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

Should you visit Marbella or Krakow?

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

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

Marbella

Marbella is a city in southern Spain in the province of Malaga. It is part of the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) and is located on the Mediterranean Sea between Malaga and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is one of the most important tourist cities in the area and receives many national and international tourists year round due to its climate and tourism structures. Marbella is a bit of a glamorous city due to its beauty and resort-type environment. The old town with its narrow cobbled streets and flower-filled plazas is packed with shops and art galleries selling boutique clothes and accessories, and handmade wares. The city has significant archaeological and historical heritage and many events and performances throughout the year.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Marbella?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Marbella is €117, 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 Marbella and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Marbella 61
    Krakow 39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Marbella 122
    Krakow 78
Compare Hotels in Marbella and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Marbella 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 Marbella


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: Marbella Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Marbella 24
    Krakow 6.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marbella

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

  • Costa del Sol: Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Malaga Airport: $75
  • From Malaga: Private Transfer Malaga Airport to Marbella: $235
  • Private Transfer from Algarrobo to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $109
  • Private Transfer from Alhaurín El Grande to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $68
  • Private Transfer from Alozaina to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $112
  • Private Transfer from Atalaya Park to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $127
  • Private Transfer from Benahavís to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $132
  • Private Transfer from Benaoján to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $214
  • Private Transfer from Cómpeta to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $138
  • Private Transfer from Coín to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $80
  • Private Transfer from El Paraíso to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $135
  • Private Transfer from Estepona to Malaga (AGP) airport: $155

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 Marbella or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Marbella 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
    Marbella 38
    Krakow 12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marbella

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

  • Food Tour: $87
  • The Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle Cooking Class.: $180
  • Gourmet Cooking Class & Culture in the rural Montes de Malaga.: $191

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.
    Marbella 19
    Krakow 19

Tours and Activities in Marbella

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

  • Discover the Old Town through a Self-Guided Tour: $4.60
  • Marbella Old Town Walking Tour : $15
  • Sightseeing Walking Tour: $21
  • Guided tour and olive oil tasting in Alhaurin el Grande (Málaga) : $22
  • Marbella Old Town: Group Tour with a True Local: $24
  • Marbella Old Town group tour with a True Local: $24
  • group walking Tour: $26
  • Explore Marbella Old Town: Tapas Tasting Adventure: $27
  • Marbella like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $32
  • Bike City Tour Marbella: $32
  • Dolphin Watching Adventure in Estepona Bay: $38
  • 2 h Estepona Bay Tour: $47

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
    Marbella 5.71
    Krakow 6.32

Sample the Local Flavors in Marbella

Also in Marbella, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Manilva & Gaucin Wine Tour from the Costa del Sol: $152
  • From Manilva Sunset Wine Tasting Tour with Tapas: $159
  • Ronda Full Day Wine Tour from Marbella: $195
  • From Antequera Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $213
  • From Axarquia Wine Tour with Wine Pairing Lunch: $234
  • Full-Day Private Ronda Wine Tour Experience from Marbella: $262
  • VIP Ronda Wine Tour and Tasting and Gourmet Lunch Experience with Winemaker: $272

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


Which is Bigger, Marbella or Krakow?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Marbella. When comparing the sizes of Marbella 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 Marbella 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 Marbella or Krakow in the Summer?

Both Krakow and Marbella during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Marbella in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Marbella is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Marbella in July average around 25°C (77°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 Marbella. In the summer, Marbella often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Marbella gets 348 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Marbella usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Marbella gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Marbella 25°C (77°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Marbella or Krakow in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Marbella and Krakow. Most visitors come to Marbella for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Marbella is generally much warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Marbella average around 19°C (67°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In Marbella, it's very sunny this time of the year. Marbella usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Marbella gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Marbella usually receives more rain than Krakow. Marbella gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Marbella 19°C (67°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Marbella or Krakow in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Marbella as well as Krakow. The winter months attract visitors to Marbella because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. Marbella is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Marbella averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

In the winter, Marbella often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Marbella gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

Marbella usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Marbella gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Marbella 12°C (54°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Marbella or Krakow in the Spring?

Both Krakow and Marbella are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Marbella this time of year.

In the spring, Marbella is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Marbella in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marbella. Marbella usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Marbella gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Marbella usually receives less rain than Krakow. Marbella gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Marbella 16°C (60°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Marbella

Marbella Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 12°C (54°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 14°C (57°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 19°C (66°F) 24 mm (0.9 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 13 mm (0.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 25°C (78°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 23°C (74°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 19°C (67°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 15°C (60°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 13°C (55°F) 102 mm (4 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)