Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Vilnius?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vilnius or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Vilnius and Krakow. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Vilnius or Krakow?
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital and largest city in the country of Lithuania. It has a population of more than 500,000 residents and is located in the valley between the Neris River and the Vilnia River in the southeastern part of the country. Visitors come to the city for its beautiful Old Town, impressive architecture, and fascinating culture. In 2009 it was named the European Capital of Culture along with the city of Linz, in Austria.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Lithuania, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVilnius €94Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Vilnius is €94, 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 Vilnius and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVilnius €42Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVilnius €84Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Vilnius and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Vilnius 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: Vilnius Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vilnius €8.30Krakow €6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vilnius
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vilnius:
- Private Transfer from Vilnius Airport to Lithuania: $142
- Arrival Transfer from Vilnius VNO Airport to Vilnius by Minivan: $46
- From Druskininkai & Grutas Park Tour with Transfer: $513
- Private Vilnius Airport Arrival Transfer: $27
- Riga / Tallinn / Vilnius. Transfer Between Baltic States: $641
- Riga: Bus Transfer to/from Vilnius: $20
- Transfer from Kaunas Airport to Vilnius: $214
- Vilnius Airport (VNO): Bus Transfer to/from Gdansk: $51
- Vilnius Airport Transfer: $51
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Riga: $24
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Warsaw: $35
- Vilnius Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Kraków: Kraków Airport to Central Bus Station Bus Transfer: $5.31
- From Auschwitz-Birkenau Roundtrip Bus Transfer: $6.19
- Balice Airport Luxury Vehicle Private Transfer: $9.91
- Private Transfer to or from Krakow Airport: $10
- Private Transfer to/from Krakow Airport (KRK): $11
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
- Krakow Airport Transfer Balice: $14
- Krakow Airport Private Transfers: $15
- Electric Car Transfer between Krakow and the Airport: $15
- Kraków: Airport Private Transfer by Luxury Car: $16
- Auschwitz - Birkenau Roundtrip Transfer with assistance: $17
- Kraków Airport Private Transfer - Kraków City Center: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Vilnius or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Vilnius 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 dayVilnius €40Krakow €12
Typical Food Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of dining costs in Vilnius are as follows:
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Dinner for Two€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vilnius
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vilnius.
- Private National Dinner with Folk Show: $60
- Dinner in local family: $74
- Flavors of Vilnius - Private Walking Food Tour: $191
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.Vilnius €9.72Krakow €19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Vilnius are as follows:
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Walking Tour€5.79
Tours and Activities in Vilnius
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vilnius are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Secrets of Old Vilnius Smartphone App GPS Audio Walking Tour: $6.00
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.42
- Vilnius Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Skip the Line: Europos Parkas, Open-Air Museum Ticket Vilnius, Lithuania: $12
- Vibrant Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $14
- Regular walking tour of Soviet Vilnius: $18
- Regular walking tour of Jewish Vilnius: $18
- Regular walking tour of Jewish Vilnius: $19
- Regular walking tour of Soviet Vilnius: $19
Tours and Activities in Krakow
Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kraków in a nutshell - walking tour: $1.24
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Old Town Audio-Guided Walking Tour with Headset: $3.72
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Old Town Audioguided walking Tour: $4.46
- Tadeusz Kościuszko Mound Entry Tickets: $4.71
- From Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour: $4.95
- Wawel Hill Tour with Audio Guide: $5.57
- Tadeusz Kościuszko Mound Entrance Tickets: $5.62
- From Kraków: Wieliczka Salt Mine Trip & Guided Tour: $6.19
- Skip the Line Ticket for Kościuszko Mound in Krakow: $6.59
- Wawel Hill Audioguide Tour: $6.69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVilnius €6.38Krakow €6.32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Vilnius
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Vilnius from other travelers:
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Beer€4.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Vilnius
Also in Vilnius, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beer degustation at Bear & Boar Brewery Taproom: $43
- Vilnius Private Pub & Bar Crawl Tour & Hidden Gems: $46
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 Vilnius and Krakow, we can see that Vilnius 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 Vilnius would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vilnius 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 Vilnius Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vilnius or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 39% larger than the population of Vilnius. When comparing the sizes of Vilnius 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 Vilnius or Krakow?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Vilnius or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vilnius and Krakow. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Vilnius this time of year.
In the summer, Vilnius is around the same temperature as Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vilnius in July average around 18°C (65°F), and Krakow averages at about 19°C (67°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krakow this time of the year. In Vilnius, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vilnius usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during summer. Vilnius gets 219 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Vilnius usually receives less rain than Krakow. Vilnius gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVilnius 18°C (65°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Vilnius as well as Krakow. Many travelers come to Vilnius for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Vilnius is generally cooler than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Vilnius average around 8°C (46°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Vilnius often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Vilnius gets 94 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun.
Vilnius usually gets more rain in October than Krakow. Vilnius gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVilnius 8°C (46°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Vilnius are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Vilnius in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Krakow can be very cold during winter. Vilnius can get quite cold in the winter. Vilnius is much colder than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Vilnius averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
Vilnius usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during winter. Vilnius gets 36 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Vilnius usually receives more rain than Krakow. Vilnius gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVilnius -5°C (23°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Vilnius during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Vilnius for the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Vilnius is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vilnius in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In the spring, Vilnius often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Vilnius gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun.
Vilnius usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Krakow. Vilnius gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVilnius 7°C (45°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Vilnius
| Vilnius | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (26°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (33°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (29°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.