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: $1,756 in Krakow versus $1,290 in Kielce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,509 in Krakow versus $1,865 in Kielce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,262 in Krakow versus $2,440 in Kielce.

Living in Krakow is roughly 36% more expensive than Kielce, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Krakow is 30% above, Kielce is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.01 zł 39.64

$11.07 zł 39.84

-0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 zł 193

$41.51 zł 149

29.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.64 zł 34.71

$6.65 zł 23.93

44.96%

Cappuccino

$3.93 zł 14.16

$3.05 zł 10.98

28.85%

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

$2.18 zł 7.84

$2.13 zł 7.68

2.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 zł 8.12

$0.83 zł 2.99

172.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.13 zł 14.88

$3.22 zł 11.58

28.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 zł 14.24

$4.13 zł 14.87

-4.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 zł 3.96

$0.96 zł 3.45

14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 zł 5.04

$1.44 zł 5.18

-2.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 zł 5.05

$1.19 zł 4.28

17.65%

Eggs

$3.69 zł 13.29

$3.32 zł 11.96

11.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 zł 33.48

$8.52 zł 30.66

9.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 zł 22.81

$6.75 zł 24.32

-6.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.60 zł 41.75

$12.88 zł 46.36

-9.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 zł 4.65

$0.93 zł 3.34

38.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 zł 6.34

$1.53 zł 5.52

15.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 zł 6.47

$1.61 zł 5.80

11.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 zł 11.14

$2.77 zł 9.96

11.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 zł 3.77

$0.56 zł 2.01

87.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 zł 3.70

$0.62 zł 2.23

66.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 zł 4.85

$1.65 zł 5.94

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 zł 2.49

$0.47 zł 1.70

46.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 zł 19.02

$5.24 zł 18.86

0.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.12 zł 25.63

$7.05 zł 25.39

0.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 zł 4.22

$1.23 zł 4.41

-4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 zł 6.17

$1.50 zł 5.41

14.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 zł 3.83

$1.11 zł 3.99

-4.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.89 zł 147

$32.08 zł 116

27.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 zł 8.95

$2.50 zł 9.01

-0.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 zł 3.67

$0.77 zł 2.77

32.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.00 zł 46.81

$14.88 zł 53.6

-12.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 zł 5.90

$1.66 zł 5.98

-1.20%

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

$32.8K zł 118.1K

$33.2K zł 119.7K

-1.33%

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

$31.4K zł 113.1K

$30.0K zł 108.0K

4.76%

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

$274 zł 986

$215 zł 772

27.73%

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

$9.26 zł 33.35

$8.08 zł 29.09

14.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.84 zł 60.6

$11.79 zł 42.45

42.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.36 zł 142

$32.02 zł 115

22.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.98 zł 82.7

$20.60 zł 74.2

11.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.99 zł 28.76

$8.17 zł 29.40

-2.20%

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

$446 zł 1,604

$281 zł 1,013

58.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K zł 46.8K

$6,044 zł 21.8K

115.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.9 zł 277

$76.7 zł 276

0.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.75 zł 165

$48.61 zł 175

-5.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.3 zł 358

$82.8 zł 298

19.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 zł 406

$112 zł 403

0.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 zł 3,259

$559 zł 2,011

62.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$746 zł 2,686

$453 zł 1,630

64.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,566 zł 5,638

$784 zł 2,824

99.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 zł 4,199

$599 zł 2,157

94.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,885 zł 21.2K

$3,303 zł 11.9K

78.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,940 zł 14.2K

$2,648 zł 9,533

48.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,998 zł 7,192

$1,466 zł 5,276

36.30%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kielce: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $905 in Krakow and $559 in Kielce. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krakow pays 36% 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 in Krakow vs $42 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 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Krakow pays 36% 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: $905 in Krakow versus $559 in Kielce. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,756 per month in Krakow versus $1,290 in Kielce – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kielce runs roughly 27% less than in Krakow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,290 in Kielce versus $1,756 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 36% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.