Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Krakow

For one person, living is cheaper in Krakow: $1,811 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Krakow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,811
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Krakow

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $1,811 in Krakow.

  • Austin, TX $2,704
  • Krakow $1,811

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,597 in Krakow.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Krakow $2,597

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $3,383 in Krakow.

  • Austin, TX $5,562
  • Krakow $3,383

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 49% more expensive than in Krakow, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Krakow 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$11.89 zł 46.38
70.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$50.2 zł 196
69.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$9.96 zł 38.86
24.00%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$4.12 zł 16.06
32.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.57 zł 10.04
48.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$2.44 zł 9.51
2.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$4.57 zł 17.85
76.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$4.56 zł 17.81
97.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Krakow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.06 zł 4.12
6.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$1.47 zł 5.73
157.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.69 zł 6.61
92.31%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$3.95 zł 15.40
4.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$9.31 zł 36.31
40.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$7.75 zł 30.24
84.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$13.20 zł 51.5
20.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$1.34 zł 5.22
226.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.69 zł 6.61
-14.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$1.76 zł 6.85
157.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.06 zł 11.93
36.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$0.92 zł 3.61
185.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.98 zł 3.82
140.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.23 zł 4.80
43.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.80 zł 3.13
170.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$6.22 zł 24.29
57.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$6.30 zł 24.57
133.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.18 zł 4.62
135.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.77 zł 6.89
96.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.50 zł 5.85
-0.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$33.54 zł 131
20.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.28 zł 8.89
17.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$0.99 zł 3.88
59.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$12.22 zł 47.70
188.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.69 zł 6.61
-41.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$30.4K zł 118.8K
17.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$28.9K zł 112.7K
-5.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$333 zł 1,299
-34.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$8.71 zł 33.98
565.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$17.32 zł 67.6
294.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$45.70 zł 178
26.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$25.11 zł 98.0
-40.98%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$8.69 zł 33.90
62.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$463 zł 1,805
226.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$9,594 zł 37.4K
123.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Krakow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$99.1 zł 387
-47.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$40.31 zł 157
9.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$90.3 zł 352
-5.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$119 zł 464
-11.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$946 zł 3,692
104.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$717 zł 2,800
77.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$1,440 zł 5,620
154.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$1,136 zł 4,432
122.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$5,602 zł 21.9K
35.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$3,540 zł 13.8K
-9.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$1,855 zł 7,238
175.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
6.62
2.57%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Krakow: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Krakow
$717 43.6% $555
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$403
Krakow
$235 41.8% $168
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Krakow
$226 34.9% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$346
Krakow
$359 3.9% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Krakow
$157 21.8% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Krakow
$63 26.8% $23
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Krakow
$47 17.9% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $946 in Krakow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 175% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $50.0 in Krakow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $235 per month, with Krakow cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇵🇱 Krakow
🕒 Local time
00:27 12:27 AM
07:27 7:27 AM
7 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
806,201
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

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

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.9 PLN (1 PLN = 0.256 USD). 1 EUR = 4.38 PLN (1 PLN = 0.228 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Krakow 9,180 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Krakow

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
Austin, TX vs Krakow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Krakow?
Krakow wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Krakow the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Krakow?
Average pay runs 175% higher in Austin, TX, 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 Austin, TX compared to Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $946 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Krakow?
All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,811 in Krakow – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Krakow?
A monthly transit pass in Krakow runs roughly 21% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Krakow?
At $1,811 in Krakow versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Krakow but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Krakow the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Krakow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Krakow delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,811 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Krakow hard to pass up.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Krakow?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Krakow 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 Krakow gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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