Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Ostroda

For one person, living is cheaper in Ostroda: $1,423 a month against $1,806 in Krakow, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Krakow, Poland
Ostroda, Poland
Krakow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,806
/mo nomad
Ostroda
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,423
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Krakow and in Ostroda

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Krakow and in Ostroda actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,806 in Krakow versus $1,423 in Ostroda.

  • Krakow $1,806
  • Ostroda $1,423

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,604 in Krakow versus $2,055 in Ostroda.

  • Krakow $2,604
  • Ostroda $2,055

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,403 in Krakow versus $2,687 in Ostroda.

  • Krakow $3,403
  • Ostroda $2,687

Living in Krakow is roughly 27% more expensive than in Ostroda, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Krakow 33% above, Ostroda 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Ostroda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.05 zł 47.69
$10.04 zł 39.72
20.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.8 zł 201
$35.13 zł 139
44.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.37 zł 37.09
$7.64 zł 30.25
22.64%
Cappuccino
$4.08 zł 16.15
$3.04 zł 12.01
34.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 zł 9.69
$2.06 zł 8.14
18.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 zł 9.22
$1.55 zł 6.14
50.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.45 zł 17.63
$3.44 zł 13.63
29.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 zł 18.31
$3.45 zł 13.64
34.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Ostroda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 zł 4.39
$0.93 zł 3.68
19.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 zł 5.73
$1.24 zł 4.90
16.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 zł 6.90
$1.26 zł 4.97
38.10%
Eggs
$3.82 zł 15.12
$3.02 zł 11.97
26.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.24 zł 36.58
$7.50 zł 29.68
23.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.79 zł 30.83
$6.51 zł 25.78
19.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.17 zł 52.1
$11.56 zł 45.75
13.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 zł 5.05
$0.73 zł 2.91
75.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 zł 6.90
$1.03 zł 4.09
68.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 zł 7.01
$1.24 zł 4.91
42.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.10 zł 12.26
$1.25 zł 4.96
148.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 zł 3.48
$0.73 zł 2.88
20.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 zł 3.84
$0.78 zł 3.08
24.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 zł 4.95
$1.24 zł 4.92
0.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 zł 3.08
$0.49 zł 1.95
59.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.28 zł 24.84
$4.77 zł 18.89
31.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.47 zł 25.61
$6.38 zł 25.25
1.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 zł 4.66
$1.03 zł 4.08
14.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 zł 6.53
$1.56 zł 6.19
5.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Ostroda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 zł 5.87
$0.98 zł 3.88
51.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.13 zł 135
$26.36 zł 104
29.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.25 zł 8.92
$2.26 zł 8.93
-0.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 zł 4.13
$1.01 zł 3.98
2.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.35 zł 48.87
$12.67 zł 50.1
-2.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 zł 6.58
$1.57 zł 6.22
5.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K zł 117.8K
$30.8K zł 121.8K
-3.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K zł 115.5K
$28.8K zł 114.0K
1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Ostroda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$332 zł 1,314
$299 zł 1,182
11.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.48 zł 33.54
$10.06 zł 39.80
-15.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.59 zł 69.6
$18.82 zł 74.5
-6.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Ostroda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 zł 177
$38.22 zł 151
17.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.52 zł 97.1
$22.14 zł 87.6
10.75%
Cinema Ticket
$8.67 zł 34.31
$8.58 zł 33.95
1.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Ostroda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 zł 1,779
$372 zł 1,471
20.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,675 zł 38.3K
$5,631 zł 22.3K
71.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Ostroda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.0 zł 376
$92.7 zł 367
2.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 zł 158
$40.53 zł 160
-1.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.4 zł 354
$102 zł 405
-12.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 zł 478
$104 zł 410
16.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Ostroda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$909 zł 3,595
$543 zł 2,149
67.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 zł 2,864
$487 zł 1,925
48.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,490 zł 5,897
$1,109 zł 4,390
34.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 zł 4,721
$836 zł 3,309
42.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,323 zł 21.1K
$2,683 zł 10.6K
98.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,604 zł 14.3K
$2,425 zł 9,595
48.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Ostroda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,867 zł 7,388
$1,286 zł 5,090
45.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.6
0.30%

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

Last update for Krakow: October 24, 2026

Last update for Ostroda: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Krakow
$724
Ostroda
$487 32.8% $237
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
$358
Ostroda
$328 8.5% $31
Groceries & Markets
Krakow
$235
Ostroda
$185 21% $49
Eating Out
Krakow
$224
Ostroda
$178 20.5% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
$155
Ostroda
$153 1.8% $2.8
Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
$62
Ostroda
$55 10.8% $6.7
Getting Around
Krakow
$48
Ostroda
$38 21% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $909 in Krakow and $543 in Ostroda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krakow pays 45% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $51 in Krakow vs $35 in Ostroda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $185 per month, with Ostroda cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Krakow
🇵🇱 Ostroda
🕒 Local time
19:48 7:48 PM
19:48 7:48 PM
Same time as Krakow
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
806,201
32,547
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3.96 PLN (1 PLN = 0.253 USD). 1 EUR = 4.41 PLN (1 PLN = 0.227 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Krakow Ostroda 400 km
From you
  • Krakow
  • Ostroda

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ostroda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Krakow or Ostroda?
Ostroda wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ostroda the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Krakow or in Ostroda?
Average pay runs 45% higher in Krakow, 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 compared to Ostroda?
Rent for a central apartment: $909 in Krakow versus $543 in Ostroda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Krakow or in Ostroda?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Krakow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Krakow and in Ostroda?
Dining out is cheaper in Ostroda – a meal for two runs $35 versus $51 in Krakow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Krakow or Ostroda?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Krakow compared to Ostroda?
Safety-wise, Krakow and Ostroda 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 Ostroda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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