Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Warsaw?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Warsaw or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Warsaw and Krakow can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Warsaw or Krakow?
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital city of Poland. It has a population of 1.7 million, making it the country's largest city. Located on the Vistula River, it is a popular tourist destination for its interesting architecture and culture. The right bank of the river was the first area to become populated in the 9th or 10 century. Today, however, the city's central district is on the left bank of the river. The Old Town, where you will find many sights and attractions, is fully contained within the city center.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Warsaw, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWarsaw $93Krakow $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Warsaw is $93, while the average daily cost in Krakow is $64. 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 Warsaw and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWarsaw $51Krakow $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWarsaw $102Krakow $84
Compare Hotels in Warsaw and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Warsaw 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: Warsaw Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Warsaw $4.67Krakow $6.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Warsaw
Also for Warsaw, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer (Warsaw ⇄ Krakow): $142
- Airport Transfer: Warsaw Airport WAW to Warsaw by Business Car: $65
- Airport Transfer: Warsaw Airport WAW to Warsaw by Luxury Van: $73
- Arrival Transfer: Chopin Airport WAW to Warsaw by Van: $71
- Arrival Transfer: Warsaw Airport WAW to Warsaw by Luxury Van: $73
- Chopin Airport One–Way Limousine Transfer: $248
- Indoor Paintball with Hotel Transfers: $55
- Luxury Warsaw Chopin Airport Transfer by private Minivan car: $89
- ONEWAY Private Warsaw Chopin Airport(WAW) to/from Warsaw Transfer: $24
- Premium Warsaw Modlin Airport (WMI) Private Transfer: $87
- Private Arrival Transfer: Warsaw Chopin Airport: $65
- Private Departure Transfer: Warsaw Chopin Airport: $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Private Transfer to or from Berlin: $929
- Private Transfer to or from Budapest: $867
- Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $747
- From Gdansk or One-Way Private Transfer: $669
- Private Transfer to or from Bratislava: $619
- Private transfer! Warsaw Chopin Airport - Krakow City Center: $470
- Private transfer from Krakow to Budapest or from Budapest to Krakow: $299
- Private door-to-door transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $291
- Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
- Transfer from Krakow (Balice airport) to Krynica Zdroj : $283
- Private Transfer Airport to Warszawa Okęcie: $278
- Private transfer from Katowice AirPort to Krakow City: $272
Is it cheaper to fly into Warsaw or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Warsaw 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 dayWarsaw $27Krakow $13
Typical Food Prices in Warsaw
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Warsaw:
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Dinner for Two$13
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Lunch for Two$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Warsaw
For Warsaw, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lunch or Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe with Skip-the-Line: $17
- Warsaw's No 1 cooking class-Polish dumplings with liqueur tasting: $61
- Polish Dumplings Cooking Class: $62
- Traditional Polish Cooking Class in Warsaw: $79
- Traditional Polish Cooking Class with liquor tasting in Warsaw: $89
- Polish Food Tour: $92
- Taste of Poland - Old Town food tour and guided walk in one: $94
- 4-Hour Polish Food Tour: $109
- The 10 Tastings of Warsaw With Locals: Private Food Tour : $117
- EVERYDAY Warsaw Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
- Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
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.Warsaw $7.00Krakow $20
Tours and Activities in Warsaw
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Warsaw.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $4.28
- Walking Audio Tour of Wilanów Palace Grounds: $5.20
- Uncover Historic Marvels of In-App Audio Tour: $5.32
- Old Town Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.99
- Warsaw Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.00
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Smartphone Escape Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews Ticket: $11
- Warsaw Old Town In-App Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $12
- Traditional Galar Cruise on The Vistula River: $15
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 dayWarsaw $10Krakow $6.75
Sample the Local Flavors in Warsaw
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Warsaw:
- The Original Pub Crawl: $16
- #1 Pub Crawl Warsaw with Premium Open Bar: $20
- Pub Crawl with 1-Hour Open Bar: $20
- Warsaw Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $176
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 Warsaw and Krakow, we can see that Warsaw 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 Warsaw would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Warsaw 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 Warsaw Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Warsaw or Krakow?
Warsaw has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Warsaw 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 Warsaw 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 Warsaw or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Warsaw as well as Krakow. Many travelers come to Warsaw for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Warsaw is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Warsaw average around 19°C (65°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Warsaw this time of the year. In the summer, Warsaw often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Warsaw gets 353 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Warsaw usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Warsaw gets 67 mm (2.6 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 JulyWarsaw 19°C (65°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Krakow in the Autumn?
Both Krakow and Warsaw are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Warsaw in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Warsaw is cooler than Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Warsaw averages around 9°C (49°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Warsaw usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Warsaw gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Warsaw usually receives less rain than Krakow. Warsaw gets 38 mm (1.5 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 OctoberWarsaw 9°C (49°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Warsaw during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Warsaw for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Krakow can be very cold. Warsaw can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Warsaw is much colder than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Warsaw in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Warsaw often gets less sunshine than Krakow. Warsaw gets 35 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Warsaw usually gets less rain in January than Krakow. Warsaw gets 22 mm (0.9 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 JanuaryWarsaw -3°C (27°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Krakow in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Warsaw and Krakow. The spring months attract visitors to Warsaw because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Warsaw is generally cooler than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Warsaw average around 9°C (47°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In Warsaw, it's very sunny this time of the year. Warsaw usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Warsaw gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Warsaw usually receives less rain than Krakow. Warsaw gets 32 mm (1.3 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 AprilWarsaw 9°C (47°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Warsaw
| Warsaw | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 3°C (37°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (47°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (65°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (49°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | -0°C (31°F) | 32 mm (1.3 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.