A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Malmo vs. Krakow for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Malmo or Krakow?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Malmo 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: Malmo or Krakow?

Malmo

Located on the southern tip of Sweden, in the province of Skane, Malmo is Sweden's third largest city. It has a very international population with about a third of the residents being from countries other than Sweden. This diversity is evident within Malmo, which is rich in culture, interesting food, and an array of entertainment options. Historically, Malmo was an industrial city with a ship building company, Kockums being the area's largest employer. Today, however, the city is much more economicaly diverse with many eco friendly neighborhoods and plenty of suburban style housing.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Sweden, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Malmo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Malmo is $81, while the average daily cost in Krakow is $64. 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 Malmo and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Malmo $48
    Krakow $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Malmo $96
    Krakow $84
Compare Hotels in Malmo and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Malmo 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.

Hotels in Malmo


Hotels in Krakow


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: Malmo Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Malmo $7.88
    Krakow $6.40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Malmo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Malmo:


  • Malmö Bus Card
    $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malmo

Also for Malmo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Malmö City to Copenhagen hotel/address Private Departure Transfer: $128
  • Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City Center - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
  • Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City Center - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
  • Malmo City Center to Malmo Airport (MMX) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
  • Malmo Private Transfer from Central Malmo to Malmo Airport: $95
  • Malmo Private Transfer from Malmo airport to Central Malmo : $95
  • Private Direct Transfer From Malmo to Copenhagen: $121
  • Private Transfer from Malmo Airport MMX to Fredericia Port: $96

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 Malmo or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Malmo 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Malmo $25
    Krakow $13

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malmo

For Malmo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Self-guided Food Tour in Malmö: $59
  • Guided Food Tour in Malmö (Private): $120

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Malmo $16
    Krakow $20

Tours and Activities in Malmo

For Malmo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Lund's Medieval and Modern History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Self-guided audio tour in Lund: explore the story of the Locus Peccatorum murder: $9.35
  • Malmö Ghost Story: A self-guided audio walking tour: $9.35
  • Canal Sightseeing Boat Tour of Malmö: $21
  • Half Day Walking Tour in Lund City and University: $33
  • Malmö Photography Tour: $58
  • Malmo Walking Tour, 3 hours (small group): $66
  • Joyful Malmo Walking Tour for Couples: $147
  • Exploring Malmo Walking Tour: $147

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Malmo $35
    Krakow $6.75

Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:


  • 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 Malmo and Krakow, we can see that Malmo 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 Malmo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malmo 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 Malmo Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Malmo or Krakow?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Malmo. When comparing the sizes of Malmo 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 Malmo 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 Malmo or Krakow in the Summer?

Both Krakow and Malmo during the summer are popular places to visit.

In the summer, Malmo is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Malmo in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Krakow averages at about 19°C (67°F).

In Krakow, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Malmo. In the summer, Malmo often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Malmo gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Malmo usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Malmo gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Malmo 17°C (62°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Malmo or Krakow in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Malmo and Krakow.

In October, Malmo is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Malmo average around 10°C (50°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Malmo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during autumn. Malmo gets 104 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Malmo usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Malmo gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Malmo 10°C (50°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Malmo or Krakow in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Malmo as well as Krakow.

It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. The weather in Malmo can be very cold. Malmo is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Malmo averages around 0°C (32°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

In the winter, Malmo often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Malmo gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

Malmo usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Krakow. Malmo gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Malmo 0°C (32°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Malmo or Krakow in the Spring?

Both Krakow and Malmo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Malmo is much colder than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Malmo in April average around 5°C (42°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Malmo usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Malmo gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Malmo usually receives less rain than Krakow. Malmo gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Malmo 5°C (42°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Malmo

Malmo Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 0°C (32°F) 37 mm (1.4 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb -0°C (32°F) 25 mm (1 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 2°C (35°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 5°C (42°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 11°C (51°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 52 mm (2 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 50 mm (2 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 6°C (42°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 2°C (36°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)