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: $1,773 in Krakow versus $1,314 in Kielce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,539 in Krakow versus $1,874 in Kielce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,305 in Krakow versus $2,433 in Kielce.

Living in Krakow is roughly 35% more expensive than in Kielce, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Krakow is 33% above, Kielce is 2% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 zł 41.39

$10.96 zł 41.58

-0.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 zł 204

$41.47 zł 157

29.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 zł 36.22

$6.74 zł 25.57

41.69%

Cappuccino

$3.98 zł 15.09

$2.96 zł 11.21

34.46%

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

$2.21 zł 8.40

$2.13 zł 8.10

3.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 zł 8.59

$0.84 zł 3.19

169.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.16 zł 15.79

$3.18 zł 12.07

30.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 zł 15.34

$4.15 zł 15.75

-2.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 zł 4.39

$0.97 zł 3.68

19.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 zł 5.51

$1.44 zł 5.47

0.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 zł 5.54

$1.19 zł 4.50

22.69%

Eggs

$3.61 zł 13.68

$3.44 zł 13.05

4.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.98 zł 34.07

$8.85 zł 33.57

1.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 zł 24.68

$6.71 zł 25.47

-2.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.52 zł 43.69

$12.45 zł 47.24

-7.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 zł 4.75

$0.97 zł 3.69

28.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 zł 6.61

$1.52 zł 5.78

14.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 zł 6.83

$1.60 zł 6.06

12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 zł 11.50

$2.78 zł 10.54

8.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 zł 3.86

$0.59 zł 2.25

72.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 zł 4.01

$0.59 zł 2.23

79.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 zł 4.94

$1.71 zł 6.50

-23.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 zł 2.68

$0.47 zł 1.78

51.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 zł 21.19

$5.10 zł 19.36

9.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 zł 24.45

$6.39 zł 24.23

0.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 zł 4.67

$1.29 zł 4.90

-4.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 zł 6.44

$1.51 zł 5.73

12.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 zł 4.23

$1.07 zł 4.06

3.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.41 zł 150

$32.85 zł 125

19.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 zł 9.53

$2.47 zł 9.37

1.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 zł 3.74

$0.72 zł 2.73

37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.03 zł 49.43

$14.94 zł 56.7

-12.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 zł 6.42

$1.70 zł 6.43

-0.59%

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

$33.1K zł 125.7K

$33.8K zł 128.4K

-2.11%

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

$32.5K zł 123.2K

$30.0K zł 113.9K

8.14%

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

$278 zł 1,056

$208 zł 788

33.99%

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

$9.20 zł 34.89

$8.10 zł 30.75

13.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.58 zł 62.9

$11.90 zł 45.15

39.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.22 zł 145

$31.05 zł 118

23.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.23 zł 84.3

$20.52 zł 77.9

8.33%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 zł 30.54

$8.08 zł 30.66

-0.37%

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

$437 zł 1,657

$285 zł 1,082

53.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K zł 48.9K

$5,925 zł 22.5K

117.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.7 zł 291

$76.1 zł 289

0.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.54 zł 173

$48.65 zł 185

-6.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 zł 384

$80.0 zł 304

26.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 zł 428

$111 zł 421

1.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$904 zł 3,430

$548 zł 2,081

64.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 zł 2,873

$459 zł 1,742

64.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,601 zł 6,073

$776 zł 2,945

106.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,154 zł 4,379

$586 zł 2,223

96.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,725 zł 21.7K

$3,186 zł 12.1K

79.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,721 zł 14.1K

$2,524 zł 9,578

47.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,883 zł 7,146

$1,361 zł 5,164

38.37%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kielce: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $904 in Krakow and $548 in Kielce. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krakow pays 38% 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 $221 vs $212 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 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 38% 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: $904 in Krakow versus $548 in Kielce. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,773 per month in Krakow versus $1,314 in Kielce – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kielce runs roughly 20% less than in Krakow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,314 in Kielce versus $1,773 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 35% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.