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Warsaw vs Kraków

Kraków runs about 14% cheaper than Warsaw for this household, a difference of 270 USD a month.

Aleja Rzeczypospolitej w Warszawie, widok od południa, na pierwszym planie Świątynia Opatrzności Bożej.
Warsaw
$1,930/month · Poland
Emptywords · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kraków - Main Market Square
Kraków
$1,660/month · Poland
Andrzej Otrębski · CC BY-SA 4.0
Warsaw monthly
$1,930
Index 30 (NYC = 100)
Kraków monthly
$1,660
Index 26 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-14%
Kraków relative to Warsaw
Rent gap
$200
Warsaw costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

WarsawKraków
  • Housing
    Housing: Warsaw $1,000, Kraków $800. Cheaper in Kraków.
  • Food
    Food: Warsaw $485, Kraków $448. Cheaper in Kraków.
  • Transport
    Transport: Warsaw $77, Kraków $71. Cheaper in Kraków.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Warsaw $168, Kraków $155. Cheaper in Kraków.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Warsaw $18, Kraków $16. Cheaper in Kraków.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Warsaw $114, Kraków $106. Cheaper in Kraków.
  • Other
    Other: Warsaw $69, Kraków $64. Cheaper in Kraków.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricWarsawKraków
Cost
Total monthly cost1,930 USD1,660 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)3026✓
Housing1,000 USD800 USD✓
Utilities168 USD155 USD✓
Food485 USD448 USD✓
Transport77 USD71 USD✓
Healthcare18 USD16 USD✓
Lifestyle114 USD106 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr4,360 USD4,360 USD
Effective tax + social rate47.7%47.7%
Left over each month2,430 USD2,700 USD✓
Average local net salary1,500 USD✓1,450 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre1,000 USD800 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre1,800 USD1,450 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre3,200 USD2,900 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety80/10082/100✓
Healthcare74/10074/100
Air quality58/100✓44/100
Public transport88/100✓80/100
Walkability84/10088/100✓
English proficiency66/100✓64/100
Nightlife84/10086/100✓
Family friendliness80/10082/100✓
Median broadband180 Mbps✓175 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature9°C9°C
Summer high25°C✓26°C
Winter low-4°C✓-5°C
Sunshine hours per year1,670 h✓1,600 h
Annual rainfall530 mm✓680 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach accessNone nearbyNone nearby
CurrencyPLNPLN
Time zoneEurope/WarsawEurope/Warsaw

Kraków runs about 14% cheaper than Warsaw for this household, a difference of 270 USD a month.

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Go deeper

Cost of living in WarsawCost of living in KrakówConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Warsaw or Kraków cheaper?

Kraków runs about 14% cheaper than Warsaw for this household, a difference of 270 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Kraków compared with Warsaw?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $4,360 a month in Warsaw and $4,360 in Kraków, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Warsaw or Kraków?

Warsaw scores 80/100 on safety and 74/100 on healthcare; Kraków scores 82 and 74. Warsaw averages 9°C against 9°C in Kraków.