Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Krakow Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Krakow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,416 per month in Bialystok vs $1,773 in Krakow, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,997 per month in Bialystok vs $2,539 in Krakow, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,579 per month in Bialystok vs $3,305 in Krakow, rent included.

Bialystok is about 20% cheaper than Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bialystok and Krakow sit above the global median – Bialystok by 6%, Krakow by 33%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.52 zł 36.12

$10.91 zł 41.39

-12.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.43 zł 184

$53.7 zł 204

-9.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 zł 29.60

$9.55 zł 36.22

-18.32%

Cappuccino

$3.16 zł 11.99

$3.98 zł 15.09

-20.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 zł 6.92

$2.21 zł 8.40

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 zł 6.25

$2.26 zł 8.59

-26.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 zł 12.20

$4.16 zł 15.79

-22.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 zł 11.64

$4.04 zł 15.34

-24.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 zł 4.10

$1.16 zł 4.39

-6.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 zł 4.66

$1.45 zł 5.51

-15.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 zł 4.48

$1.46 zł 5.54

-19.18%

Eggs

$3.13 zł 11.87

$3.61 zł 13.68

-13.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.36 zł 31.72

$8.98 zł 34.07

-6.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 zł 22.33

$6.51 zł 24.68

-9.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.97 zł 41.61

$11.52 zł 43.69

-4.77%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 zł 3.59

$1.25 zł 4.75

-24.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 zł 6.80

$1.74 zł 6.61

2.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 zł 6.54

$1.80 zł 6.83

-4.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 zł 8.04

$3.03 zł 11.50

-30.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 zł 3.56

$1.02 zł 3.86

-7.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 zł 3.86

$1.06 zł 4.01

-3.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 zł 4.50

$1.30 zł 4.94

-8.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 zł 2.21

$0.71 zł 2.68

-18.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.13 zł 19.46

$5.59 zł 21.19

-8.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 zł 24.52

$6.44 zł 24.45

0.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 zł 4.74

$1.23 zł 4.67

1.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 zł 6.25

$1.70 zł 6.44

-2.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 zł 4.04

$1.11 zł 4.23

-4.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.93 zł 136

$39.41 zł 150

-8.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 zł 8.06

$2.51 zł 9.53

-15.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 zł 1.84

$0.99 zł 3.74

-50.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.38 zł 46.96

$13.03 zł 49.43

-4.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 zł 6.41

$1.69 zł 6.42

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.0K zł 125.3K

$33.1K zł 125.7K

-0.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.2K zł 110.6K

$32.5K zł 123.2K

-10.18%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$311 zł 1,180

$278 zł 1,056

11.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.50 zł 32.26

$9.20 zł 34.89

-7.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.77 zł 63.6

$16.58 zł 62.9

1.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.43 zł 142

$38.22 zł 145

-2.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.05 zł 72.3

$22.23 zł 84.3

-14.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 zł 26.01

$8.05 zł 30.54

-14.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$341 zł 1,294

$437 zł 1,657

-21.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,315 zł 35.3K

$12.9K zł 48.9K

-27.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 zł 346

$76.7 zł 291

19.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.35 zł 119

$45.54 zł 173

-31.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 zł 292

$101 zł 384

-23.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 zł 365

$113 zł 428

-14.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 zł 2,073

$904 zł 3,430

-39.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$490 zł 1,860

$757 zł 2,873

-35.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 zł 3,214

$1,601 zł 6,073

-47.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 zł 2,784

$1,154 zł 4,379

-36.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,794 zł 10.6K

$5,725 zł 21.7K

-51.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,370 zł 8,993

$3,721 zł 14.1K

-36.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,525 zł 5,785

$1,883 zł 7,146

-19.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

7.77

-16.73%

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

Last update for Bialystok: July 11, 2026

Last update for Krakow: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $546 in Bialystok versus $904 in Krakow. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Krakow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Bialystok versus $54.0 in Krakow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $221 – making Bialystok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bialystok vs Krakow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Krakow costs about 25% more than Bialystok, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,124 per month in Bialystok and $2,660 in Krakow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bialystok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $341 per month in Bialystok and $437 in Krakow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Krakow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bialystok, where all-in costs run around $1,416, than in Krakow at $1,773. In Bialystok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Krakow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bialystok costs $1,416 versus $1,773 in Krakow. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bialystok. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Krakow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.