😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,738 in Gdansk versus $1,474 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Gdansk versus $2,272 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,083 in Gdansk versus $3,069 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Living in Gdansk is roughly 18% more expensive than Bydgoszcz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gdansk30% above, Bydgoszcz10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80zł 39.45
$11.69zł 42.71
-7.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.0zł 201
$67.4zł 246
-18.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.75zł 31.95
$7.97zł 29.10
9.79%
Cappuccino
$4.09zł 14.95
$4.00zł 14.60
2.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18zł 7.97
$2.33zł 8.51
-6.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94zł 7.08
$1.88zł 6.86
3.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.18zł 15.27
$3.95zł 14.45
5.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16zł 15.21
$3.85zł 14.08
8.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05zł 3.85
$1.07zł 3.91
-1.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33zł 4.86
$1.50zł 5.50
-11.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88zł 6.87
$1.76zł 6.42
6.82%
Eggs
$3.34zł 12.18
$3.38zł 12.33
-1.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.55zł 34.89
$10.37zł 37.86
-7.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51zł 23.79
$7.02zł 25.64
-7.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.95zł 47.31
$14.49zł 53.0
-10.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.05zł 3.84
$1.35zł 4.94
-22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88zł 6.85
$1.62zł 5.90
16.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97zł 7.19
$1.64zł 5.98
20.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.78zł 10.15
$4.26zł 15.55
-34.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96zł 3.52
$0.93zł 3.39
3.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08zł 3.96
$1.17zł 4.29
-7.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40zł 5.10
$1.31zł 4.77
6.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69zł 2.53
$0.67zł 2.45
2.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52zł 20.17
$5.03zł 18.37
9.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.70zł 28.13
$8.69zł 31.74
-11.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15zł 4.21
$1.11zł 4.05
3.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76zł 6.43
$1.59zł 5.82
10.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27zł 4.65
$1.06zł 3.86
19.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.68zł 116
$28.74zł 105
10.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.11zł 7.73
$2.20zł 8.04
-4.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80zł 2.91
$0.71zł 2.61
12.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.64zł 49.81
$10.67zł 38.99
27.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76zł 6.44
$1.71zł 6.26
2.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1Kzł 120.8K
$33.2Kzł 121.4K
-0.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4Kzł 114.6K
$31.6Kzł 115.4K
-0.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$310zł 1,133
$232zł 847
33.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.05zł 40.35
$8.68zł 31.70
27.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.98zł 69.3
$17.15zł 62.7
10.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.46zł 159
$38.10zł 139
14.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.61zł 79.0
$20.55zł 75.1
5.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67zł 24.37
$7.88zł 28.80
-15.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374zł 1,367
$451zł 1,647
-16.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,697zł 28.1K
$5,504zł 20.1K
39.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.8zł 306
$97.7zł 357
-14.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.59zł 156
$38.09zł 139
11.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8zł 306
$110zł 403
-24.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.0zł 314
$128zł 466
-32.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$881zł 3,217
$704zł 2,573
25.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$725zł 2,647
$499zł 1,824
45.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,480zł 5,406
$1,200zł 4,384
23.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,039zł 3,795
$896zł 3,273
15.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,774zł 21.1K
$3,080zł 11.3K
87.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,414zł 12.5K
$2,294zł 8,379
48.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gdansk
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,008zł 7,335
$1,598zł 5,837
25.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.01
6.4
9.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gdansk: June 2, 2026
Last update for Bydgoszcz: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $881 in Gdansk and $704 in Bydgoszcz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gdansk pays 26% 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: $55.0 in Gdansk vs $67.0 in Bydgoszcz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $245 per month, with Gdansk cheaper across the board.
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 18% 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 Bydgoszcz?
Gdansk pays 26% more on average, 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 vs Bydgoszcz?
Rent for a central apartment: $881 in Gdansk versus $704 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 Bydgoszcz?
Childcare runs $374 in Gdansk versus $451 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 Bydgoszcz?
Shoppers in Gdansk pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Gdansk or Bydgoszcz?
At $1,474 in Bydgoszcz versus $1,738 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 $1,474 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 18% less than in Gdansk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.