Cost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and SuwalkiCost of Living Comparison Between Krakow and Suwalki
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,738 in Krakow versus $1,501 in Suwalki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,487 in Krakow versus $2,044 in Suwalki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,236 in Krakow versus $2,588 in Suwalki.
😐Living in Krakow is roughly 16% more expensive than Suwalki, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Krakow30% above, Suwalki12% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.66zł 38.87
$5.53zł 20.17
92.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2zł 201
$21.92zł 79.9
151.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.30zł 33.92
$9.44zł 34.44
-1.48%
Cappuccino
$4.03zł 14.71
$3.49zł 12.74
15.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22zł 8.08
$0.99zł 3.60
124.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22zł 8.10
$1.86zł 6.78
19.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.03zł 14.70
$4.55zł 16.59
-11.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16zł 15.16
$4.69zł 17.09
-11.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10zł 4.01
$0.98zł 3.57
12.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45zł 5.27
$0.91zł 3.30
59.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47zł 5.37
$1.13zł 4.12
30.09%
Eggs
$3.75zł 13.67
$2.88zł 10.52
30.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05zł 33.00
$8.13zł 29.64
11.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.37zł 23.23
$5.51zł 20.09
15.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.55zł 42.12
$6.77zł 24.69
70.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25zł 4.55
$0.85zł 3.10
47.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81zł 6.62
$1.86zł 6.79
-2.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80zł 6.55
$2.02zł 7.38
-10.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.13zł 11.42
$3.67zł 13.38
-14.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05zł 3.82
$0.52zł 1.91
101.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01zł 3.69
$1.19zł 4.36
-15.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36zł 4.95
$1.23zł 4.50
10.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66zł 2.42
$0.41zł 1.50
60.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48zł 19.99
$5.54zł 20.21
-1.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.84zł 24.93
$8.37zł 30.52
-18.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23zł 4.50
$1.43zł 5.20
-13.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76zł 6.43
$1.85zł 6.73
-4.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10zł 4.02
$1.07zł 3.91
2.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.51zł 144
$33.07zł 121
19.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.51zł 9.14
$2.67zł 9.72
-5.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02zł 3.70
$0.99zł 3.60
3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.91zł 47.07
$13.49zł 49.18
-4.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72zł 6.26
$1.72zł 6.27
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0Kzł 120.3K
$32.9Kzł 119.8K
0.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4Kzł 114.4K
$32.7Kzł 119.3K
-4.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$270zł 985
$358zł 1,306
-24.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.39zł 34.23
$10.25zł 37.37
-8.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.80zł 61.3
$17.29zł 63.0
-2.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.23zł 143
$36.30zł 132
8.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.83zł 83.2
$19.48zł 71.0
17.20%
Cinema Ticket
$8.22zł 29.96
$9.48zł 34.55
-13.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$446zł 1,626
$585zł 2,133
-23.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3Kzł 48.5K
$15.6Kzł 56.8K
-14.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.8zł 284
$98.4zł 359
-21.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83zł 163
$47.40zł 173
-5.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5zł 363
$94.4zł 344
5.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111zł 407
$111zł 403
0.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$908zł 3,310
$636zł 2,318
42.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$768zł 2,799
$490zł 1,788
56.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,585zł 5,780
$980zł 3,574
61.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,189zł 4,335
$813zł 2,965
46.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,925zł 21.6K
$3,433zł 12.5K
72.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,808zł 13.9K
$2,584zł 9,422
47.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krakow
Suwalki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,961zł 7,151
$1,600zł 5,833
22.59%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Suwalki: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $908 in Krakow and $636 in Suwalki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Krakow pays 23% 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: $55.0 in Krakow vs $22.00 in Suwalki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 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 16% 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 Suwalki?
Krakow pays 23% more on average, 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 vs Suwalki?
Rent for a central apartment: $908 in Krakow versus $636 in Suwalki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Krakow or Suwalki?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Krakow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Krakow vs Suwalki?
Dining out is cheaper in Suwalki – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $55.0 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 Suwalki?
At $1,501 in Suwalki versus $1,738 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 $1,501 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 16% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.