Which place is cheaper, Plzen or Osaka?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Osaka or Plzen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Osaka or Plzen, 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: Osaka or Plzen?
Osaka
The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.
Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.
Plzen
Renowned as the home of the pilsner beer, Plzen is a city located in the West Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Beyond beer, it also features a number of impressive landmarks some of which include St. Bartholomew's Cathedral and the Great Synagogue.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Czech Republic, and The Best Cultural Tours in Czech Republic.
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Osaka Prices
Japan PricesPlzen Prices
Czech Republic Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOsaka $103Plzen $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Osaka is $103, while the average daily cost in Plzen is $141. 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 Osaka and Plzen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOsaka $44Plzen $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOsaka $88Plzen $140
Compare Hotels in Osaka and Plzen
Looking for a hotel in Osaka or Plzen? 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: Osaka Hotel Prices and Plzen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Osaka $13Plzen $9.45
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Osaka
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:
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Subway$7.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka
Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Awa Dance Festival Ticket with Car Transfer from Osaka: $35
- Private Transfer to/from Universal Studios Japan: $42
- Itami Airport(ITM): Private Transfer from/to Osaka or Kyoto: $42
- Osaka International Airport (ITM) Private Transfer to Osaka/Kyoto: $46
- Kansai Airport (KIX) Transfer to Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto/Nara/Wakayama: $59
- Osaka : Private One-way Transfers to/from Kansai Airport(KIX): $59
- Osaka ⇆ Kansai Airport (KIX) Private Transfer: $66
- Private departure Transfer from Osaka city to Kansai airport: $67
- Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) to Osaka - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Osaka to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
- Osaka to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) - Departure Private Transfer: $72
- Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) to Osaka - Arrival Private Transfer: $72
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plzen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Plzen:
- Private Transfer from Pilsen(Plzen) to Prague: $292
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague with 2 hours for sightseeing: $125
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague: $94
Is it cheaper to fly into Osaka or Plzen?
Prices for flights to both Plzen and Osaka 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 dayOsaka $42Plzen $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Osaka
For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Osaka Cooking Class 17 Tastes Takoyaki Making: $21
- Osaka Umeda: PICCADILLY DINNER SHOW&NIGHTCLUB with Tasting: $32
- Welcome to Osaka Matrix and Local food tour with Ninja Guide: $36
- Kobe Beef Bowl Cooking Class in Osaka Afternoon: $38
- Experience Cooking Takoyaki in its Birthplace, Osaka: $41
- 1.5 Hour Food Tour at the Kuromon Market in Osaka: $41
- (1 Group Only) Osaka Dotonbori Food Tour Wagyu & Ramen Takoyaki: $45
- Osaka Cooking for Japanese Pescatarian dishes: $48
- Private Food Tour & Bar Hopping in Namba: $48
- Deep Osaka Night Walking Tour with Optional Dinner: $51
- Osaka 2 Hour Local Street Food Tour in Dotonbori and Namba: $57
- Japanese home cooking class in Osaka Umeda: $57
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Osaka $19Plzen $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Osaka
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Osaka Aquarium (for 2)$29
Tours and Activities in Osaka
For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Osaka Dotonbori: CHEVAL Nightclub Ticket & Drinks (Foreign Only): $5.11
- Osaka Farplane Parco Bar Admission Ticket with Drink for Foreign: $6.38
- Osaka Shinsaibashi: AMMONA Nightclub Entry Ticket (For Foreign): $6.38
- Osaka Dotonbori: GIRAFFE Nightclub Admission Ticket (For Foreign): $6.38
- Osaka Umeda: OWL Nightclub Admission Ticket (For Foreign): $6.38
- Osaka Food Quest: Self-Guided Culinary & History Adventure: $6.71
- Harukas 300 Observatory Tickets | Osaka: $8.00
- Osaka Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
- Osaka Dotonbori River Cruise with Glico Sign: $13
- Osaka Dotonbori River Cruise with Glico Sign & Neon Lights View: $13
- Osaka Dotonbori Wonder Cruise: $13
- General Admission ticket to ABENO HARUKAS in Osaka: $13
Tours and Activities in Plzen
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Plzen are as follows:
- An Audio Tour of the City of Beer: Pilsen's History and Legends: $7.99
- Experience Pilsen through Digital Audio Guide in English: $11
- Pilsen Private Walking Tour: $247
- Pilsen Walking Tour: Explore Sights & Hidden Gems: $39
- Pilsen: Beer & Spirit Tasting Tour: $59
- Pilsen: Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $12
- Pilsen: Old Town Gastronomy Tour: $35
- Pilsen: Old Town Guided Walking Tour: $59
- Pilsen: Panoramic Sightseeing - Bus Tour with audio guide: $19
- Plzeň: Big Bunker Shooting Experience: $186
- Prague Walking and Beer Tour Discover Hidden Gems: $114
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOsaka $11Plzen $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:
- Osaka Nights: Ultimate Pub Bar Crawl with an Expert Local Guide: $33
- Osaka Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting: $41
- 3Hour Osaka Pub Crawl Bar Hopping Nightlife Guided Tour in Namba: $46
- Off The Beaten Path Osaka Local Bar Crawl: $51
- Osaka Winery Tour with Wine Tasting & Vineyard Walk: $83
Sample the Local Flavors in Plzen
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plzen:
- Pilsen: Brewery Museum Entrance with a Glass of Beer: $7.62
- Pilsen: Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $21
- Pilsen Highlights Small-Group Tour and Pilsner Brewery Tour including Lunch and Beer Tasting: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Osaka and Plzen, we can see that Plzen is more expensive. And not only is Osaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Osaka is in Asia and Plzen is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Osaka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Osaka 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 Plzen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Plzen than you might in Osaka.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Osaka Expensive? and Is Plzen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Osaka or Plzen?
Osaka has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Plzen. When comparing the sizes of Osaka and Plzen, 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 Osaka or Plzen?
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 Osaka or Plzen in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Osaka as well as Plzen. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Osaka this time of year.
In the summer, Osaka is a little warmer than Plzen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Osaka in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Plzen averages at about 20°C (67°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Plzen. In the summer, Osaka often gets less sunshine than Plzen. Osaka gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 212 hours of full sun.
Osaka receives a lot of rain in the summer. Osaka usually gets more rain in July than Plzen. Osaka gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyOsaka 28°C (82°F)Plzen 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Osaka or Plzen in the Autumn?
Both Plzen and Osaka are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Osaka for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In October, Osaka is generally much warmer than Plzen. Daily temperatures in Osaka average around 19°C (66°F), and Plzen fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Osaka usually receives more sunshine than Plzen during autumn. Osaka gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 120 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Osaka. In October, Osaka usually receives more rain than Plzen. Osaka gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOsaka 19°C (66°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Osaka or Plzen in the Winter?
Both Plzen and Osaka during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Osaka in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Plzen can be very cold during winter. Osaka is much warmer than Plzen in the winter. The daily temperature in Osaka averages around 6°C (42°F) in January, and Plzen fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
In the winter, Osaka often gets more sunshine than Plzen. Osaka gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 45 hours of full sun.
Osaka usually gets more rain in January than Plzen. Osaka gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOsaka 6°C (42°F)Plzen -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Osaka or Plzen in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Osaka and Plzen. Most visitors come to Osaka for the activities around the city during these months.
In the spring, Osaka is a little warmer than Plzen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Osaka in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Plzen averages at about 11°C (51°F).
Osaka usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Plzen during spring. Osaka gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 164 hours of full sun in the spring.
Osaka gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Osaka usually receives more rain than Plzen. Osaka gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilOsaka 15°C (59°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Plzen and Osaka
| Osaka | Plzen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (42°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (43°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (74°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (47°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 23 mm (0.9 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.