According to the 2020 Mercer Cost of Living Survey, the most expensive city in Poland is Warsaw. Warsaw ranked 169th most expensive city out of 209 cities.
The official currency here is the Polish zloty [PLN]. The Polish Zloty is a floating currency, which means that its value will move up and down following the market demand.
Regardless of its dynamic nature, the Polish zloty you can still enjoy life in this EU state regardless of the change in the international market rate.
In this article, we will be giving you a rundown of the cost of living in Poland for students, tourists, and even businessmen.
We will start by giving you the price of certain items and give a clear estimation of how much you need to live comfortably in the country.
Price of food and commodities
Food in Poland is fairly cheap compared to states like the UK, Australia, or France. The prices of food in Poland are 46% lower than in those countries.
Even eating out and buying groceries is cheaper than you’d imagine. Here’s a list of food and other commodities in Poland.
Item |
Price [PLN] |
| A liter bottle of water | 1.46 |
| 0.33-liter bottle of Coke/Pepsi | 2.26 |
| 1 liter of Milk | 4.64 |
| 0.5-liter draught of domestic beer | 5.00 |
| 0.33-liter bottle of imported beer | 6.80 |
| A Bottle of wine (mid-range) | 23.00 |
| Cappuccino | 9.00 |
| A loaf of fresh white bread (500g) | 3.15 |
| A kilogram of white rice | 3.73 |
| A Crate of egg (12) | 7.90 |
| Local cheese (1kg) | 18.21 |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | 16.61 |
| Beef (1kg) | 33.97 |
| Apples (1kg) | 3.56 |
| Banana (1kg) | 4.71 |
| Oranges (1kg) | 5.15 |
| Tomato (1kg) | 6.38 |
| Potato (1kg) | 2.61 |
| Onion (1kg) | 2.98 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 3.38 |
| 3-course meal in a mid-range restaurant | 33.50 |
| Meal for 2 people in a mid-range restaurant | 90.00 |
| Combo meal at McDonald’s or a similar fast food joint | 20.00 |
Price of housing
The cost of accommodation and other residential buildings in Poland varies, but apartments closest to the main square and city center in any Polish city are usually expensive.
But if you choose to live a bit further out of the main square, you can get a bigger apartment for a much better price.
Warsaw is the most expensive city when it comes to renting n apartment. The average cost of a medium-size 3-bedroom apartment in Warsaw is 2400 PLN per month.
While the cheapest-large city in Poland is Bydgoszcz, you can get a good-sized apartment for as low as 1667 PLN a month. Here’s an overview of the cost of housing in this European country.
Accommodation |
Price [PLN] |
| One-bedroom apartment in the city center | 2,620.10 |
| One-bedroom apartment outside of the city center | 2,086.86 |
| Three-bedroom apartment in the city center | 4,402.90 |
| Three-bedroom apartment outside of the city center | 3,924.95 |
| Price per square meter to buy an apartment in the city center | 10,993.30 |
| Price per square meter to buy an apartment outside the main square | 7,322.81 |
Cost of transportation
Public transportation here is relatively affordable and easy to navigate. Buses are cheaper than trains but trains allow you to enjoy a more comfortable trip if you’re traveling between cities.
Students cripple, and senior citizens are eligible for discounts on long-term ticketing. Here’s a rundown of the estimated cost of transportation in Poland.
Transport medium |
Cost [PLN] |
| One-way Ticket | 3.40 |
| Monthly Pass | 100.00 |
| Taxi Start | 7.00 |
| Taxi Fare Per 1km | 2.50 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting | 36.00 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 4.93 |
Cost of education
Poland has more than 400 universities and colleges that admit around 1.3 million students every year. Public education is free for all EU and Switzerland students.
Free tertiary education may not be a viable option for expats since all free courses are taught in the Polish language. However, there are a lot of courses available in the English language and centers where you can learn how to speak fluent Polish.
If you qualify for free education, the living cost in the country is generally lower. You will spend around 550 PLN every month. But if you do not qualify for free education, tuition fees and other expenses may add up to 2,300 PLN per month.
Childcare |
Price [PLN] |
| Preschool or kindergarten education for one student | 880 |
| Tuition fee for a student in an international primary school, yearly for 1 child | 22,400 |
Other Living Cost
Aside from food, accommodation, transportation, and education, there are other minor costs you may incur during your stay including utilities, entertainment, and shopping.
Utilities (monthly) |
Price [PLN] |
| Basic utilities (electricity, heating, gas, cooling, water, garbage) | 700 |
| 1 min. Of prepaid mobile local tariff | 0.24 |
| Internet (up to 60 mbps, unlimited data, cable/adsl) | 55 |
| Sports and leisure | Price [PLN] |
| One month Gym membership fee | 110 |
| Tennis court rent (1 hour on weekend) | 49.80 |
| Cinema, international release, 1 seat | 25.00 |
| Clothing and shoes | Price[PLN] |
| 1 pair of jeans | 333.67 |
| 1 summer dress in a chain store | 157.28 |
| 1 pair of running shoes [running shoes, canvas, sneakers] | 292.06 |
How much is a vacation in Poland?
Poland remains one of the most affordable travel destinations in Europe. Most hotels give discounts on weekends when business travelers are less frequent.
A week’s vacation to Poland would costs around 3,834 PLN for one person while a trip for two will cost you about 8,000 PLN.