Which place is cheaper, Lodz or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Riga or Lodz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Lodz? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Riga or Lodz?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Lodz
Located in central Poland, Lodz is a city perhaps best-known as a former textile-manufacturing hub. There are plenty of attractions and museums dedicated to showcasing that history, as well as a drive to promote it as a center for creative industries like art, design, fashion, and film.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Poland, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €104Lodz €30
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €104, while the average daily cost in Lodz is €30. 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 Riga and Lodz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €53Lodz €13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €106Lodz €26
Compare Hotels in Riga and Lodz
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Lodz? 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Lodz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €15Lodz €6.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga International Airport to Downtown: $267
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $138
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $108
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $131
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $52
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $52
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $27
- Riga Airport to City Center Private Transfers: $59
- Riga Airport Transfer: $33
- Riga - Tallin: Transfer and Tour through beautiful landmarks: $487
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lodz
Also for Lodz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Luxury airport transfer from Lodz to Warszawa Chopin Airport: $101
- Poland Lodz city private transfer-Krakow Balice Airport: $137
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Lodz?
Prices for flights to both Lodz and Riga 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 dayRiga €33Lodz €10
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $96
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $114
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $131
- Taste Market Tour & Cooking Masterclass: $138
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $139
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $152
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lodz
For Lodz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lodz Private Traditional Polish Food Tour: $183
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €21Lodz €5.43
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- The best of Bauska walking tour: $75
- 1 Day Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $27
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $41
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $86
- 5 Hour Shared Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $82
- ATV Quad Off Road or City Tour in Riga: $142
- Beer Bike Experience : $36
- Best of Riga Walking Tour: $181
- Best of Riga Walking Tour - Highlights and Hidden Gems: $66
- City:canal:tour: $21
- Crafted Cocktails: A Masterclass Experience: $80
- Daily Bike Tour in Riga with Professional Guide: $44
Tours and Activities in Lodz
For Lodz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unique Gems of Lodz - Walking Tour : $96
- Romantic tour in Lodz: $96
- Lodz Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour: $102
- Half-Day Chelmno Kulmhof Concentration Camp Private Tour: $136
- Magic Christmas tour in Lodz: $150
- Lodz Private Vodka Tasting Tour: $163
- Lodz Private Polish Beer Tasting Tour: $164
- Private Walking City Tour in Lodz: $206
- Frederic Chopin and Masovian Country Small Group Tour from Lodz with Lunch: $232
- Jasna Gora & Black Madonna Private Tour from Lodz with Lunch : $244
- Torun Private Tour from Lodz with Lunch: $266
- Warsaw Private Tour from Lodz with Lunch: $268
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Lodz €5.35
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $25
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $37
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $75
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $96
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $523
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,320
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Lodz, we can see that Riga is more expensive. And not only is Lodz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lodz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lodz 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga than you might in Lodz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Lodz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Lodz?
Lodz has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Lodz, 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 Riga or Lodz?
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 Riga or Lodz in the Summer?
Both Lodz and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
Riga is around the same temperature as Lodz in the summer. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Lodz fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in July than Lodz. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Lodz receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Lodz 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Riga or Lodz in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Lodz. Many travelers come to Riga for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Riga is cooler than Lodz. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Riga in October average around 7°C (45°F), and Lodz averages at about 9°C (49°F).
In October, Riga usually receives more rain than Lodz. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Lodz receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Lodz 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Riga or Lodz in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Lodz. Many visitors come to Riga in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Lodz can be very cold during winter. Riga can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Riga is generally much colder than Lodz. Daily temperatures in Riga average around -5°C (23°F), and Lodz fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in January than Lodz. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Lodz receives 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Lodz -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Riga or Lodz in the Spring?
Both Lodz and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Riga for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Riga is much colder than Lodz in the spring. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 5°C (42°F) in April, and Lodz fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
In April, Riga usually receives more rain than Lodz. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Lodz receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Lodz 9°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Lodz and Riga
| Riga | Lodz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 32 mm (1.3 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.