Which place is cheaper, Katowice or Riga?
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 Riga or Katowice?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Katowice? 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: Riga or Katowice?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Katowice
Katowice is a city east of Krakow, in the Silesian province of southern Poland. A large dome crowns the Cathedral of Christ the King, built between 1927 and 1955. The adjacent Archdiocesan Museum exhibits Silesian sacred art. The ultramodern Silesian Museum features several glass structures on the site of a former coal mine. It exhibits Polish art and chronicles the history of Upper Silesia. Historically, Katowice is a product of the 19th-century industrial boom, but it only became a city in the interwar period. After WWII, at the height of the Stalinist cult craze, the city was renamed Stalinogrod, but reverted to its old name soon after Comrade Joe died in 1953. Katowice has few significant historical monuments, but it's a major commercial and cultural center and holds sufficient attractions to make it worth a stop.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Poland, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland.
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Riga Prices
Latvia PricesKatowice Prices
Poland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €122Katowice €57
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Katowice is €57. 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 Riga and Katowice in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €52Katowice €18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €104Katowice €36
Compare Hotels in Riga and Katowice
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Katowice? 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Katowice Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €9.63Katowice €12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $43
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $45
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minivan: $51
- Private Transfer Riga International Airport RIX to Jurmala City: $51
- Transfer from Riga center to Airport: $53
- Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga Old city: $53
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer to anywhere in Riga Center: $60
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga Cruise Port: $60
- Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $68
- Private transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga city by Car or Van: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Katowice?
Prices for flights to both Katowice and Riga 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 dayRiga €57Katowice €32
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
- Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $72
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $251
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €14Katowice €6.05
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $6.99
- Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $8.21
- Canal Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $8.21
- Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.38
- Old Town Electrobus Tour + Audio Guide & Drink: $9.38
- Riga Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.57
- Riga Canal and Daugava Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $9.58
- Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Welcome Drink: $10
- Rowing boats and Pedal boat rental - River Cruises Latvia: $11
- Riga English Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $11
- Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Drink and Audio Guide: $11
- Riga Golden Autumn Canal & River Cruise | River Cruises LV: $11
Tours and Activities in Katowice
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katowice are as follows:
- Auschwitz & Birkenau Live Guide Tour Entrance Ticket: $33
- Auschwitz-Birkenau: Entry Ticket with Guided Tour: $54
- Krakow City Premium Pass and Cultural Experiences: $178
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Katowice €5.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $35
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $59
- Riga Brewery Tour: $59
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $77
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Katowice, we can see that Riga is more expensive. And not only is Katowice much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Katowice would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Katowice 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga than you might in Katowice.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Katowice Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Katowice?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Katowice. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Katowice, 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 Riga or Katowice?
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 Riga or Katowice in the Summer?
Both Katowice and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Riga because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Riga is around the same temperature as Katowice in the summer. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Katowice fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In July, Riga usually receives around the same amount of rain as Katowice. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Katowice 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Riga or Katowice in the Autumn?
Both Katowice and Riga during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
In the autumn, Riga is cooler than Katowice. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Riga in October average around 7°C (45°F), and Katowice averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in October than Katowice. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Katowice 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Riga or Katowice in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Katowice. Many travelers come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Katowice can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Riga. In January, Riga is generally much colder than Katowice. Daily temperatures in Riga average around -5°C (23°F), and Katowice fluctuates around -2°C (28°F).
In January, Riga usually receives less rain than Katowice. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Katowice -2°C (28°F)
Should I visit Riga or Katowice in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Riga as well as Katowice. Many visitors come to Riga in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Riga is cooler than Katowice in the spring. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 5°C (42°F) in April, and Katowice fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Riga usually gets less rain in April than Katowice. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Katowice 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Katowice and Riga
| Riga | Katowice | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 50 mm (2 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.