Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Kalisz Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Kalisz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,773 per month in Krakow vs $1,173 in Kalisz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,539 per month in Krakow vs $1,705 in Kalisz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,305 per month in Krakow vs $2,238 in Kalisz, rent included.

Krakow costs about 51% more than Kalisz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Krakow sits 33% above the global median, while Kalisz is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 zł 41.43

$10.25 zł 38.93

6.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 zł 204

$46.81 zł 178

14.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 zł 36.25

$8.23 zł 31.25

16.04%

Cappuccino

$3.98 zł 15.11

$2.91 zł 11.04

36.77%

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

$2.21 zł 8.41

$2.30 zł 8.74

-3.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 zł 8.60

$1.92 zł 7.28

17.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.16 zł 15.81

$3.50 zł 13.28

18.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 zł 15.35

$2.64 zł 10.04

53.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 zł 4.40

$1.02 zł 3.89

13.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 zł 5.51

$1.47 zł 5.59

-1.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 zł 5.54

$1.78 zł 6.74

-17.98%

Eggs

$3.61 zł 13.69

$3.52 zł 13.36

2.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.98 zł 34.11

$8.31 zł 31.54

8.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 zł 24.71

$4.64 zł 17.62

40.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.52 zł 43.73

$9.74 zł 37.01

18.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 zł 4.75

$1.23 zł 4.68

1.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 zł 6.62

$1.67 zł 6.35

4.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 zł 6.84

$1.70 zł 6.47

5.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 zł 11.51

$3.32 zł 12.61

-8.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 zł 3.87

$0.87 zł 3.29

17.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 zł 4.01

$1.10 zł 4.18

-3.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 zł 4.95

$1.29 zł 4.89

0.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 zł 2.68

$0.62 zł 2.36

14.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 zł 21.21

$5.03 zł 19.10

11.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 zł 24.47

$7.34 zł 27.88

-12.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 zł 4.68

$0.98 zł 3.73

25.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 zł 6.45

$1.48 zł 5.62

14.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 zł 4.23

$1.06 zł 4.04

4.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.41 zł 150

$37.46 zł 142

5.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 zł 9.54

$2.15 zł 8.15

16.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 zł 3.74

$0.77 zł 2.91

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.03 zł 49.48

$10.66 zł 40.48

22.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 zł 6.43

$1.70 zł 6.46

-0.59%

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

$33.1K zł 125.8K

$33.5K zł 127.1K

-1.04%

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

$32.5K zł 123.3K

$30.3K zł 115.2K

6.99%

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

$278 zł 1,057

$196 zł 745

41.89%

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

$9.20 zł 34.93

$8.97 zł 34.08

2.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.58 zł 63.0

$17.09 zł 64.9

-2.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.22 zł 145

$35.75 zł 136

6.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.23 zł 84.4

$19.92 zł 75.7

11.60%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 zł 30.57

$6.80 zł 25.84

18.38%

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

$437 zł 1,658

$463 zł 1,758

-5.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K zł 48.9K

$5,384 zł 20.4K

139.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.7 zł 291

$93.2 zł 354

-17.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.54 zł 173

$27.11 zł 103

67.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 zł 384

$84.4 zł 321

19.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 zł 429

$95.4 zł 362

18.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$904 zł 3,433

$456 zł 1,731

98.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 zł 2,876

$348 zł 1,320

117.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,601 zł 6,079

$544 zł 2,068

194.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,154 zł 4,383

$460 zł 1,746

151.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,725 zł 21.7K

$2,043 zł 7,758

180.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,721 zł 14.1K

$1,526 zł 5,797

143.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,883 zł 7,153

$1,201 zł 4,562

56.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.77

6.4

21.41%

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

Last update for Krakow: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kalisz: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $904 in Krakow versus $456 in Kalisz. 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 57% 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 $54.0 in Krakow versus $47.00 in Kalisz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $203 – making Kalisz 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 Kalisz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Krakow is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,660 per month in Krakow and $1,759 in Kalisz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalisz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Kalisz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $437 per month in Krakow and $463 in Kalisz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kalisz, where all-in costs run around $1,173, than in Krakow at $1,773. In Kalisz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Krakow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kalisz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kalisz. 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.