Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Warsaw Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Warsaw

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,421 per month in Bialystok vs $2,038 in Warsaw, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,002 per month in Bialystok vs $2,911 in Warsaw, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,582 per month in Bialystok vs $3,784 in Warsaw, rent included.

Bialystok is about 30% cheaper than Warsaw, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bialystok and Warsaw sit above the global median – Bialystok by 7%, Warsaw by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.69 zł 36.14

$10.66 zł 39.77

-9.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 zł 179

$56.1 zł 209

-14.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 zł 30.63

$9.65 zł 35.98

-14.92%

Cappuccino

$3.18 zł 11.85

$4.11 zł 15.34

-22.63%

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

$1.82 zł 6.81

$2.12 zł 7.91

-14.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 zł 6.14

$1.89 zł 7.05

-12.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 zł 12.31

$4.44 zł 16.55

-25.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 zł 10.99

$4.48 zł 16.71

-34.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 zł 4.05

$1.20 zł 4.46

-9.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 zł 4.58

$1.43 zł 5.33

-13.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 zł 4.58

$1.82 zł 6.80

-32.42%

Eggs

$3.13 zł 11.67

$3.61 zł 13.46

-13.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.48 zł 31.64

$10.25 zł 38.24

-17.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.10 zł 22.76

$7.15 zł 26.67

-14.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.69 zł 39.87

$14.25 zł 53.2

-24.98%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 zł 3.56

$1.27 zł 4.72

-25.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 zł 6.70

$1.85 zł 6.92

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 zł 6.53

$2.03 zł 7.57

-13.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 zł 8.13

$3.74 zł 13.95

-41.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 zł 3.44

$1.04 zł 3.90

-11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 zł 3.79

$1.19 zł 4.44

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 zł 4.29

$1.46 zł 5.46

-21.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 zł 2.06

$0.71 zł 2.67

-22.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.08 zł 18.95

$5.45 zł 20.32

-6.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.33 zł 23.63

$8.01 zł 29.86

-20.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 zł 4.67

$1.37 zł 5.10

-8.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 zł 6.03

$1.88 zł 7.03

-13.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 zł 4.18

$1.21 zł 4.51

-7.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.00 zł 131

$30.26 zł 113

15.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 zł 8.18

$2.68 zł 9.98

-18.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 zł 1.83

$1.01 zł 3.78

-51.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.10 zł 45.14

$13.55 zł 50.5

-10.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 zł 6.55

$1.76 zł 6.58

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

$34.1K zł 127.1K

$33.2K zł 123.7K

2.73%

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

$29.3K zł 109.2K

$32.7K zł 121.9K

-10.38%

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

$305 zł 1,139

$351 zł 1,309

-13.02%

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

$8.15 zł 30.40

$9.98 zł 37.22

-18.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.58 zł 61.8

$17.14 zł 63.9

-3.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.14 zł 139

$43.33 zł 162

-14.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.20 zł 71.6

$28.92 zł 108

-33.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.98 zł 26.04

$9.65 zł 36.01

-27.67%

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

$340 zł 1,268

$589 zł 2,196

-42.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 zł 35.6K

$15.6K zł 58.1K

-38.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.8 zł 339

$97.4 zł 363

-6.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.01 zł 116

$47.77 zł 178

-35.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 zł 281

$94.3 zł 352

-19.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 zł 359

$109 zł 406

-11.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 zł 2,049

$1,123 zł 4,187

-51.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 zł 1,837

$897 zł 3,347

-45.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$873 zł 3,256

$2,054 zł 7,661

-57.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$733 zł 2,735

$1,533 zł 5,719

-52.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,719 zł 10.1K

$6,293 zł 23.5K

-56.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,351 zł 8,769

$3,875 zł 14.5K

-39.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,474 zł 5,499

$2,200 zł 8,207

-33.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

7.55

-14.30%

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

Last update for Bialystok: July 28, 2026

Last update for Warsaw: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $549 in Bialystok versus $1,123 in Warsaw. 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 49% higher in Warsaw, 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 $56.0 in Warsaw. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $248 – 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 Warsaw: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Warsaw costs about 43% more than Bialystok, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,132 per month in Bialystok and $3,058 in Warsaw. 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 $340 per month in Bialystok and $589 in Warsaw. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Warsaw, 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 $1,421, than in Warsaw at $2,038. In Bialystok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Warsaw it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bialystok costs $1,421 versus $2,038 in Warsaw. 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, Warsaw makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.