Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and LublinCost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Lublin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,738 in Krakow versus $1,594 in Lublin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,487 in Krakow versus $2,210 in Lublin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,236 in Krakow versus $2,827 in Lublin.
😐Living in Krakow is roughly 9% more expensive than Lublin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Krakow30% above, Lublin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.66zł 38.94
$9.29zł 33.95
14.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2zł 202
$40.05zł 146
37.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.30zł 33.98
$8.34zł 30.48
11.51%
Cappuccino
$4.03zł 14.74
$3.18zł 11.62
26.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22zł 8.09
$2.16zł 7.90
2.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22zł 8.12
$1.65zł 6.02
34.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.03zł 14.72
$3.01zł 11.01
33.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16zł 15.18
$3.63zł 13.26
14.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10zł 4.01
$1.01zł 3.69
8.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45zł 5.28
$1.23zł 4.49
17.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47zł 5.38
$1.58zł 5.78
-6.96%
Eggs
$3.75zł 13.69
$3.30zł 12.04
13.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05zł 33.06
$7.56zł 27.60
19.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.37zł 23.28
$6.33zł 23.14
0.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.55zł 42.20
$9.65zł 35.25
19.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25zł 4.55
$1.14zł 4.18
9.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81zł 6.63
$1.60zł 5.85
13.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80zł 6.56
$1.62zł 5.91
11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.13zł 11.44
$2.54zł 9.26
23.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05zł 3.83
$0.97zł 3.55
8.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01zł 3.70
$1.24zł 4.55
-18.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36zł 4.96
$1.30zł 4.77
4.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66zł 2.42
$0.64zł 2.35
3.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48zł 20.03
$5.21zł 19.03
5.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.84zł 24.97
$7.25zł 26.48
-5.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23zł 4.50
$1.07zł 3.91
14.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76zł 6.44
$1.85zł 6.77
-4.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10zł 4.03
$1.01zł 3.68
8.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.51zł 144
$32.96zł 120
19.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.51zł 9.16
$2.23zł 8.14
12.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02zł 3.71
$0.77zł 2.82
32.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.91zł 47.15
$10.43zł 38.09
23.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72zł 6.27
$1.79zł 6.54
-3.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0Kzł 120.5K
$34.3Kzł 125.5K
-3.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4Kzł 114.6K
$30.5Kzł 111.5K
2.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$270zł 987
$293zł 1,069
-7.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.39zł 34.29
$7.91zł 28.88
18.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.80zł 61.4
$16.23zł 59.3
3.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.23zł 143
$33.27zł 122
17.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.83zł 83.4
$16.57zł 60.5
37.78%
Cinema Ticket
$8.22zł 30.01
$8.93zł 32.63
-7.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$446zł 1,629
$510zł 1,862
-12.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3Kzł 48.6K
$4,831zł 17.6K
175.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.8zł 284
$90.3zł 330
-13.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83zł 164
$45.35zł 166
-1.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5zł 363
$101zł 368
-1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111zł 407
$128zł 468
-12.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$908zł 3,316
$803zł 2,932
13.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$768zł 2,805
$614zł 2,242
25.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,585zł 5,790
$1,009zł 3,687
57.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,189zł 4,342
$922zł 3,370
28.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,925zł 21.6K
$3,924zł 14.3K
50.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,808zł 13.9K
$2,453zł 8,961
55.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,961zł 7,163
$1,587zł 5,799
23.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.77
6.28
23.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Krakow: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lublin: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $908 in Krakow and $803 in Lublin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Krakow pays 24% 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 Lublin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $202 per month, with Lublin 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 Lublin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Krakow or Lublin?
Lublin wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lublin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Krakow or Lublin?
Krakow pays 24% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Krakow vs Lublin?
Rent for a central apartment: $908 in Krakow versus $803 in Lublin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Krakow or Lublin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Krakow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Krakow vs Lublin?
Dining out is cheaper in Lublin – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $55.0 in Krakow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Krakow or Lublin?
At $1,594 in Lublin versus $1,738 in Krakow, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lublin but tight or insufficient in Krakow. The gap between the two cities makes Lublin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Krakow or Lublin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lublin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,594 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lublin hard to pass up.
How safe is Krakow compared to Lublin?
Safety-wise, Krakow and Lublin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lublin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.