Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Thessaloniki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Thessaloniki or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Krakow? 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: Thessaloniki or Krakow?
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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 Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThessaloniki €134Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, 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 Thessaloniki and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThessaloniki €79Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki 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.
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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Thessaloniki €13Krakow €6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Day Trip to Meteora with Transfer: $428
- One Way Private Transfer SKG Airport to / from Thessaloniki City Center: $24
- Private Transfer from Kavala to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $237
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Ammon Zeus Hotel : $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Sani Resort: $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Thessaloniki Port: $41
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki hotels to Thessaloniki Port: $41
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $254
- Private Transfer to Thessaloniki Airport from Thessaloniki City: $120
- Private transfer to IKOS OLIVIA: $87
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) to Thessaloniki - Arrival Transfer: $21
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki Port: $142
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 Thessaloniki or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Thessaloniki 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 dayThessaloniki €42Krakow €12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $48
- Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting: $49
- Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $63
- Guided Food Tour: $70
- Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $71
- Private Walking Tour Gastronomic Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $87
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $95
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $95
- Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $95
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $97
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $97
- Greek Cooking Class, Market visit and Lunch: $97
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Thessaloniki €26Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.95
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
- White Tower Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.54
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour & Narrative: $11
- Selfie Museum Entry Ticket: $11
- Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Museum of Illusions Admission Ticket: $12
- Thessaloniki Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Byzantine Museum E-Ticket with Audio Tour: $13
- E-ticket to Museum of Byzantine Culture with Audio Tour : $13
- Thessaloniki Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour: $17
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayThessaloniki €15Krakow €6.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Thessaloniki: $25
- From Pella-Edessa wine tasting: $64
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $81
- Thessaloniki Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $83
- Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $91
- Wine Tasting Experience from Thessaloniki: $93
- Thessaloniki to Naoussa, Wine Tasting Tour – Private Day Trip: $207
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:
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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 Thessaloniki and Krakow, we can see that Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Thessaloniki. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki or Krakow in the Summer?
Both Krakow and Thessaloniki during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Thessaloniki is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki. In the summer, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThessaloniki 25°C (77°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Krakow. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.
In October, Thessaloniki is generally much warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 16°C (61°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Krakow. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberThessaloniki 16°C (61°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Krakow in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Krakow. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. Thessaloniki is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 5°C (41°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryThessaloniki 5°C (41°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In the spring, Thessaloniki is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Thessaloniki in April average around 13°C (56°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Krakow. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilThessaloniki 13°C (56°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Thessaloniki
| Thessaloniki | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.