Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Kalisz

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalisz: $1,136 a month against $1,775 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Kalisz
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,136
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Kalisz

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $1,136 in Kalisz.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Kalisz $1,136

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $1,596 in Kalisz.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Kalisz $1,596

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $2,056 in Kalisz.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Kalisz $2,056

Living in Athens is roughly 56% more expensive than in Kalisz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 31% above, Kalisz is 16% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Kalisz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$8.73 zł 33.92
91.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$30.31 zł 118
123.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$8.87 zł 34.47
25.59%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$3.08 zł 11.96
30.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$2.00 zł 7.76
38.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$1.63 zł 6.33
-66.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$2.49 zł 9.68
130.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$2.59 zł 10.07
110.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Kalisz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$0.92 zł 3.59
97.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$1.21 zł 4.71
14.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$1.62 zł 6.29
72.84%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$2.95 zł 11.44
63.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$7.96 zł 30.91
89.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$4.34 zł 16.87
144.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$9.22 zł 35.82
99.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$1.07 zł 4.15
105.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.60 zł 6.22
18.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.57 zł 6.12
-12.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$3.10 zł 12.03
-32.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$0.79 zł 3.06
36.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.01 zł 3.92
10.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.30 zł 5.05
-13.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.55 zł 2.16
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$4.68 zł 18.18
17.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$6.98 zł 27.14
45.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$0.87 zł 3.39
144.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.39 zł 5.40
61.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Kalisz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.04 zł 4.04
30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$34.99 zł 136
-14.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$2.00 zł 7.75
122.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$1.05 zł 4.08
-2.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$6.51 zł 25.30
159.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.57 zł 6.11
43.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$30.5K zł 118.5K
-8.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$27.4K zł 106.5K
2.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Kalisz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$186 zł 724
9.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$10.06 zł 39.08
164.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$16.83 zł 65.4
80.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Kalisz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$31.87 zł 124
70.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$6.46 zł 25.11
61.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Kalisz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$248 zł 964
129.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$5,003 zł 19.4K
151.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Kalisz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$83.4 zł 324
6.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$25.41 zł 98.7
59.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$79.2 zł 308
32.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$88.5 zł 344
37.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Kalisz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$445 zł 1,730
66.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$354 zł 1,376
84.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$538 zł 2,092
141.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$457 zł 1,774
151.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$1,968 zł 7,648
103.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$1,462 zł 5,679
136.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Kalisz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$1,190 zł 4,622
4.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
6.21
-27.86%

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

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Kalisz: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Kalisz
$354 45.9% $300
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Kalisz
$187 39.8% $123
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Kalisz
$166 38.2% $103
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Kalisz
$213 18.5% $48
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Kalisz
$124 22.2% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Kalisz
$45 40.5% $31
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Kalisz
$46 3.4% $1.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $445 in Kalisz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $68.0 in Athens vs $30.00 in Kalisz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $187 per month, with Kalisz cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇵🇱 Kalisz
🕒 Local time
06:23 6:23 AM
05:23 5:23 AM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
103,997
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Kalisz 1,590 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Kalisz

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Athens vs Kalisz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Kalisz?
Kalisz wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kalisz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Kalisz?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Athens, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Kalisz?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $445 in Kalisz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Kalisz?
Dining out is cheaper in Kalisz – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $68.0 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Kalisz?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $1,136 in Kalisz – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Athens or in Kalisz?
At $1,136 in Kalisz versus $1,775 in Athens, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kalisz but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Kalisz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Kalisz?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kalisz delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,136 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kalisz hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Kalisz?
Safety-wise, Athens and Kalisz are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kalisz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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