Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Bialystok Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Bialystok

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,738 per month in Krakow vs $1,405 in Bialystok, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,487 per month in Krakow vs $2,014 in Bialystok, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,236 per month in Krakow vs $2,622 in Bialystok, rent included.

Krakow costs about 24% more than Bialystok, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Krakow and Bialystok sit above the global median – Krakow by 30%, Bialystok by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.66 zł 38.94

$9.65 zł 35.26

10.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 zł 202

$48.53 zł 177

13.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.30 zł 33.98

$8.01 zł 29.27

16.10%

Cappuccino

$4.03 zł 14.74

$3.11 zł 11.36

29.58%

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

$2.22 zł 8.09

$1.92 zł 7.03

15.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 zł 8.12

$1.63 zł 5.94

36.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.03 zł 14.72

$3.35 zł 12.26

20.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 zł 15.18

$3.01 zł 10.98

38.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 zł 4.01

$1.03 zł 3.77

6.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 zł 5.28

$1.18 zł 4.32

22.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 zł 5.38

$1.17 zł 4.26

25.64%

Eggs

$3.75 zł 13.69

$3.04 zł 11.10

23.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 zł 33.06

$8.45 zł 30.85

7.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 zł 23.28

$6.00 zł 21.90

6.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.55 zł 42.20

$10.64 zł 38.89

8.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 zł 4.55

$0.90 zł 3.27

38.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 zł 6.63

$1.72 zł 6.30

5.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 zł 6.56

$1.73 zł 6.33

4.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.13 zł 11.44

$2.12 zł 7.74

47.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 zł 3.83

$0.92 zł 3.36

14.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 zł 3.70

$1.02 zł 3.72

-0.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 zł 4.96

$1.20 zł 4.38

13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 zł 2.42

$0.60 zł 2.18

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.48 zł 20.03

$5.30 zł 19.37

3.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.84 zł 24.97

$6.64 zł 24.27

3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 zł 4.50

$1.24 zł 4.54

-0.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 zł 6.44

$1.61 zł 5.89

9.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 zł 4.03

$1.06 zł 3.87

3.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.51 zł 144

$35.70 zł 130

10.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 zł 9.16

$2.14 zł 7.81

17.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 zł 3.71

$0.49 zł 1.78

108.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.91 zł 47.15

$12.39 zł 45.26

4.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 zł 6.27

$1.67 zł 6.10

2.99%

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

$33.0K zł 120.5K

$34.2K zł 124.9K

-3.49%

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

$31.4K zł 114.6K

$29.6K zł 108.2K

5.90%

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

$270 zł 987

$308 zł 1,124

-12.23%

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

$9.39 zł 34.29

$8.13 zł 29.68

15.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.80 zł 61.4

$16.79 zł 61.3

0.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.23 zł 143

$37.15 zł 136

5.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.83 zł 83.4

$19.18 zł 70.1

19.03%

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 zł 30.01

$6.92 zł 25.30

18.79%

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

$446 zł 1,629

$339 zł 1,237

31.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K zł 48.6K

$9,355 zł 34.2K

42.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.8 zł 284

$92.0 zł 336

-15.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 zł 164

$30.51 zł 111

46.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 zł 363

$74.5 zł 272

33.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 zł 407

$94.4 zł 345

18.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 zł 3,316

$533 zł 1,946

70.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$768 zł 2,805

$485 zł 1,771

58.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 zł 5,790

$855 zł 3,124

85.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 zł 4,342

$724 zł 2,643

64.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,925 zł 21.6K

$2,809 zł 10.3K

110.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,808 zł 13.9K

$2,480 zł 9,061

53.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,961 zł 7,163

$1,569 zł 5,733

24.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.77

6.47

20.09%

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

Last update for Krakow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bialystok: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $908 in Krakow versus $533 in Bialystok. 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 25% higher in Krakow, 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 $55.0 in Krakow versus $49.00 in Bialystok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $198 – 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

Krakow vs Bialystok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Krakow costs about 24% more than Bialystok, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,607 per month in Krakow and $2,107 in Bialystok. 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 $446 per month in Krakow and $339 in Bialystok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Krakow, 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 $1,405, than in Krakow at $1,738. In Bialystok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Krakow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bialystok costs $1,405 versus $1,738 in Krakow. 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, Krakow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.