Cost of Living Comparison Between Lublin and Krakow Cost of Living Comparison Between Lublin and Krakow

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,568 in Lublin versus $1,943 in Krakow.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Lublin versus $2,761 in Krakow.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,794 in Lublin versus $3,580 in Krakow.

Living in Lublin costs roughly 19% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lublin 14% above, Krakow 41% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.41 zł 34.96
$12.82 zł 47.61
-26.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.92 zł 152
$54.2 zł 201
-24.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.00 zł 29.73
$9.65 zł 35.83
-17.10%
Cappuccino
$3.20 zł 11.89
$4.51 zł 16.74
-29.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 zł 7.54
$2.60 zł 9.66
-21.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 zł 6.03
$2.52 zł 9.35
-35.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 zł 10.54
$4.90 zł 18.20
-42.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 zł 12.13
$4.26 zł 15.81
-23.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 zł 3.83
$1.17 zł 4.35
-11.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 zł 5.13
$1.61 zł 5.99
-14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 zł 5.90
$1.82 zł 6.76
-12.64%
Eggs
$3.60 zł 13.39
$4.10 zł 15.23
-12.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.13 zł 33.91
$9.58 zł 35.58
-4.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.90 zł 25.63
$8.04 zł 29.88
-14.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 zł 44.46
$13.67 zł 50.8
-12.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 zł 4.44
$1.40 zł 5.21
-15.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 zł 6.69
$1.79 zł 6.63
0.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 zł 6.98
$1.79 zł 6.64
5.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.72 zł 10.12
$3.25 zł 12.07
-16.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 zł 3.63
$0.95 zł 3.54
3.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 zł 4.21
$1.04 zł 3.86
8.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 zł 5.34
$1.33 zł 4.94
8.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 zł 2.62
$0.84 zł 3.11
-15.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.80 zł 21.53
$6.48 zł 24.06
-10.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.96 zł 25.84
$6.56 zł 24.39
6.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 zł 4.11
$1.27 zł 4.72
-12.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 zł 6.63
$1.71 zł 6.35
4.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 zł 3.87
$1.58 zł 5.88
-34.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.24 zł 120
$35.11 zł 130
-8.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 zł 8.04
$2.38 zł 8.83
-9.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 zł 2.92
$1.10 zł 4.08
-28.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.61 zł 39.42
$12.44 zł 46.20
-14.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 zł 5.88
$1.63 zł 6.07
-3.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K zł 121.4K
$32.7K zł 121.5K
-0.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K zł 104.9K
$29.8K zł 110.6K
-5.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$316 zł 1,175
$335 zł 1,245
-5.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.30 zł 38.25
$9.40 zł 34.93
9.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.13 zł 71.1
$19.31 zł 71.8
-0.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.72 zł 122
$47.25 zł 176
-30.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.13 zł 89.7
$26.50 zł 98.4
-8.94%
Cinema Ticket
$8.50 zł 31.59
$8.95 zł 33.26
-5.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$533 zł 1,982
$476 zł 1,769
12.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,453 zł 20.3K
$10.3K zł 38.4K
-47.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 zł 318
$101 zł 377
-15.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.17 zł 160
$41.76 zł 155
3.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 zł 348
$92.6 zł 344
1.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 zł 401
$127 zł 473
-15.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$746 zł 2,772
$981 zł 3,644
-23.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$566 zł 2,104
$789 zł 2,932
-28.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$856 zł 3,179
$1,505 zł 5,592
-43.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$800 zł 2,973
$1,165 zł 4,328
-31.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,842 zł 14.3K
$5,819 zł 21.6K
-33.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,458 zł 9,132
$3,745 zł 13.9K
-34.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,562 zł 5,803
$1,944 zł 7,223
-19.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.02
6.64
5.72%

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

Last update for Lublin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Krakow: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $746 in Lublin and $981 in Krakow. 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: $41.00 in Lublin vs $54.0 in Krakow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $246 per month, with Lublin 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
Lublin vs Krakow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lublin or Krakow?
Lublin wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lublin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lublin or in Krakow?
On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Krakow. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lublin compared to Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $746 in Lublin versus $981 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lublin or in Krakow?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Krakow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lublin and in Krakow?
Dining out is cheaper in Lublin – a meal for two runs $41.00 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 Lublin or in Krakow?
At $1,568 in Lublin versus $1,943 in Krakow, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lublin but tight or insufficient in Krakow. The gap between the two cities makes Lublin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lublin or Krakow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lublin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,568 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lublin hard to pass up.
How safe is Lublin compared to Krakow?
Safety-wise, Lublin and Krakow 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 Lublin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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