Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Suwalki Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Suwalki

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,773 in Krakow versus $1,484 in Suwalki.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,539 in Krakow versus $2,037 in Suwalki.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,305 in Krakow versus $2,591 in Suwalki.

Living in Krakow is roughly 20% more expensive than in Suwalki, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Krakow 33% above, Suwalki 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 zł 41.39
$5.57 zł 21.15
95.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7 zł 204
$21.60 zł 81.9
148.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.55 zł 36.22
$9.53 zł 36.16
0.21%
Cappuccino
$3.98 zł 15.09
$3.45 zł 13.08
15.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 zł 8.40
$0.93 zł 3.55
137.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 zł 8.59
$1.82 zł 6.91
24.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.16 zł 15.79
$4.38 zł 16.63
-5.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 zł 15.34
$4.55 zł 17.26
-11.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 zł 4.39
$1.01 zł 3.84
14.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 zł 5.51
$0.99 zł 3.75
46.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 zł 5.54
$1.18 zł 4.50
23.73%
Eggs
$3.61 zł 13.68
$2.96 zł 11.23
21.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.98 zł 34.07
$8.23 zł 31.24
9.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.51 zł 24.68
$5.35 zł 20.31
21.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.52 zł 43.69
$6.91 zł 26.22
66.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 zł 4.75
$0.83 zł 3.14
50.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 zł 6.61
$1.80 zł 6.84
-3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 zł 6.83
$2.01 zł 7.64
-10.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 zł 11.50
$3.63 zł 13.78
-16.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 zł 3.86
$0.52 zł 1.97
96.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 zł 4.01
$1.18 zł 4.47
-10.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 zł 4.94
$1.24 zł 4.71
4.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 zł 2.68
$0.38 zł 1.45
86.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 zł 21.19
$5.54 zł 21.00
0.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.44 zł 24.45
$7.85 zł 29.79
-17.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 zł 4.67
$1.38 zł 5.25
-10.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 zł 6.44
$1.96 zł 7.42
-13.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 zł 4.23
$1.11 zł 4.19
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.41 zł 150
$31.79 zł 121
23.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.51 zł 9.53
$2.73 zł 10.36
-8.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 zł 3.74
$1.02 zł 3.88
-2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.03 zł 49.43
$13.80 zł 52.4
-5.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 zł 6.42
$1.70 zł 6.46
-0.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K zł 125.7K
$32.6K zł 123.7K
1.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K zł 123.2K
$33.3K zł 126.5K
-2.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$278 zł 1,056
$362 zł 1,373
-23.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.20 zł 34.89
$10.20 zł 38.70
-9.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.58 zł 62.9
$17.52 zł 66.5
-5.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.22 zł 145
$36.74 zł 139
4.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.23 zł 84.3
$19.26 zł 73.1
15.42%
Cinema Ticket
$8.05 zł 30.54
$9.45 zł 35.87
-14.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 zł 1,657
$591 zł 2,243
-26.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K zł 48.9K
$15.8K zł 59.8K
-18.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.7 zł 291
$100 zł 381
-23.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.54 zł 173
$46.46 zł 176
-1.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 zł 384
$95.2 zł 361
6.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 zł 428
$108 zł 411
4.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$904 zł 3,430
$642 zł 2,436
40.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$757 zł 2,873
$490 zł 1,858
54.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,601 zł 6,073
$978 zł 3,711
63.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,154 zł 4,379
$812 zł 3,081
42.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,725 zł 21.7K
$2,979 zł 11.3K
92.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,721 zł 14.1K
$2,394 zł 9,084
55.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,883 zł 7,146
$1,511 zł 5,733
24.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.77
7.55
2.91%

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

Last update for Krakow: July 13, 2026

Last update for Suwalki: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $904 in Krakow and $642 in Suwalki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krakow pays 25% 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 $22.00 in Suwalki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $190 per month, with Suwalki 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 Suwalki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Krakow or Suwalki?
Suwalki wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Suwalki the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Krakow or in Suwalki?
Average pay runs 25% 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 Suwalki?
Rent for a central apartment: $904 in Krakow versus $642 in Suwalki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Krakow or in Suwalki?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% 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 Suwalki?
Dining out is cheaper in Suwalki – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $54.0 in Krakow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Krakow or in Suwalki?
At $1,484 in Suwalki versus $1,773 in Krakow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Suwalki but tight or insufficient in Krakow. The gap between the two cities makes Suwalki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Krakow or Suwalki?
Both work as nomad bases, but Suwalki delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,484 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Suwalki hard to pass up.
How safe is Krakow compared to Suwalki?
Safety-wise, Krakow and Suwalki 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 Suwalki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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