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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Krakow is roughly 33% more expensive than Kielce, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.66 zł 38.87

$10.75 zł 39.20

-0.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 zł 201

$40.40 zł 147

36.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.30 zł 33.92

$6.58 zł 23.98

41.34%

Cappuccino

$4.03 zł 14.71

$3.02 zł 11.02

33.44%

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

$2.22 zł 8.08

$2.11 zł 7.68

5.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 zł 8.10

$0.85 zł 3.10

161.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.03 zł 14.70

$3.18 zł 11.59

26.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 zł 15.16

$3.99 zł 14.53

4.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 zł 4.01

$1.02 zł 3.72

7.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 zł 5.27

$1.44 zł 5.24

0.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 zł 5.37

$1.17 zł 4.28

25.64%

Eggs

$3.75 zł 13.67

$3.26 zł 11.89

15.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 zł 33.00

$8.69 zł 31.70

4.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 zł 23.23

$6.78 zł 24.70

-6.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.55 zł 42.12

$12.82 zł 46.74

-9.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 zł 4.55

$0.94 zł 3.41

32.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 zł 6.62

$1.47 zł 5.37

23.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 zł 6.55

$1.60 zł 5.84

12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.13 zł 11.42

$2.82 zł 10.27

10.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 zł 3.82

$0.60 zł 2.17

75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 zł 3.69

$0.58 zł 2.12

74.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 zł 4.95

$1.71 zł 6.22

-20.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 zł 2.42

$0.47 zł 1.71

40.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.48 zł 19.99

$5.14 zł 18.73

6.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.84 zł 24.93

$6.76 zł 24.64

1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 zł 4.50

$1.28 zł 4.65

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 zł 6.43

$1.50 zł 5.49

17.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 zł 4.02

$1.12 zł 4.09

-1.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.51 zł 144

$32.78 zł 120

20.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 zł 9.14

$2.38 zł 8.66

5.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 zł 3.70

$0.73 zł 2.68

39.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.91 zł 47.07

$15.04 zł 54.9

-14.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 zł 6.26

$1.73 zł 6.30

-0.58%

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

$33.0K zł 120.3K

$34.0K zł 123.8K

-2.84%

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

$31.4K zł 114.4K

$29.3K zł 106.9K

6.99%

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

$270 zł 985

$208 zł 758

29.84%

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

$9.39 zł 34.23

$8.44 zł 30.76

11.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.80 zł 61.3

$12.20 zł 44.48

37.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.23 zł 143

$30.98 zł 113

26.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.83 zł 83.2

$20.39 zł 74.4

11.97%

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 zł 29.96

$8.02 zł 29.24

2.49%

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

$446 zł 1,626

$275 zł 1,002

62.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K zł 48.5K

$5,920 zł 21.6K

124.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.8 zł 284

$77.3 zł 282

0.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 zł 163

$49.17 zł 179

-8.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 zł 363

$80.4 zł 293

23.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 zł 407

$112 zł 408

-0.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 zł 3,310

$558 zł 2,035

62.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$768 zł 2,799

$446 zł 1,626

72.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 zł 5,780

$793 zł 2,891

99.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 zł 4,335

$597 zł 2,178

99.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,925 zł 21.6K

$3,348 zł 12.2K

76.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,808 zł 13.9K

$2,589 zł 9,442

47.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,961 zł 7,151

$1,435 zł 5,233

36.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.77

5.97

30.15%

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

Last update for Krakow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kielce: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $908 in Krakow and $558 in Kielce. 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: $55.0 in Krakow vs $40.00 in Kielce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $213 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

Krakow vs Kielce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Krakow pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $908 in Krakow versus $558 in Kielce. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,738 per month in Krakow versus $1,309 in Kielce – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Krakow and Kielce are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

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.