Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and PolandCost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Poland
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,717 in Italy versus $1,430 in Poland.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,624 in Italy versus $2,076 in Poland.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,530 in Italy versus $2,721 in Poland.
😐Living in Italy is roughly 20% more expensive than Poland on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Italy28% above, Poland7% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,170 to $2,508, compared to $1,157–$2,040 in Poland. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Poland
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.44€15.01
$10.70zł 39.03
62.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5€68.4
$49.62zł 181
60.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.76€10.12
$8.81zł 32.11
33.48%
Cappuccino
$2.00€1.72
$3.71zł 13.53
-46.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.59
$1.92zł 7.01
56.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35€1.16
$1.77zł 6.47
-23.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94€5.11
$3.83zł 13.98
55.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36€4.61
$4.16zł 15.18
28.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Poland
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64€1.41
$1.09zł 3.98
50.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.41€2.08
$1.36zł 4.96
77.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99€2.58
$1.55zł 5.66
92.90%
Eggs
$3.96€3.41
$3.41zł 12.43
16.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.84€14.50
$9.12zł 33.24
84.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.43€10.70
$6.54zł 23.84
90.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.29€17.47
$12.46zł 45.44
62.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.11zł 4.05
122.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$1.79zł 6.51
20.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$1.78zł 6.49
48.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.92
$2.99zł 10.90
13.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.97zł 3.53
97.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.11zł 4.06
63.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.33
$1.29zł 4.71
20.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54€0.47
$0.63zł 2.31
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$5.35zł 19.51
26.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.18€6.18
$7.09zł 25.84
1.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.55
$1.14zł 4.15
57.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.08
$1.72zł 6.26
40.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Poland
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.00€1.72
$1.12zł 4.08
78.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.35€36.45
$32.16zł 117
31.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.94€5.12
$2.49zł 9.08
138.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$0.84zł 3.07
79.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.04€29.31
$13.56zł 49.44
151.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.77
$1.71zł 6.23
19.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K€28.3K
$33.9Kzł 123.6K
-3.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K€29.0K
$31.6Kzł 115.1K
6.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Poland
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225€194
$299zł 1,092
-24.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25€11.41
$9.62zł 35.09
37.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95€26.64
$16.72zł 61.0
85.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Poland
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7€47.99
$37.73zł 138
47.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.15€21.65
$21.69zł 79.1
15.95%
Cinema Ticket
$10.25€8.82
$8.30zł 30.28
23.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Poland
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576€496
$396zł 1,445
45.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K€9,005
$9,943zł 36.3K
5.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Poland
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8€79.1
$84.0zł 306
9.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.72€35.05
$40.49zł 148
0.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0€84.4
$89.1zł 325
10.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€113
$101zł 368
29.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Poland
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$860€740
$791zł 2,883
8.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$667€574
$648zł 2,363
2.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,475€1,270
$1,323zł 4,823
11.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,087€936
$1,014zł 3,698
7.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,850€3,315
$3,832zł 14.0K
0.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,359€2,030
$2,813zł 10.3K
-16.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Poland
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,933€1,664
$1,697zł 6,188
13.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
6.91
-36.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: May 31, 2026
Last update for Poland: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $743 in Italy, $648 in Poland. Capital cities: $1,325 in Rome vs $1,161 in Warsaw.
💰National salary averages: $1,949 in Italy, $1,447 in Poland. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 15% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 72% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 38% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 35% higher in Italy, giving Italy stronger purchasing power.
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
Italy vs Poland: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Poland?
At $1,839 per month in Italy and $1,599 in Poland, there's a 15% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Poland is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Italy beats Poland across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget in Italy or Poland?
In Poland, $3,000 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or Poland?
It depends on what you're after. Poland wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.