Should you visit Moscow or Karlovy Vary?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Moscow and Karlovy Vary. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia and is notable for its important role in history. It's a very sprawling city with many museums and fascinating buildings. Ten percent of Russia's population lives in this capital city and it's a financial and political center for the country. The Moskva River weaves its way through the city and you will find most of the city's sights and attractions on the northern side of the river.
Karlovy Vary
Founded in 1370, Karlovy Vary translates to "Charles' Bath" for its founder Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, as well as its famous hot springs. It is located in Bohemia in the western Czech Republic and is also known as Karlsbad (German) or Carlsbad (English). Another highlight is the International Film Festival in July with draws celebrities and other film enthusiasts worldwide.
Which city is cheaper, Karlovy Vary or Moscow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Moscow is $64, while the average daily cost in Karlovy Vary is $70. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Moscow and Karlovy Vary in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Moscow, $80 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Moscow, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $40, such as in a hostel.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $66 in Karlovy Vary For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Moscow cost around $14 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $5.60.
The price of a meal in Karlovy Vary can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $23 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $9.20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Moscow $14
Karlovy Vary $23
Typical Food prices in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Virtual Home Cooking with Russian Family:
$22
-
Moscow Food Tour:
$67
-
An evening at the monastery with dinner:
$80
-
Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in Moscow with a Friendly Local:
$91
-
Private Market Tour and Traditional Russian Cooking Class in Moscow:
$101
-
Food Tour:
$102
-
Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in a Local Home in Moscow:
$117
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Moscow Metro and Russian Dinner Private tour:
$127
-
Moscow River Cruise with Dinner and Lively Firework with a Private Guide:
$133
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Private food tour: Russian culinary culture:
$144
-
Moscow Yummy Food tour:
$160
-
Red Square and River Cruise with Dinner Private Tour:
$167
Local Transportation
To get around in Moscow, the average visitor spends $6.21 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
To get around in Karlovy Vary, the average visitor spends $22 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Moscow
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Moscow are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moscow
Also for Moscow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Tour to Russia's Largest Aviation Museum (with roundtrip train transfer):
$398
-
The Kremlin & Cathedrals Private Tour (with roundtrip transfer):
$299
-
Transfer from Moscow to the Golden Ring (Ideal for Backpackers On a Shoestring!):
$167
-
Yellow Drive - Vnukovo - Moscow - Vnukovo Transfers:
$157
-
Sergiev Posad private tour with transfer from Moscow:
$143
-
Yellow Drive - Domodedovo Airport Transfers:
$135
-
Moscow Airport Transfers : Moscow City to Domodedovo Airport DME in Luxury Car:
$134
-
Moscow Airport Transfers : Moscow City to Sheremetyevo Airport SVO in Luxury Car:
$133
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Moscow Airport Transfers : Vnukovo Airport VKO to Moscow City in Luxury Car:
$133
-
Moscow Airport Transfers : Moscow City to Vnukovo Airport VKO in Luxury Car:
$126
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Moscow Airport Transfers : Moscow City to Domodedovo Airport DME in Business Car:
$125
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Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Domodedovo DME to Moscow City by Luxury Car:
$124
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Karlovy Vary
Also for Karlovy Vary, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer from Karlovy Vary to Prague: Private sightseeing daytrip with 1 Stop:
$146
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Private one way transfer from Karlovy Vary to Český Krumlov:
$418
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Private Transfer from Karlovy Vary to Prague, English-speaking driver:
$124
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Private Transfer from Karlovy Vary to Prague:
$199
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Karlovy Vary International Airport to Karlovy Vary City - One Way:
$37
Is it cheaper to fly into Moscow or Karlovy Vary?
Prices for flights to both Karlovy Vary and Moscow 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.
Entertainment
In Moscow, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
In Karlovy Vary, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $10 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Moscow
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Moscow's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Theater Tickets
$16
-
Kremlin Entry (2)
$14
Tours and Activities in Moscow
For Moscow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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"Moscow Versailles" Kuskovo estate Private Tour:
$249
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'Communist Moscow' walking tour:
$240
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1 Day City Tour in Moscow city:
$300
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1-day Moscow Tour (Top sights: Kremlin, Red Square, Arbat street, etc.):
$357
-
1-day Tour to Saint-Petersburg from Moscow (Hermitage Museum and Peterhof):
$709
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1-day Tour to Saint-Petersburg from Moscow (Hermitage Museum and sights tour):
$840
-
1-hour scenic Moscow River Cruise:
$18
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10-Day Climbing Tour to Elbrus Mountain the Highest in Europe:
$1,649
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12-Day River Cruise on a 3-Star Ship from Moscow:
$2,373
-
14-Day River Cruise along the Volga from Moscow to Astrakhan:
$3,029
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15-Day Altai Mountains Horse Riding Tour from Moscow:
$2,201
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15-day Trekking Tour in Siberia Altai Mountains:
$1,511
Tours and Activities in Karlovy Vary
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Karlovy Vary.
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A day in the life of Karlovy Vary - Private tour with a local:
$249
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Becherovka, Lemond, KV14, Cordial Ticket:
$8.09
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Karlovy Vary Private Walking Tour:
$168
-
Karlovy Vary and Moser Factory Full day Tour from Prague:
$107
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Karlovy Vary plus Loket castle tour:
$122
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Private tour of best of Karlovy Vary - Sightseeing, Food & Culture with a local:
$187
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Touristic highlights of Karlovy Vary on a Private half day tour with a local:
$187
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Moscow spend on average $7.98 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Karlovy Vary, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.65.
Sample the Local Flavors in Moscow
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Moscow:
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Pub Crawl Moscow Guided Tour in Classic Soviet Van:
$79
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Private Wine Tour in Moscow with History, Architecture and Friendly Local Guide:
$121
Sample the Local Flavors in Karlovy Vary
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Karlovy Vary:
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Karlovy Vary and Krusovice Brewery Private Day Trip from Prague:
$145
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Karlovy Vary & Krusovice Brewery Private Day Trip from Prague for up to 8 people:
$304
When comparing the travel costs between Moscow and Karlovy Vary, we can see that Karlovy Vary is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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