cold. Mainz can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Mainz is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mainz in January average around 2°C (35°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Mainz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Mainz gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Mainz usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Mainz gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMainz 2°C (35°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Mainz or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Mainz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Mainz because of the natural beauty.
In April, Mainz is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 11°C (51°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Mainz usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Mainz gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Mainz usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Mainz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMainz 11°C (51°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Mainz
| Mainz | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (35°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (51°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (36°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.