Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Lodz

For one person, living is cheaper in Lodz: $1,469 a month against $1,806 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,806
/mo nomad
Lodz
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,469
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Lodz

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 Lodz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,806 in Athens versus $1,469 in Lodz.

  • Athens $1,806
  • Lodz $1,469

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,731 in Athens versus $2,141 in Lodz.

  • Athens $2,731
  • Lodz $2,141

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,656 in Athens versus $2,813 in Lodz.

  • Athens $3,656
  • Lodz $2,813

Living in Athens is roughly 23% more expensive than in Lodz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 35% above, Lodz 10% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Lodz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.66 €14.87
$9.77 zł 38.19
70.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2 €59.1
$47.41 zł 185
39.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.06 €9.87
$9.22 zł 36.05
19.96%
Cappuccino
$4.14 €3.69
$3.53 zł 13.79
17.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 €2.50
$2.77 zł 10.81
1.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 €0.51
$2.68 zł 10.46
-78.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 €5.03
$4.49 zł 17.54
25.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 €4.87
$5.00 zł 19.54
9.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Lodz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 €1.75
$1.02 zł 3.99
92.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 €1.26
$1.07 zł 4.19
31.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.83 €2.53
$1.34 zł 5.25
111.19%
Eggs
$5.04 €4.50
$3.31 zł 12.93
52.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.35 €13.70
$10.76 zł 42.07
42.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.34 €9.23
$7.06 zł 27.58
46.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.97 €16.93
$11.96 zł 46.74
58.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 €1.93
$1.15 zł 4.48
88.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 €1.70
$1.67 zł 6.54
14.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 €1.23
$2.31 zł 9.05
-40.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$2.96 zł 11.59
-25.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 €0.98
$0.84 zł 3.29
30.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 €1.00
$0.91 zł 3.56
24.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 €0.99
$1.32 zł 5.17
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.74
$0.59 zł 2.29
40.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.60 €4.99
$5.78 zł 22.59
-3.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.19 €9.09
$6.72 zł 26.25
51.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 €1.95
$1.16 zł 4.52
87.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.19
$1.68 zł 6.57
45.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Lodz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 €1.23
$1.16 zł 4.55
18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.87 €27.55
$50.8 zł 198
-39.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 €3.90
$1.57 zł 6.14
178.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 €0.93
$0.58 zł 2.25
79.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.11 €15.27
$9.01 zł 35.20
89.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.07
$1.62 zł 6.35
42.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €25.0K
$30.8K zł 120.6K
-9.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K €25.0K
$26.8K zł 104.7K
4.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Lodz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 €187
$309 zł 1,206
-32.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.70 €23.83
$8.67 zł 33.89
207.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13 €26.89
$17.27 zł 67.5
74.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Lodz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.6 €48.72
$36.49 zł 143
49.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.03 €23.23
$18.00 zł 70.3
44.61%
Cinema Ticket
$10.78 €9.62
$7.86 zł 30.71
37.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Lodz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 €513
$514 zł 2,010
11.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.1K €11.7K
$10.3K zł 40.1K
27.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Lodz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2 €83.1
$74.5 zł 291
25.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.68 €36.30
$40.66 zł 159
0.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €92.9
$89.0 zł 348
16.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €115
$96.2 zł 376
33.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Lodz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 €674
$599 zł 2,343
26.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$652 €582
$456 zł 1,784
42.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,294 €1,154
$1,091 zł 4,265
18.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,163 €1,038
$810 zł 3,167
43.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,008 €3,577
$3,158 zł 12.3K
26.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,452 €3,081
$2,374 zł 9,278
45.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Lodz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,243 €1,110
$1,605 zł 6,275
-22.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
6.87
-34.79%

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

Last update for Athens: October 5, 2026

Last update for Lodz: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$652
Lodz
$456 30.1% $196
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$315
Lodz
$222 29.4% $93
Eating Out
Athens
$269
Lodz
$202 24.7% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$267
Lodz
$335 25.5% $68
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$165
Lodz
$135 18% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$76
Lodz
$52 31.5% $24
Getting Around
Athens
$46
Lodz
$60 30.4% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Athens and $599 in Lodz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lodz pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in Athens vs $47.00 in Lodz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $222 per month, with Lodz cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇵🇱 Lodz
🕒 Local time
10:30 10:30 AM
09:30 9:30 AM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
711,332
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.91 PLN (1 PLN = 0.256 USD). 1 EUR = 4.38 PLN (1 PLN = 0.228 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Lodz 1,570 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Lodz

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 Lodz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Lodz?
Lodz wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lodz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Lodz?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Lodz. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Lodz?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Athens versus $599 in Lodz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Lodz?
Dining out is cheaper in Lodz – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $66.0 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 Lodz?
All in, you'll spend $1,806 per month in Athens versus $1,469 in Lodz – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Athens or in Lodz?
At $1,469 in Lodz versus $1,806 in Athens, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lodz but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Lodz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Lodz?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lodz delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,469 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lodz hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Lodz?
Safety-wise, Athens and Lodz 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 Lodz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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