Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Zurich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zurich 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 Zurich 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: Zurich or Krakow?
Zurich
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
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 Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZurich $268Krakow $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Zurich is $268, 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 Zurich and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZurich $170Krakow $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZurich $340Krakow $84
Compare Hotels in Zurich and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Zurich 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: Zurich Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zurich $36Krakow $6.40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
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City Pass (2)$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Airport Zurich Transfer Mercedes S Class 3pax: $179
- Airport Zurich Transfer Mercedes V-Class 6pax: $168
- Arrival Private Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City by Luxury Van: $138
- Arrival Transfer: Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich in Luxury Van: $91
- Arrival Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City in Private Car/Van: $95
- Davos: Private Transfer to/from Zurich Airport: $601
- Departure Private Transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Van: $138
- Departure Transfer from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Private Car/Van: $95
- EnglishPrivate One Way Transfer Zurich Airport To Davos: $374
- From Zurich Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer To Zurich Hotel: $78
- From Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to Lucerne: $314
- From Canyoning in Interlaken w/ Return Transfer: $257
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 Zurich or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Zurich 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 dayZurich $62Krakow $13
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2$13
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.Zurich $36Krakow $20
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Zurich in the Mirror of the Past: Self-Guided Reading Tour: $5.47
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.36
- Zurich Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $6.42
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.42
- Best of Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Fun adventure tour of Outdoor Escape Game: $8.54
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Zürich: Swiss Finance Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Zurich in the Mirror of the Past: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- The Dark Side of Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $11
- Zurich Old Town Walking Tour: 2-Hours: $14
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 dayZurich $29Krakow $6.75
Sample the Local Flavors in Zurich
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour with Shots and Snacks: $31
- eTukTuk Hot Stone BBQ and Wine Tour Zürich: $129
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 Zurich and Krakow, we can see that Zurich 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich 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 Zurich Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zurich or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Zurich. When comparing the sizes of Zurich 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 Zurich 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 Zurich or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Krakow. The music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Zurich this time of year.
In the summer, Zurich is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zurich in July average around 21°C (70°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 Zurich, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zurich usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during summer. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zurich usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 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 JulyZurich 21°C (70°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Krakow. Many travelers come to Zurich for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Zurich is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 13°C (56°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Zurich often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in October than Krakow. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 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 OctoberZurich 13°C (56°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Zurich in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Krakow can be very cold during winter. Zurich can get quite cold in the winter. Zurich is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
Zurich usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during winter. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zurich usually receives more rain than Krakow. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 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 JanuaryZurich 3°C (37°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Zurich during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Zurich for the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Zurich is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zurich in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In the spring, Zurich often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in April than Krakow. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 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 AprilZurich 12°C (53°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Zurich
| Zurich | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.