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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,738 per month in Krakow vs $1,207 in Kalisz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,487 per month in Krakow vs $1,727 in Kalisz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,236 per month in Krakow vs $2,247 in Kalisz, rent included.

Krakow costs about 44% more than Kalisz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Krakow sits 30% above the global median, while Kalisz is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.66 zł 38.94

$10.06 zł 36.73

5.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 zł 202

$46.80 zł 171

17.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.30 zł 33.98

$8.07 zł 29.49

15.24%

Cappuccino

$4.03 zł 14.74

$2.96 zł 10.82

36.15%

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

$2.22 zł 8.09

$2.43 zł 8.89

-8.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 zł 8.12

$1.91 zł 6.97

16.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.03 zł 14.72

$3.57 zł 13.05

12.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 zł 15.18

$2.66 zł 9.71

56.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 zł 4.01

$1.03 zł 3.75

6.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 zł 5.28

$1.48 zł 5.40

-2.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 zł 5.38

$1.76 zł 6.44

-16.48%

Eggs

$3.75 zł 13.69

$3.47 zł 12.68

8.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 zł 33.06

$8.37 zł 30.59

8.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 zł 23.28

$4.64 zł 16.94

37.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.55 zł 42.20

$9.71 zł 35.47

18.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 zł 4.55

$1.25 zł 4.57

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 zł 6.63

$1.66 zł 6.06

9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 zł 6.56

$1.66 zł 6.05

8.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.13 zł 11.44

$3.35 zł 12.24

-6.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 zł 3.83

$0.92 zł 3.36

14.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 zł 3.70

$1.11 zł 4.04

-9.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 zł 4.96

$1.31 zł 4.77

3.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 zł 2.42

$0.59 zł 2.16

11.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.48 zł 20.03

$4.98 zł 18.19

10.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.84 zł 24.97

$7.52 zł 27.48

-9.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 zł 4.50

$0.96 zł 3.52

28.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 zł 6.44

$1.50 zł 5.50

17.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 zł 4.03

$1.08 zł 3.94

1.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.51 zł 144

$36.70 zł 134

7.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 zł 9.16

$2.11 zł 7.71

18.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 zł 3.71

$0.77 zł 2.80

32.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.91 zł 47.15

$10.73 zł 39.20

20.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 zł 6.27

$1.78 zł 6.50

-3.37%

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

$33.0K zł 120.5K

$33.5K zł 122.2K

-1.39%

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

$31.4K zł 114.6K

$30.3K zł 110.7K

3.48%

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

$270 zł 987

$198 zł 725

36.08%

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

$9.39 zł 34.29

$8.88 zł 32.45

5.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.80 zł 61.4

$16.83 zł 61.5

-0.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.23 zł 143

$34.64 zł 127

13.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.83 zł 83.4

$19.49 zł 71.2

17.14%

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 zł 30.01

$6.95 zł 25.37

18.27%

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

$446 zł 1,629

$458 zł 1,675

-2.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K zł 48.6K

$5,468 zł 20.0K

143.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.8 zł 284

$93.4 zł 341

-16.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 zł 164

$26.71 zł 97.6

67.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 zł 363

$85.3 zł 312

16.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 zł 407

$95.5 zł 349

16.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 zł 3,316

$450 zł 1,645

101.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$768 zł 2,805

$352 zł 1,286

118.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 zł 5,790

$552 zł 2,015

187.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 zł 4,342

$448 zł 1,637

165.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,925 zł 21.6K

$2,109 zł 7,704

180.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,808 zł 13.9K

$1,597 zł 5,834

138.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,961 zł 7,163

$1,268 zł 4,634

54.60%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kalisz: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $908 in Krakow versus $450 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 55% 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 $47.00 in Kalisz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 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 44%, 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 $2,607 per month in Krakow and $1,811 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 8% less in Kalisz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $446 per month in Krakow and $458 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 $1,207, than in Krakow at $1,738. 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.