Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Gdansk

For one person, living costs are similar in Krakow and in Gdansk: $1,815 and $1,754 a month, rent and utilities included.

Krakow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,815
/mo nomad
Gdansk
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,754
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Krakow and in Gdansk

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Krakow and in Gdansk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,815 per month in Krakow vs $1,754 in Gdansk, rent included.

  • Krakow $1,815
  • Gdansk $1,754

A couple spends around $2,587 per month in Krakow vs $2,496 in Gdansk, rent included.

  • Krakow $2,587
  • Gdansk $2,496

A family of three spends $3,359 per month in Krakow vs $3,237 in Gdansk, rent included.

  • Krakow $3,359
  • Gdansk $3,237

Krakow costs about 3% more than Gdansk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Krakow and Gdansk sit above the global median – Krakow by 34%, Gdansk by 30%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Gdansk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83 zł 45.95
$11.52 zł 44.77
2.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5 zł 196
$56.7 zł 220
-10.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 zł 38.12
$8.73 zł 33.91
12.37%
Cappuccino
$4.22 zł 16.40
$4.19 zł 16.27
0.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 zł 10.06
$2.31 zł 8.96
12.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 zł 9.12
$1.71 zł 6.63
37.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.63 zł 17.98
$3.87 zł 15.04
19.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72 zł 18.32
$3.84 zł 14.92
22.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Gdansk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 zł 4.14
$0.98 zł 3.81
9.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 zł 5.84
$1.30 zł 5.05
15.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 zł 6.83
$1.68 zł 6.53
4.76%
Eggs
$3.90 zł 15.13
$3.85 zł 14.94
1.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.40 zł 36.53
$8.64 zł 33.58
8.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.87 zł 30.57
$6.36 zł 24.70
23.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.41 zł 52.1
$13.30 zł 51.7
0.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.34 zł 5.20
$1.25 zł 4.87
7.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 zł 6.56
$1.74 zł 6.76
-2.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 zł 6.98
$2.00 zł 7.77
-10.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 zł 11.93
$3.20 zł 12.45
-4.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 zł 3.40
$0.79 zł 3.06
11.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 zł 3.98
$1.10 zł 4.26
-7.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 zł 4.70
$1.35 zł 5.25
-10.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 zł 3.12
$0.73 zł 2.85
9.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.24 zł 24.24
$5.84 zł 22.67
6.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.40 zł 24.86
$6.71 zł 26.06
-4.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 zł 4.70
$1.21 zł 4.72
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 zł 6.49
$1.83 zł 7.12
-8.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Gdansk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 zł 6.10
$1.19 zł 4.62
31.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.06 zł 128
$30.84 zł 120
7.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.22 zł 8.63
$2.01 zł 7.79
10.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 zł 3.91
$0.98 zł 3.81
3.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.48 zł 48.51
$12.60 zł 48.96
-0.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 zł 6.49
$1.66 zł 6.44
0.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K zł 119.3K
$30.4K zł 118.2K
0.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K zł 111.2K
$28.3K zł 110.0K
1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Gdansk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$325 zł 1,261
$290 zł 1,127
11.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.70 zł 33.80
$11.95 zł 46.45
-27.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 zł 69.3
$20.50 zł 79.6
-12.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Gdansk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.16 zł 175
$43.67 zł 170
3.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.28 zł 94.3
$28.87 zł 112
-15.90%
Cinema Ticket
$8.57 zł 33.29
$7.51 zł 29.19
14.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Gdansk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 zł 1,799
$530 zł 2,059
-12.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,760 zł 37.9K
$8,141 zł 31.6K
19.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Gdansk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.7 zł 376
$88.9 zł 345
8.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.10 zł 156
$48.02 zł 187
-16.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 zł 346
$91.9 zł 357
-3.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 zł 473
$103 zł 400
18.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Gdansk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$937 zł 3,642
$989 zł 3,842
-5.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$735 zł 2,854
$745 zł 2,893
-1.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,477 zł 5,738
$1,637 zł 6,358
-9.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 zł 4,456
$1,102 zł 4,280
4.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,395 zł 21.0K
$5,339 zł 20.7K
1.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,529 zł 13.7K
$3,031 zł 11.8K
16.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Gdansk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,894 zł 7,360
$1,929 zł 7,494
-1.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.67
-0.75%

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

Last update for Krakow: October 11, 2026

Last update for Gdansk: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Krakow
$735
Gdansk
$745 1.4% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
$351
Gdansk
$322 8.2% $29
Groceries & Markets
Krakow
$237
Gdansk
$225 4.9% $12
Eating Out
Krakow
$227
Gdansk
$212 6.7% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
$156
Gdansk
$149 4.6% $7.2
Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
$62
Gdansk
$59 5.8% $3.6
Getting Around
Krakow
$47
Gdansk
$43 8.8% $4.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $937 in Krakow versus $989 in Gdansk. 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 2% higher in Gdansk, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Krakow versus $57.0 in Gdansk. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Krakow vs $225 in Gdansk – so Gdansk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Krakow
🇵🇱 Gdansk
🕒 Local time
02:24 2:24 AM
02:24 2:24 AM
Same time as Krakow
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
806,201
470,633
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Krakow Gdansk 490 km
From you
  • Krakow
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Gdansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Krakow and in Gdansk compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,815 in Krakow, $1,754 in Gdansk – roughly 3% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Krakow compared to Gdansk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,722 per month in Krakow and $2,632 in Gdansk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Krakow and Gdansk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gdansk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Krakow and Gdansk?
Kindergarten costs $463 per month in Krakow and $530 in Gdansk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Krakow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Gdansk, where all-in costs run around $1,754, than in Krakow at $1,815. In Gdansk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Krakow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Krakow and Gdansk?
It depends on your priorities. Gdansk has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,754 in Gdansk to $1,815 in Krakow. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Krakow or Gdansk safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Krakow and Gdansk?
If budget matters most, go with Gdansk. 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.

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