Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Mainz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Mainz 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 Mainz 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: Mainz or Krakow?
Mainz
On the Rhine River, the ages of the medieval stand before you in their half-timbered constructions, giving this quaint, old town a hint of the spellbinding. A time capsule of Germany, Mainz is enriched by its vast history as well as its cosmopolitan air. Dating back to around 38 BC, Mainz was built by Romans and founded as the the episcopal seat of the influential Prince-Electors. With its history spanning more than 2,000 years, Mainz is rich in its exquisite architecture, such as its stunning cathedrals, medieval market squares, and Renaissance fountains. However, Mainz also has been blessed with the joys and comforts of modernization, giving way to fantastic shopping centers, tasty restaurants, and absolutely fascinating museums. A media hub and regional capital, Mainz is also known as the wine capital of Germany as its civilians have a long history of winegrowing throughout the city. Whether you seek to oogle at artifacts at the Gutenberg Museum or sit a spell at one of the town's fine eateries, the possibilities are endless in Mainz!
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Poland, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow.
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Mainz Prices
Germany PricesKrakow Prices
Poland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMainz €172Krakow €70
The average daily cost (per person) in Mainz is €172, while the average daily cost in Krakow is €70. 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 Mainz and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMainz €74Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMainz €148Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Mainz and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Mainz 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: Mainz Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mainz €37Krakow €6.05
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Zakopane: Private Transfer to Krakow: $214
- Zakopane: Private Transfer from Krakow: $214
- Zakopane to Chocholow Thermal Pools 3h Ticket with Hotel Transfer: $102
- Zakopane Tour from Krakow with Transfers and Lunch Option: $90
- Zakopane Private Transfer from to Krakow or Krakow Airport: $274
- Zakopane Private Transfer from Krakow or Krakow airport: $119
- Zakopane Private Transfer: $162
- Zakopane NIGHT Snowmobiles Bonfire and Transfers from Krakow : $92
- Zakopane Krakow private transfer, private driver service: $119
- Wooden Architecture Museum Private Transfer Round Trip: $167
- Wieliczka Salt mine private transfer-Krakow Balice Airport: $11
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Private Transfer : $239
Is it cheaper to fly into Mainz or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Mainz 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 dayMainz €70Krakow €22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krakow
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Krakow.
- Small-Group Online Cooking Class Polish Pierogi : $30
- Krakow Tipsy Polish Food Tour with History Pierogi and Shots: $39
- Pierogi Cooking Class with Market Shopping and Local Snacks: $82
- Eat Like a Local in Krakow - Food Tour with BeMyGuest: $99
- Krakow Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting and Dinner: $105
- Krakow Bites and Sights Food Tour: $114
- Polish Pierogi Cooking Class with Farmer's Market Shopping: $114
- Deluxe Polish Food Tour Experience in Krakow: $121
- Private Food Tour in Krakow Poland: $198
- Go Karting Experience with Pizza and Drinks in Krakow: $299
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mainz €33Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Mainz
For Mainz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mainz Interactive City Tour: $8.35
- Mainz Old Town: A Self-Guided Walking Tour : $8.99
- Guided tour in Mainz on the Rhine in german and english: $20
- guided evening tour of the Rhine riverbank/old town in German and English: $20
- Evening walking tour of Mainz Rhine bank and Old Town: $20
- Golden Mainz and its Sights: Guided Walking Tour: $24
- 2-Hour Advent Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Rhine: $27
- Guided historical tour through the old town with Geo Epoche: $29
- Mainz Syndicate City Escape Game Self Guided Tour: $31
- Explore A Guided Tour of One of Germany's True Gems: $33
- Urban Adventure Game in Mainz with an app: $48
- Stand Up Paddling Tour on the Rhine River: $53
Tours and Activities in Krakow
Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Wieliczka Salt Mine 1-Day Tour: $185
- Energylandia Theme Park Ticket and Transportation From Krakow: $82
- Magic Christmas tour in Wieliczka: $167
- The Footsteps of John Paul II & Divine Mercy Private Tour: $161
- Wawel Castle and Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour in Krakow with Lunch: $154
- 1 DAY Tours - Auschwitz and Salt Mine - Shared transport+tickets: $155
- 1 Hour Tour in Kraków Old Town: $94
- 1,5-Hour Jewish Quarter Kazimierz Walking Guided Tour in Krakow: $24
- 1-Hour Tour to Krakow's Old Town by Electric Golf Cart: $19
- 2 Hour Bottomless Brunch Experience with 3 Course Meal And Drinks: $71
- 2 Hour Private Pinball and Arcade Museum Tour from Krakow: $299
- 3-Day Krakow Guided Tour: Jewish Heritage with Wieliczka and Auschwitz: $262
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMainz €22Krakow €6.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Mainz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mainz:
- Wine along the Rhein - Half day Wine Tour from Mainz: $299
- Private pub crawl with insider guide & free shots: $334
- Private Xmas Market Hopping with gondola ride & wine tasting: $856
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:
- 1 Hour of Open Bar Pub Crawl + Karaoke + VIP Entry to Best Clubs : $28
- Pub Crawl Krawl Through Krakow: $28
- Krakow Pub Crawl with 1 Hr of unlimited alcohol & 4 clubs/pubs: $29
- Pub Crawl 1hr Unlimited Beer + Vodka then Clubs in Katowice: $31
- Tyskie Brewery Tour from Katowice: $131
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mainz and Krakow, we can see that Mainz 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 Mainz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mainz 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 Mainz Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mainz or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Mainz. When comparing the sizes of Mainz 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 Mainz 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 Mainz or Krakow in the Summer?
Both Krakow and Mainz during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Mainz for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Mainz is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 19°C (66°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
In Krakow, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mainz. In the summer, Mainz often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Mainz gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Mainz usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Mainz gets 63 mm (2.5 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 JulyMainz 19°C (66°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Mainz or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mainz and Krakow. Many visitors come to Mainz in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Mainz is around the same temperature as Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mainz averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Mainz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during autumn. Mainz gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Mainz usually receives more rain than Krakow. Mainz gets 51 mm (2 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 OctoberMainz 11°C (51°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Mainz or Krakow in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mainz as well as Krakow. Most visitors come to Mainz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Krakow can be very cold. Mainz can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Mainz is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mainz in January average around 2°C (35°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Mainz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Mainz gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Mainz usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Mainz gets 44 mm (1.7 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 JanuaryMainz 2°C (35°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Mainz or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Mainz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Mainz because of the natural beauty.
In April, Mainz is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 11°C (51°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Mainz usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Mainz gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Mainz usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Mainz gets 52 mm (2 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 AprilMainz 11°C (51°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Mainz
| Mainz | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (35°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (51°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (36°F) | 54 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.