Cost of Living Comparison Between Kielce and Krakow Cost of Living Comparison Between Kielce and Krakow

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,309 in Kielce versus $1,738 in Krakow.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,852 in Kielce versus $2,487 in Krakow.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,394 in Kielce versus $3,236 in Krakow.

Living in Kielce costs roughly 25% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kielce is 2% below, Krakow is 30% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kielce
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 zł 39.20
$10.66 zł 38.87
0.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.40 zł 147
$55.2 zł 201
-26.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.58 zł 23.98
$9.30 zł 33.92
-29.25%
Cappuccino
$3.02 zł 11.02
$4.03 zł 14.71
-25.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 zł 7.68
$2.22 zł 8.08
-4.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 zł 3.10
$2.22 zł 8.10
-61.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 zł 11.59
$4.03 zł 14.70
-21.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 zł 14.53
$4.16 zł 15.16
-4.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kielce
Krakow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 zł 3.72
$1.10 zł 4.01
-7.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 zł 5.24
$1.45 zł 5.27
-0.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 zł 4.28
$1.47 zł 5.37
-20.41%
Eggs
$3.26 zł 11.89
$3.75 zł 13.67
-13.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.69 zł 31.70
$9.05 zł 33.00
-3.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.78 zł 24.70
$6.37 zł 23.23
6.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.82 zł 46.74
$11.55 zł 42.12
11.00%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 zł 3.41
$1.25 zł 4.55
-24.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 zł 5.37
$1.81 zł 6.62
-18.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 zł 5.84
$1.80 zł 6.55
-11.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.82 zł 10.27
$3.13 zł 11.42
-9.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 zł 2.17
$1.05 zł 3.82
-42.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 zł 2.12
$1.01 zł 3.69
-42.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 zł 6.22
$1.36 zł 4.95
25.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 zł 1.71
$0.66 zł 2.42
-28.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14 zł 18.73
$5.48 zł 19.99
-6.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.76 zł 24.64
$6.84 zł 24.93
-1.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 zł 4.65
$1.23 zł 4.50
4.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 zł 5.49
$1.76 zł 6.43
-14.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Kielce
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 zł 4.09
$1.10 zł 4.02
1.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.78 zł 120
$39.51 zł 144
-17.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.38 zł 8.66
$2.51 zł 9.14
-5.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 zł 2.68
$1.02 zł 3.70
-28.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.04 zł 54.9
$12.91 zł 47.07
16.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 zł 6.30
$1.72 zł 6.26
0.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K zł 123.8K
$33.0K zł 120.3K
2.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K zł 106.9K
$31.4K zł 114.4K
-6.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kielce
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 zł 758
$270 zł 985
-22.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.44 zł 30.76
$9.39 zł 34.23
-10.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.20 zł 44.48
$16.80 zł 61.3
-27.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kielce
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.98 zł 113
$39.23 zł 143
-21.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39 zł 74.4
$22.83 zł 83.2
-10.69%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02 zł 29.24
$8.22 zł 29.96
-2.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kielce
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 zł 1,002
$446 zł 1,626
-38.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,920 zł 21.6K
$13.3K zł 48.5K
-55.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kielce
Krakow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.3 zł 282
$77.8 zł 284
-0.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.17 zł 179
$44.83 zł 163
9.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 zł 293
$99.5 zł 363
-19.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 zł 408
$111 zł 407
0.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kielce
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$558 zł 2,035
$908 zł 3,310
-38.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 zł 1,626
$768 zł 2,799
-41.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$793 zł 2,891
$1,585 zł 5,780
-49.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$597 zł 2,178
$1,189 zł 4,335
-49.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,348 zł 12.2K
$5,925 zł 21.6K
-43.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,589 zł 9,442
$3,808 zł 13.9K
-32.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kielce
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,435 zł 5,233
$1,961 zł 7,151
-26.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.97
7.77
-23.17%

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

Last update for Kielce: May 31, 2026

Last update for Krakow: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $558 in Kielce and $908 in Krakow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krakow pays 37% 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: $40.00 in Kielce vs $55.0 in Krakow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $222 per month, with Kielce 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
Kielce vs Krakow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Krakow cheaper than Kielce?
Kielce is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kielce or Krakow?
On paper, Krakow earns 37% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kielce and Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $558 in Kielce versus $908 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Kielce vs Krakow?
All in, you'll spend $1,309 per month in Kielce versus $1,738 in Krakow – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kielce runs roughly 21% less than in Krakow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kielce or Krakow?
At $1,309 in Kielce versus $1,738 in Krakow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kielce but tight or insufficient in Krakow. The gap between the two cities makes Kielce the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kielce or Krakow more family-friendly?
For families, Kielce is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Krakow, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kielce or Krakow?
Safety-wise, Kielce and Krakow 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kielce gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kielce vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities