Which place is cheaper, Krakow or York?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit York or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit York 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: York or Krakow?
York
York, in North Yorkshire, England, is a city rich in history that dates back to before Roman times. It is an ancient cathedral city that still has some impressive historical buildings that make it easily worth a visit. It has some of the best preserved buildings and structures in all of Europe, so if you're a history buff, then this is the place to be. It is usually tied with Manchester as the second most visited city in England, after London.
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 10-Day Tours from London, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYork £106Krakow £52
The average daily cost (per person) in York is £106, while the average daily cost in Krakow is £52. 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 York and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYork £59Krakow £34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYork £118Krakow £68
Compare Hotels in York and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in York 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: York Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.York £12Krakow £5.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in York
Some specific examples of transportation prices in York:
- Private Transfer from Hambleton to Manchester Airport (MAN): $163
- Private Transfer from Hull to Manchester Airport (MAN): $271
- Private Transfer from York to Manchester Airport (MAN): $279
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 York or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and York 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 dayYork £32Krakow £11
Typical Food Prices in York
Some typical examples of dining costs in York are as follows:
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Dinner£22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in York
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in York.
- Breakfast Food Tour in York: $51
- Party Cruise with Welcome Drink, Dinner, and DJ Music: $56
- York on a Fork Food Tour: $83
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.York £11Krakow £16
Tours and Activities in York
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for York are as follows:
- York Guide - Everybody Hates a Tourist: $6.35
- Tower Tour: $7.63
- Romans, Vikings and Medieval Marvels in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Discover York's Legacy: In-App Audio Tour of the City Walls: $11
- York Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $11
- Private York Self-Guided Tour: $11
- York Cocoa Works Guided Tour and Tasting: $12
- Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Self-Guided City Sightseeing Treasure Hunt: $12
- Original Harry Potter Locations Tour - York: $13
- York Bird of Prey Centre Entry Ticket: $14
- City Chronicles Historical Walking Tour: $15
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 dayYork £13Krakow £5.43
Typical Alcohol Prices in York
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in York are as follows:
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A Couple Beers£9.00
Sample the Local Flavors in York
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in York:
- Hooting Owl Distillery York - Distillery Tour & Guided Tasting: $32
- Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $47
- The Full Hoot Distillery Tour & Guided Hooting Owl Experience: $57
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£11
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 York and Krakow, we can see that York 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 York would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in York 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 York Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, York or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of York. When comparing the sizes of York 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 York 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 York or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both York and Krakow. The summer months attract visitors to York because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, York is generally cooler than Krakow. Daily temperatures in York average around 16°C (62°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krakow this time of the year. York usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during summer. York gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, York usually receives less rain than Krakow. York gets 51 mm (2 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 JulyYork 16°C (62°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit York or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to York as well as Krakow. The shopping scene are the main draw to York this time of year.
York is around the same temperature as Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in York averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, York often gets more sunshine than Krakow. York gets 112 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun.
York usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Krakow. York gets 47 mm (1.9 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 OctoberYork 11°C (52°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit York or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and York are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to York for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in York. In the winter, York is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in York in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).
York usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during winter. York gets 61 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, York usually receives more rain than Krakow. York gets 49 mm (1.9 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 JanuaryYork 4°C (39°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit York or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and York during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, York is generally cooler than Krakow. Daily temperatures in York average around 8°C (46°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the spring, York often gets more sunshine than Krakow. York gets 151 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun.
York usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Krakow. York gets 47 mm (1.9 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 AprilYork 8°C (46°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and York
| York | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 11°C (53°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (58°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°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.