Last update: Oct 2026 Poland 297.6K

Cost of Living in Bialystok

For one person, living costs in Bialystok are estimated at $1,450 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than half of the total. Other living expenses average about $22 a day.

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bialystok

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bialystok actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $1,450 per month with rent, or $656 for everyday expenses alone.

$1,450 /mo

A couple spends around $2,061 per month with rent, or $1,155 for everyday expenses alone.

$2,061 /mo

A family of three spends around $2,672 per month with rent, or $1,654 without housing.

$2,672 /mo

Overall, Bialystok is 1–7% above the global median across household types. Within Europe, costs are 17% below average – relatively affordable for the region.

Currency
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.82 zł 38.15
$9.17 zł 35.63
$13.09 zł 50.9
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 zł 177
$35.46 zł 138
$63.3 zł 246
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.01 zł 35.02
$7.82 zł 30.36
$9.13 zł 35.46
Cappuccino
$3.60 zł 13.99
$2.32 zł 9.00
$5.15 zł 20.00
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 zł 6.99
$1.00 zł 3.88
$2.98 zł 11.59
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 zł 6.11
$0.78 zł 3.03
$3.92 zł 15.25
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 zł 13.48
$2.06 zł 7.99
$4.10 zł 15.95
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 zł 11.77
$2.52 zł 9.80
$4.55 zł 17.67
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 zł 4.11
$0.83 zł 3.23
$1.18 zł 4.59
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 zł 3.93
$0.64 zł 2.48
$1.28 zł 4.99
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 zł 8.63
$1.17 zł 4.56
$3.14 zł 12.19
Eggs
$3.82 zł 14.84
$2.96 zł 11.51
$5.00 zł 19.41
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.25 zł 35.94
$3.82 zł 14.86
$11.46 zł 44.54
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.78 zł 22.47
$4.68 zł 18.18
$6.50 zł 25.24
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.23 zł 43.63
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 zł 4.68
$0.75 zł 2.92
$1.51 zł 5.87
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 zł 7.09
$1.83 zł 7.09
$1.83 zł 7.09
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 zł 6.08
$1.48 zł 5.74
$1.73 zł 6.73
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 zł 7.78
$1.56 zł 6.04
$2.58 zł 10.03
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 zł 4.05
$0.75 zł 2.91
$1.50 zł 5.81
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 zł 4.54
$0.50 zł 1.95
$1.75 zł 6.79
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 zł 4.35
$0.87 zł 3.40
$1.25 zł 4.85
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 zł 2.40
$0.53 zł 2.07
$0.80 zł 3.09
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07 zł 19.70
$4.56 zł 17.73
$6.08 zł 23.61
Wine (Bottle)
$6.29 zł 24.45
$5.91 zł 22.96
$7.71 zł 29.95
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 zł 4.47
$0.79 zł 3.07
$1.49 zł 5.80
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 zł 5.66
$1.38 zł 5.36
$1.51 zł 5.86
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 zł 4.26
$1.03 zł 4.02
$1.29 zł 5.01
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.94 zł 128
$32.94 zł 128
$35.47 zł 138
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.01 zł 7.81
$2.01 zł 7.81
$2.26 zł 8.76
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 zł 2.52
$0.63 zł 2.45
$0.93 zł 3.59
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.95 zł 50.3
$10.36 zł 40.27
$12.95 zł 50.3
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 zł 6.01
$1.48 zł 5.74
$1.98 zł 7.68
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K zł 117.4K
$30.2K zł 117.4K
$30.6K zł 119.0K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K zł 105.0K
$24.9K zł 96.8K
$28.4K zł 110.5K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$298 zł 1,157
$241 zł 935
$377 zł 1,464
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.38 zł 32.54
$6.44 zł 25.02
$10.31 zł 40.05
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.99 zł 69.9
$12.88 zł 50.0
$21.90 zł 85.1
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.37 zł 161
$30.59 zł 119
$76.5 zł 297
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.66 zł 107
$20.75 zł 80.6
$31.12 zł 121
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 zł 26.08
$6.20 zł 24.07
$9.95 zł 38.65
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$359 zł 1,394
$246 zł 958
$441 zł 1,714
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,280 zł 16.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.7 zł 383
$51.5 zł 200
$129 zł 500
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.27 zł 141
$20.34 zł 79.0
$38.14 zł 148
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.0 zł 334
$38.24 zł 149
$102 zł 396
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.9 zł 349
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$541 zł 2,101
$415 zł 1,611
$648 zł 2,517
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 zł 1,925
$452 zł 1,755
$627 zł 2,437
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$820 zł 3,187
$763 zł 2,965
$987 zł 3,834
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$720 zł 2,799
$641 zł 2,490
$769 zł 2,988
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,620 zł 10.2K
$2,320 zł 9,012
$2,897 zł 11.3K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,272 zł 8,826
$1,763 zł 6,851
$2,796 zł 10.9K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,462 zł 5,680
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.07
7
7.25

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Bialystok $1,450
Accommodation & Living
$496
Monthly Utilities & Internet
$324
Groceries & Markets
$207
Eating Out
$186
Clothing & Footwear
$140
Sport & Entertainment
$55
Getting Around
$43

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $541, dropping to $496 outside central areas. Housing accounts for roughly 37% of the average salary ($1,462) – well above the 30% international benchmark.

The average net salary is $1,462. With monthly costs around $1,450, saving is possible but often limited. A more comfortable lifestyle typically starts at $2,175.

Groceries cost around $207 per month for one person. A mid-range dinner for two is priced at $46.00 – well below the European average of $73.0.

A monthly public transport pass costs about $32.94 – among the cheapest in Europe (average $49.00).

Cost Highlights

Bialystok is cheaper than 52% of cities worldwide and 68% within Europe.

Good to know
🕒 Local time
15:31 3:31 PM
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
297,554
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

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Bialystok Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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Cost of Living in Bialystok - Frequently Asked Questions
How does overall affordability in Bialystok compare to other Polish cities, and who tends to get good value there?
Compared with Poland’s bigger hubs, the Cost of Living in Bialystok, Poland generally feels more approachable for long stays, with a calm pace and lower day-to-day expenses. You’ll notice housing and dining often offer better value than Warsaw or Kraków, while still delivering reliable services, healthcare access, and a lively cultural scene. Expat and digital nomad budgets usually stretch further here, especially if you choose modest apartments, local groceries, and off-peak dining options. Seasonal events add variety without pushing costs too high. Tip: Map out neighborhoods by commute and amenities to balance comfort and cost.
What does daily life look like in Bialystok for housing search, food options, transport, coworking, and errands?
Daily life hinges on choosing the right neighborhood. You’ll find a mix of older apartment blocks, modern rentals, and some compact new builds, often with reasonable rents relative to Western Europe. For groceries, local markets, bakeries, and affordable eateries provide variety without premium prices, and seasonal produce is plentiful. Public transport runs on trams and buses, with bike lanes expanding in warmer months, making short commutes practical. Co-working spaces cluster around the city center and university areas, offering reliable connectivity and meeting spots. You’ll notice the Bialystok living cost trends with neighborhood and season, offering flexibility depending on location. Tip: Start your housing search near tram lines to cut travel time and costs.
What budgeting strategies, seasonal considerations, and neighborhood choices help maximize quality of life in Bialystok?
Budgeting in Bialystok boils down to planning around housing, utilities, and food without fixed-price surprises. Track meals at home vs. dining out, and leverage seasonal markets for fresh produce. If you split living between a central, lively district and quieter outskirts, you’ll experience a noticeable shift in daily rhythms and costs. For the best quality of life, map your priorities: proximity to transit, access to green spaces, and a community vibe. In winter, expect heating needs to shape your comfort choices, while summers invite parks, lakes, and outdoor events. Tip: Build a simple monthly framework to compare housing, transport passes, and groceries across neighborhoods.
Is Bialystok worth the cost of living?
Bialystok is mid-range – monthly costs with rent reach about $1,450. For most residents, that's a fair trade: urban amenities, services, and job access without major-hub prices.
Is Bialystok expensive to live in?
Bialystok sits squarely in the middle of the price spectrum – not cheap, not expensive. Monthly costs with rent tend to hover around $1,450, which most working professionals can handle without feeling financially squeezed.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bialystok?
You'll want at least $2,175 per month after taxes to live comfortably in Bialystok. That covers a decent apartment, groceries, utilities, transport, and enough left over for dining out occasionally. Families or people wanting a central location should budget higher.
How much is rent in Bialystok?
A central one-bedroom apartment in Bialystok runs about $541 per month. Move further out and that drops to around $496. Location makes a big difference here – and furnished places or short-term rentals will cost more on top of these figures.
Is food expensive in Bialystok?
Grocery spending in Bialystok lands around $207 per month for one person – not cheap, not expensive. Local produce and staples are fairly priced, though imported goods and specialty items cost more. Overall, food is a manageable part of the budget.
How much is public transport in Bialystok?
Getting around Bialystok by public transport costs about $32.94 per month. A monthly pass generally covers buses, trams, and metro – much cheaper than owning a car for the daily commute.
Can a person live on $1,000 monthly in Bialystok?
$1,000 is below the $1,450 average in Bialystok, so it's tight but not impossible. You'll need to keep rent low – sharing an apartment, cooking at home, and sticking to public transport are the main levers.
Is Bialystok a good place to live?
Quality of life in Bialystok is genuinely good – highlights include fast internet, low crime rates, vibrant nightlife, and monthly costs hover around $1,450. Day-to-day life is well-rounded: decent infrastructure, varied dining and entertainment, and a generally positive atmosphere.
How affordable is Bialystok?
Bialystok is neither cheap nor expensive – it sits comfortably in the middle. Monthly costs with rent run about $1,450, a figure most working professionals can handle without major financial stress.

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