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: $1,913 in Krakow versus $1,570 in Suwalki.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,685 in Krakow versus $2,136 in Suwalki.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,458 in Krakow versus $2,701 in Suwalki.

Living in Krakow is roughly 22% more expensive than in Suwalki, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Krakow 40% above, Suwalki 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.05 zł 49.53
$5.38 zł 20.43
142.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7 zł 204
$21.13 zł 80.2
154.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.96 zł 37.83
$9.51 zł 36.11
4.73%
Cappuccino
$4.34 zł 16.46
$3.44 zł 13.06
26.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 zł 9.34
$0.90 zł 3.43
173.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 zł 9.86
$2.32 zł 8.80
12.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.77 zł 18.10
$4.65 zł 17.67
2.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 zł 16.13
$5.36 zł 20.36
-20.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 zł 4.44
$1.02 zł 3.87
14.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 zł 6.09
$0.97 zł 3.67
64.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 zł 7.18
$1.17 zł 4.43
61.54%
Eggs
$4.08 zł 15.48
$2.85 zł 10.82
43.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.54 zł 36.21
$7.99 zł 30.34
19.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.23 zł 31.26
$5.43 zł 20.60
51.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.63 zł 51.7
$6.57 zł 24.94
107.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 zł 5.38
$0.83 zł 3.14
71.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 zł 6.99
$1.81 zł 6.87
1.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 zł 6.76
$1.76 zł 6.67
1.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 zł 12.05
$4.02 zł 15.25
-21.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 zł 3.60
$0.52 zł 1.96
82.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 zł 4.13
$0.97 zł 3.69
12.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 zł 5.23
$1.21 zł 4.60
14.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 zł 3.22
$0.39 zł 1.47
117.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.69 zł 25.40
$6.45 zł 24.49
3.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.59 zł 25.01
$6.57 zł 24.94
0.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 zł 4.61
$1.12 zł 4.25
8.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 zł 6.40
$1.82 zł 6.90
-7.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 zł 5.96
$0.97 zł 3.67
61.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.26 zł 134
$29.24 zł 111
20.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 zł 9.26
$2.65 zł 10.05
-7.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 zł 3.91
$1.31 zł 4.99
-21.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.80 zł 48.60
$13.34 zł 50.7
-4.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 zł 6.28
$1.76 zł 6.68
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K zł 119.5K
$31.5K zł 119.7K
-0.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K zł 111.8K
$31.2K zł 118.3K
-5.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$342 zł 1,297
$373 zł 1,417
-8.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.91 zł 33.83
$8.92 zł 33.86
-0.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.04 zł 72.3
$17.77 zł 67.4
7.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.81 zł 174
$41.97 zł 159
9.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.07 zł 99.0
$22.09 zł 83.9
18.02%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 zł 34.41
$9.58 zł 36.37
-5.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$479 zł 1,820
$614 zł 2,333
-21.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K zł 38.7K
$15.5K zł 58.7K
-34.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100.0 zł 379
$112 zł 424
-10.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.28 zł 157
$42.51 zł 161
-2.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.4 zł 358
$111 zł 423
-15.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 zł 470
$126 zł 478
-1.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$959 zł 3,642
$626 zł 2,376
53.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 zł 2,937
$518 zł 1,968
49.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 zł 5,793
$1,030 zł 3,908
48.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,162 zł 4,410
$858 zł 3,258
35.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,810 zł 22.1K
$3,186 zł 12.1K
82.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,694 zł 14.0K
$2,652 zł 10.1K
39.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,942 zł 7,373
$1,545 zł 5,865
25.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
6.65
-0.15%

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

Last update for Krakow: September 14, 2026

Last update for Suwalki: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $959 in Krakow and $626 in Suwalki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krakow pays 26% 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 $21.00 in Suwalki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $184 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 22% 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 26% 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: $959 in Krakow versus $626 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 34% 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 $21.00 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 $1,570 in Suwalki versus $1,913 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 $1,570 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 22% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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