😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,943 in Krakow versus $1,283 in Ostrow Wielkopolski.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,761 in Krakow versus $1,775 in Ostrow Wielkopolski.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Krakow versus $2,266 in Ostrow Wielkopolski.
🌍Living in Krakow is roughly 51% more expensive than in Ostrow Wielkopolski, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Krakow is 41% above, Ostrow Wielkopolski is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.82zł 47.60
$10.96zł 40.73
16.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2zł 201
$38.27zł 142
41.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.65zł 35.83
$9.60zł 35.64
0.52%
Cappuccino
$4.51zł 16.73
$3.75zł 13.92
20.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60zł 9.66
$2.96zł 11.00
-12.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52zł 9.35
$2.76zł 10.24
-8.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.90zł 18.20
$3.84zł 14.27
27.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26zł 15.80
$4.72zł 17.51
-9.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17zł 4.35
$0.97zł 3.60
20.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61zł 5.99
$1.26zł 4.67
27.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82zł 6.76
$1.57zł 5.82
15.92%
Eggs
$4.10zł 15.23
$3.48zł 12.93
17.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58zł 35.57
$8.58zł 31.87
11.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.04zł 29.87
$5.80zł 21.53
38.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.67zł 50.8
$14.03zł 52.1
-2.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40zł 5.21
$1.12zł 4.17
25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79zł 6.63
$1.52zł 5.63
17.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79zł 6.64
$1.48zł 5.50
20.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25zł 12.06
$2.68zł 9.95
21.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95zł 3.54
$1.03zł 3.82
-7.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04zł 3.86
$0.88zł 3.28
18.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33zł 4.94
$1.36zł 5.06
-2.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84zł 3.11
$0.66zł 2.47
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.48zł 24.05
$6.13zł 22.78
5.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.56zł 24.38
$6.74zł 25.05
-2.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27zł 4.72
$1.10zł 4.10
15.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71zł 6.34
$1.74zł 6.45
-1.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58zł 5.88
$1.01zł 3.76
56.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.11zł 130
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.38zł 8.83
$1.94zł 7.19
22.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10zł 4.08
$0.66zł 2.44
66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.44zł 46.19
$10.92zł 40.56
13.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63zł 6.07
$1.65zł 6.12
-1.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7Kzł 121.5K
$32.1Kzł 119.1K
1.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8Kzł 110.6K
$27.4Kzł 101.9K
8.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$335zł 1,244
$292zł 1,085
14.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40zł 34.93
$8.25zł 30.63
13.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.31zł 71.7
$17.91zł 66.5
7.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.25zł 176
$43.46zł 161
8.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.50zł 98.4
$13.40zł 49.77
97.76%
Cinema Ticket
$8.95zł 33.25
$5.49zł 20.40
63.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$476zł 1,769
$593zł 2,203
-19.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3Kzł 38.4K
$12.8Kzł 47.4K
-19.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101zł 377
$71.9zł 267
41.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.76zł 155
$33.21zł 123
25.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.6zł 344
$92.9zł 345
-0.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127zł 473
$96.7zł 359
31.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$981zł 3,643
$422zł 1,566
132.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789zł 2,931
$323zł 1,200
144.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,505zł 5,591
$539zł 2,001
179.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,165zł 4,328
$405zł 1,504
187.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,819zł 21.6K
$1,750zł 6,498
232.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,745zł 13.9K
$1,619zł 6,014
131.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,944zł 7,221
$1,610zł 5,981
20.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.64
7.19
-7.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Krakow: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ostrow Wielkopolski: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $981 in Krakow and $422 in Ostrow Wielkopolski. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Krakow pays 21% 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 $38.00 in Ostrow Wielkopolski for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $214 per month, with Ostrow Wielkopolski 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 Ostrow Wielkopolski: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Krakow or Ostrow Wielkopolski?
Ostrow Wielkopolski wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ostrow Wielkopolski the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Krakow or in Ostrow Wielkopolski?
Average pay runs 21% 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 Ostrow Wielkopolski?
Rent for a central apartment: $981 in Krakow versus $422 in Ostrow Wielkopolski. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Krakow and in Ostrow Wielkopolski?
Childcare runs $476 in Krakow versus $593 in Ostrow Wielkopolski. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Krakow and in Ostrow Wielkopolski?
Dining out is cheaper in Ostrow Wielkopolski – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $54.0 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 in Ostrow Wielkopolski?
At $1,283 in Ostrow Wielkopolski versus $1,943 in Krakow, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ostrow Wielkopolski but tight or insufficient in Krakow. The gap between the two cities makes Ostrow Wielkopolski the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Krakow or Ostrow Wielkopolski?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ostrow Wielkopolski delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,283 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ostrow Wielkopolski hard to pass up.
How safe is Krakow compared to Ostrow Wielkopolski?
Safety-wise, Krakow and Ostrow Wielkopolski 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 Ostrow Wielkopolski gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.