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: $1,913 in Krakow versus $1,494 in Kielce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,685 in Krakow versus $2,111 in Kielce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,458 in Krakow versus $2,728 in Kielce.

Living in Krakow is roughly 28% more expensive than in Kielce, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Krakow 40% above, Kielce 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 zł 49.52

$12.08 zł 45.85

8.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 zł 204

$40.54 zł 154

32.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.96 zł 37.82

$7.89 zł 29.94

26.24%

Cappuccino

$4.34 zł 16.46

$3.02 zł 11.47

43.71%

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

$2.46 zł 9.34

$1.50 zł 5.69

64.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 zł 9.86

$1.17 zł 4.43

122.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 zł 18.10

$3.83 zł 14.53

24.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 zł 16.13

$3.90 zł 14.80

8.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 zł 4.44

$1.09 zł 4.15

7.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 zł 6.08

$1.51 zł 5.73

5.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 zł 7.18

$1.24 zł 4.70

52.42%

Eggs

$4.08 zł 15.48

$3.32 zł 12.60

22.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.54 zł 36.20

$7.31 zł 27.75

30.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.23 zł 31.25

$6.81 zł 25.86

20.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 zł 51.7

$9.57 zł 36.31

42.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 zł 5.38

$0.95 zł 3.59

49.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 zł 6.99

$1.64 zł 6.21

12.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 zł 6.76

$1.37 zł 5.20

29.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.17 zł 12.04

$2.48 zł 9.41

27.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 zł 3.60

$0.68 zł 2.59

39.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 zł 4.13

$0.81 zł 3.09

34.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 zł 5.23

$1.04 zł 3.93

32.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 zł 3.22

$0.72 zł 2.74

18.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.69 zł 25.39

$5.45 zł 20.70

22.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.59 zł 25.01

$6.75 zł 25.61

-2.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 zł 4.61

$1.24 zł 4.71

-1.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 zł 6.40

$1.57 zł 5.96

7.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.57 zł 5.96

$1.04 zł 3.95

50.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.26 zł 134

$32.05 zł 122

10.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 zł 9.25

$1.81 zł 6.89

34.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 zł 3.90

$1.04 zł 3.95

-0.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.80 zł 48.59

$11.19 zł 42.47

14.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 zł 6.28

$1.56 zł 5.92

5.77%

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

$31.5K zł 119.5K

$32.0K zł 121.4K

-1.58%

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

$29.4K zł 111.8K

$28.2K zł 106.9K

4.59%

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

$342 zł 1,297

$244 zł 928

39.78%

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

$8.91 zł 33.83

$8.48 zł 32.19

5.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.04 zł 72.3

$15.74 zł 59.8

20.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.81 zł 174

$39.34 zł 149

16.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.07 zł 99.0

$19.79 zł 75.1

31.73%

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 zł 34.40

$7.85 zł 29.81

15.41%

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

$479 zł 1,820

$274 zł 1,040

75.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K zł 38.7K

$8,415 zł 31.9K

21.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$100.0 zł 379

$75.7 zł 287

32.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.28 zł 157

$37.03 zł 141

11.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.4 zł 358

$81.3 zł 308

16.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 zł 470

$108 zł 408

15.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 zł 3,642

$727 zł 2,760

31.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 zł 2,937

$567 zł 2,153

36.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 zł 5,791

$1,009 zł 3,828

51.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,162 zł 4,409

$836 zł 3,172

38.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,810 zł 22.1K

$3,225 zł 12.2K

80.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,694 zł 14.0K

$2,499 zł 9,485

47.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,942 zł 7,371

$1,414 zł 5,366

37.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.42

3.43%

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

Last update for Krakow: September 14, 2026

Last update for Kielce: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $959 in Krakow and $727 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: $54.0 in Krakow vs $41.00 in Kielce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $201 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 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 37% higher in Krakow, 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: $959 in Krakow versus $727 in Kielce. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,913 per month in Krakow versus $1,494 in Kielce – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kielce runs roughly 10% less than in Krakow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,494 in Kielce versus $1,913 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 28% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.