Which place is cheaper, Karlovy Vary or Sochi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Sochi or Karlovy Vary? 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.
Located on the coast of the Black Sea, Sochi is one of the southernmost major cities in Russia. It is especially busy in the summer when native Russians and international visitors alike come to enjoy the mountainous coastline and sunny beaches. Sochi is also known as the host of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and many of the Olympic venues can still be visited today.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Czech Republic, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Czech Republic.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sochi is $61, while the average daily cost in Karlovy Vary is $82. 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 Sochi and Karlovy Vary in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Sochi or Karlovy Vary? 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.
Also for Karlovy Vary, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Karlovy Vary and Sochi 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Karlovy Vary.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sochi and Karlovy Vary, we can see that Karlovy Vary is more expensive. And not only is Sochi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sochi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sochi 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 Karlovy Vary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Karlovy Vary than you might in Sochi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sochi Expensive? and Is Karlovy Vary Expensive?.
Sochi has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Karlovy Vary. When comparing the sizes of Sochi and Karlovy Vary, 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.
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.
Both Karlovy Vary and Sochi during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Sochi is generally a little warmer than Karlovy Vary. Daily temperatures in Sochi average around 23°C (73°F), and Karlovy Vary fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
Sochi usually gets more rain in July than Karlovy Vary. Sochi gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sochi and Karlovy Vary.
Sochi is a little warmer than Karlovy Vary in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sochi averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Karlovy Vary fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Sochi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sochi usually receives more rain than Karlovy Vary. Sochi gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Sochi as well as Karlovy Vary.
Karlovy Vary can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Sochi is much warmer than Karlovy Vary. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sochi in January average around 6°C (44°F), and Karlovy Vary averages at about 1°C (33°F).
Sochi receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sochi usually gets more rain in January than Karlovy Vary. Sochi gets 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Karlovy Vary and Sochi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Sochi is generally a little warmer than Karlovy Vary. Daily temperatures in Sochi average around 13°C (55°F), and Karlovy Vary fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
It's quite rainy in Sochi. In April, Sochi usually receives more rain than Karlovy Vary. Sochi gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Sochi | Karlovy Vary | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 6°C (44°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Feb | 7°C (45°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
May | 17°C (62°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Sep | 20°C (68°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 202 mm (8 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |