Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Lublin Cost 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: Krakow 30% above, Lublin 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.66 zł 38.94
$9.29 zł 33.95
14.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2 zł 202
$40.05 zł 146
37.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.30 zł 33.98
$8.34 zł 30.48
11.51%
Cappuccino
$4.03 zł 14.74
$3.18 zł 11.62
26.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 zł 8.09
$2.16 zł 7.90
2.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 zł 8.12
$1.65 zł 6.02
34.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.03 zł 14.72
$3.01 zł 11.01
33.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 zł 15.18
$3.63 zł 13.26
14.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 zł 4.01
$1.01 zł 3.69
8.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 zł 5.28
$1.23 zł 4.49
17.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 zł 5.38
$1.58 zł 5.78
-6.96%
Eggs
$3.75 zł 13.69
$3.30 zł 12.04
13.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 zł 33.06
$7.56 zł 27.60
19.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.37 zł 23.28
$6.33 zł 23.14
0.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 zł 42.20
$9.65 zł 35.25
19.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 zł 4.55
$1.14 zł 4.18
9.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 zł 6.63
$1.60 zł 5.85
13.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 zł 6.56
$1.62 zł 5.91
11.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.13 zł 11.44
$2.54 zł 9.26
23.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 zł 3.83
$0.97 zł 3.55
8.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 zł 3.70
$1.24 zł 4.55
-18.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 zł 4.96
$1.30 zł 4.77
4.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 zł 2.42
$0.64 zł 2.35
3.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 zł 20.03
$5.21 zł 19.03
5.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.84 zł 24.97
$7.25 zł 26.48
-5.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 zł 4.50
$1.07 zł 3.91
14.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 zł 6.44
$1.85 zł 6.77
-4.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 zł 4.03
$1.01 zł 3.68
8.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.51 zł 144
$32.96 zł 120
19.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.51 zł 9.16
$2.23 zł 8.14
12.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 zł 3.71
$0.77 zł 2.82
32.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.91 zł 47.15
$10.43 zł 38.09
23.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 zł 6.27
$1.79 zł 6.54
-3.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K zł 120.5K
$34.3K zł 125.5K
-3.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K zł 114.6K
$30.5K zł 111.5K
2.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 zł 987
$293 zł 1,069
-7.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.39 zł 34.29
$7.91 zł 28.88
18.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.80 zł 61.4
$16.23 zł 59.3
3.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.23 zł 143
$33.27 zł 122
17.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.83 zł 83.4
$16.57 zł 60.5
37.78%
Cinema Ticket
$8.22 zł 30.01
$8.93 zł 32.63
-7.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$446 zł 1,629
$510 zł 1,862
-12.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K zł 48.6K
$4,831 zł 17.6K
175.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.8 zł 284
$90.3 zł 330
-13.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83 zł 164
$45.35 zł 166
-1.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 zł 363
$101 zł 368
-1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 zł 407
$128 zł 468
-12.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 zł 3,316
$803 zł 2,932
13.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$768 zł 2,805
$614 zł 2,242
25.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,585 zł 5,790
$1,009 zł 3,687
57.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,189 zł 4,342
$922 zł 3,370
28.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,925 zł 21.6K
$3,924 zł 14.3K
50.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,808 zł 13.9K
$2,453 zł 8,961
55.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Lublin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,961 zł 7,163
$1,587 zł 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.

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