😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,881 in Gdansk versus $1,516 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,617 in Gdansk versus $2,288 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,353 in Gdansk versus $3,060 in Bydgoszcz.
🌍Living in Gdansk is roughly 24% more expensive than in Bydgoszcz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gdansk37% above, Bydgoszcz10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.10zł 44.95
$12.81zł 47.59
-5.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.2zł 220
$67.5zł 251
-12.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.45zł 35.10
$7.91zł 29.38
19.47%
Cappuccino
$4.21zł 15.66
$3.83zł 14.21
9.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37zł 8.81
$2.29zł 8.50
3.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77zł 6.59
$1.79zł 6.64
-1.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.07zł 15.12
$4.15zł 15.40
-1.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95zł 14.69
$3.79zł 14.07
4.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01zł 3.77
$1.05zł 3.90
-3.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35zł 5.01
$1.75zł 6.52
-22.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79zł 6.66
$0.98zł 3.65
82.65%
Eggs
$3.93zł 14.60
$4.02zł 14.94
-2.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.95zł 33.23
$9.13zł 33.94
-1.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.91zł 25.67
$7.47zł 27.75
-7.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.16zł 52.6
$12.19zł 45.29
16.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.34zł 4.96
$1.39zł 5.16
-3.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91zł 7.10
$1.76zł 6.54
8.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21zł 8.22
$1.64zł 6.08
34.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.38zł 12.56
$3.34zł 12.41
1.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88zł 3.26
$1.04zł 3.85
-15.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16zł 4.30
$1.37zł 5.10
-15.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34zł 4.99
$1.20zł 4.46
11.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75zł 2.78
$0.70zł 2.59
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.08zł 22.58
$6.09zł 22.61
-0.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.26zł 26.95
$8.81zł 32.73
-17.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25zł 4.63
$1.06zł 3.95
17.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97zł 7.30
$1.42zł 5.28
38.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27zł 4.73
$1.01zł 3.75
25.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.08zł 119
$29.39zł 109
9.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12zł 7.87
$2.35zł 8.72
-9.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08zł 4.01
$0.87zł 3.24
24.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.34zł 49.57
$10.45zł 38.81
27.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63zł 6.07
$1.60zł 5.93
1.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2Kzł 119.5K
$32.5Kzł 120.7K
-0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3Kzł 112.4K
$28.9Kzł 107.4K
4.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$302zł 1,124
$271zł 1,008
11.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.78zł 47.48
$8.22zł 30.55
55.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.23zł 78.9
$18.64zł 69.3
13.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.81zł 170
$40.51zł 150
13.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.87zł 115
$17.47zł 64.9
76.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.07zł 29.96
$8.00zł 29.73
0.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$548zł 2,038
$347zł 1,289
58.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,540zł 31.7K
$5,429zł 20.2K
57.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3zł 339
$84.7zł 315
7.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.35zł 183
$38.80zł 144
27.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0zł 357
$93.0zł 346
3.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110zł 410
$107zł 399
2.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,052zł 3,910
$720zł 2,675
46.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$782zł 2,905
$526zł 1,956
48.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,733zł 6,439
$1,134zł 4,213
52.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,126zł 4,185
$924zł 3,432
21.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,701zł 21.2K
$2,953zł 11.0K
93.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,186zł 11.8K
$2,241zł 8,326
42.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,986zł 7,380
$1,585zł 5,887
25.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
6.89
-3.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gdansk: August 31, 2026
Last update for Bydgoszcz: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,052 in Gdansk and $720 in Bydgoszcz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gdansk pays 25% 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: $59.0 in Gdansk vs $67.0 in Bydgoszcz. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $235, with Bydgoszcz cheaper for home cooking.
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
Gdansk vs Bydgoszcz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gdansk or Bydgoszcz?
Bydgoszcz wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Gdansk. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bydgoszcz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gdansk or in Bydgoszcz?
Average pay runs 25% higher in Gdansk, 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 Gdansk compared to Bydgoszcz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,052 in Gdansk versus $720 in Bydgoszcz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gdansk and in Bydgoszcz?
Childcare runs $548 in Gdansk versus $347 in Bydgoszcz. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Gdansk or in Bydgoszcz?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Gdansk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Gdansk or in Bydgoszcz?
At $1,516 in Bydgoszcz versus $1,881 in Gdansk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bydgoszcz but tight or insufficient in Gdansk. The gap between the two cities makes Bydgoszcz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gdansk or Bydgoszcz?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bydgoszcz delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,516 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bydgoszcz hard to pass up.
How safe is Gdansk compared to Bydgoszcz?
Safety-wise, Gdansk and Bydgoszcz 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 Bydgoszcz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Gdansk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.