Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Ostrow Wielkopolski

For one person, living is cheaper in Ostrow Wielkopolski: $1,207 a month against $1,846 in Krakow, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Krakow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,846
/mo nomad
Ostrow Wielkopolski
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Krakow and in Ostrow Wielkopolski

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 Ostrow Wielkopolski actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,846 in Krakow versus $1,207 in Ostrow Wielkopolski.

  • Krakow $1,846
  • Ostrow Wielkopolski $1,207

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,616 in Krakow versus $1,682 in Ostrow Wielkopolski.

  • Krakow $2,616
  • Ostrow Wielkopolski $1,682

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,387 in Krakow versus $2,157 in Ostrow Wielkopolski.

  • Krakow $3,387
  • Ostrow Wielkopolski $2,157

Living in Krakow is roughly 53% more expensive than in Ostrow Wielkopolski, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

The two cities straddle the global median: Krakow is 36% above, Ostrow Wielkopolski is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.23 zł 47.52
$10.11 zł 39.29
20.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.0 zł 198
$35.26 zł 137
44.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.60 zł 37.30
$8.94 zł 34.75
7.38%
Cappuccino
$4.11 zł 15.98
$3.52 zł 13.68
16.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 zł 9.91
$2.64 zł 10.27
-3.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 zł 9.43
$2.56 zł 9.95
-5.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.68 zł 18.20
$3.61 zł 14.02
29.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 zł 18.22
$4.74 zł 18.43
-1.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 zł 4.12
$0.91 zł 3.52
16.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 zł 5.70
$1.22 zł 4.74
20.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 zł 6.61
$1.45 zł 5.62
17.24%
Eggs
$3.82 zł 14.84
$3.40 zł 13.20
12.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.50 zł 36.90
$8.10 zł 31.46
17.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.98 zł 30.99
$5.36 zł 20.84
48.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 zł 52.6
$13.49 zł 52.4
0.30%
Apples (1kg)
$1.32 zł 5.13
$1.05 zł 4.08
25.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 zł 6.76
$1.44 zł 5.61
20.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 zł 6.75
$1.48 zł 5.76
17.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 zł 12.32
$2.65 zł 10.29
19.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 zł 3.63
$0.98 zł 3.79
-4.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 zł 3.84
$0.90 zł 3.49
10.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 zł 4.93
$1.30 zł 5.03
-2.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 zł 3.15
$0.60 zł 2.32
35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.49 zł 25.23
$5.62 zł 21.84
15.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.26 zł 24.33
$6.45 zł 25.07
-2.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 zł 4.60
$1.02 zł 3.95
15.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 zł 6.77
$1.65 zł 6.41
5.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 zł 5.89
$0.90 zł 3.52
68.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.87 zł 132
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 zł 9.12
$1.82 zł 7.06
29.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 zł 4.04
$0.61 zł 2.37
70.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.50 zł 48.57
$10.08 zł 39.16
24.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 zł 6.85
$1.68 zł 6.53
4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K zł 118.8K
$30.7K zł 119.1K
-0.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K zł 113.1K
$27.6K zł 107.3K
5.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$333 zł 1,294
$278 zł 1,079
19.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.93 zł 34.69
$7.95 zł 30.89
12.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.43 zł 67.7
$17.55 zł 68.2
-0.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.29 zł 176
$42.79 zł 166
5.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.55 zł 95.4
$12.90 zł 50.1
90.31%
Cinema Ticket
$8.53 zł 33.13
$5.06 zł 19.65
68.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$458 zł 1,780
$565 zł 2,197
-18.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,863 zł 38.3K
$12.1K zł 47.0K
-18.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.9 zł 376
$69.1 zł 268
40.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.40 zł 157
$31.32 zł 122
28.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 zł 356
$90.8 zł 353
0.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 zł 472
$92.8 zł 360
31.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$940 zł 3,653
$405 zł 1,574
132.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$753 zł 2,925
$313 zł 1,216
140.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,443 zł 5,607
$518 zł 2,012
178.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 zł 4,477
$378 zł 1,468
204.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,535 zł 21.5K
$1,701 zł 6,608
225.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,525 zł 13.7K
$1,541 zł 5,988
128.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Ostrow Wielkopolski
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,883 zł 7,314
$1,514 zł 5,882
24.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
7.19
-7.93%

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

Last update for Krakow: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ostrow Wielkopolski: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Krakow
$753
Ostrow Wielkopolski
$313 58.4% $440
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
$359
Ostrow Wielkopolski
$303 15.6% $56
Groceries & Markets
Krakow
$238
Ostrow Wielkopolski
$204 14.3% $34
Eating Out
Krakow
$229
Ostrow Wielkopolski
$198 13.3% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
$158
Ostrow Wielkopolski
$128 19% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
$62
Ostrow Wielkopolski
$53 15.1% $9.4
Getting Around
Krakow
$47
Ostrow Wielkopolski
$8.5 * 82.1% $39

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $940 in Krakow and $405 in Ostrow Wielkopolski. 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: $51.0 in Krakow vs $35.00 in Ostrow Wielkopolski for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $204 per month, with Ostrow Wielkopolski cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Krakow
🇵🇱 Ostrow Wielkopolski
🕒 Local time
02:52 2:52 AM
02:52 2:52 AM
Same time as Krakow
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
806,201
71,254
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Krakow Ostrow Wielkopolski 230 km
From you
  • Krakow
  • Ostrow Wielkopolski

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 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 53% 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 24% 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: $940 in Krakow versus $405 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 $458 in Krakow versus $565 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 $35.00 versus $51.0 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 $1,207 in Ostrow Wielkopolski versus $1,846 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 $1,207 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 53% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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