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: $1,594 in Lublin versus $1,773 in Krakow.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,183 in Lublin versus $2,539 in Krakow.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,772 in Lublin versus $3,305 in Krakow.

Living in Lublin costs roughly 10% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lublin 19% above, Krakow 33% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.32 zł 35.37
$10.91 zł 41.39
-14.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.50 zł 154
$53.7 zł 204
-24.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.15 zł 30.92
$9.55 zł 36.22
-14.66%
Cappuccino
$3.15 zł 11.95
$3.98 zł 15.09
-20.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 zł 8.15
$2.21 zł 8.40
-2.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 zł 6.24
$2.26 zł 8.59
-27.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 zł 11.52
$4.16 zł 15.79
-26.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 zł 13.59
$4.04 zł 15.34
-11.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 zł 3.98
$1.16 zł 4.39
-9.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 zł 4.72
$1.45 zł 5.51
-14.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 zł 6.03
$1.46 zł 5.54
8.90%
Eggs
$3.35 zł 12.71
$3.61 zł 13.68
-7.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 zł 28.63
$8.98 zł 34.07
-16.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.28 zł 23.82
$6.51 zł 24.68
-3.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 zł 36.38
$11.52 zł 43.69
-16.75%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 zł 4.32
$1.25 zł 4.75
-8.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 zł 5.89
$1.74 zł 6.61
-10.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 zł 5.94
$1.80 zł 6.83
-12.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 zł 9.62
$3.03 zł 11.50
-16.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 zł 3.71
$1.02 zł 3.86
-3.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 zł 4.72
$1.06 zł 4.01
16.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 zł 4.95
$1.30 zł 4.94
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 zł 2.50
$0.71 zł 2.68
-7.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.20 zł 19.72
$5.59 zł 21.19
-6.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.02 zł 26.64
$6.44 zł 24.45
9.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 zł 3.99
$1.23 zł 4.67
-14.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 zł 6.70
$1.70 zł 6.44
3.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 zł 3.59
$1.11 zł 4.23
-14.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.41 zł 123
$39.41 zł 150
-17.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 zł 8.11
$2.51 zł 9.53
-14.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 zł 2.97
$0.99 zł 3.74
-21.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.42 zł 39.52
$13.03 zł 49.43
-20.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 zł 6.50
$1.69 zł 6.42
1.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K zł 129.5K
$33.1K zł 125.7K
3.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K zł 118.0K
$32.5K zł 123.2K
-4.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$291 zł 1,105
$278 zł 1,056
4.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.61 zł 28.87
$9.20 zł 34.89
-17.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.36 zł 62.1
$16.58 zł 62.9
-1.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.64 zł 128
$38.22 zł 145
-11.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.93 zł 64.3
$22.23 zł 84.3
-23.84%
Cinema Ticket
$8.50 zł 32.26
$8.05 zł 30.54
5.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 zł 1,899
$437 zł 1,657
14.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,789 zł 18.2K
$12.9K zł 48.9K
-62.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.4 zł 343
$76.7 zł 291
17.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.53 zł 169
$45.54 zł 173
-2.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 zł 382
$101 zł 384
-0.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 zł 476
$113 zł 428
11.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 zł 3,078
$904 zł 3,430
-10.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$632 zł 2,399
$757 zł 2,873
-16.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 zł 3,707
$1,601 zł 6,073
-38.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$897 zł 3,404
$1,154 zł 4,379
-22.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,694 zł 14.0K
$5,725 zł 21.7K
-35.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,395 zł 9,088
$3,721 zł 14.1K
-35.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,522 zł 5,774
$1,883 zł 7,146
-19.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.28
7.77
-19.18%

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

Last update for Lublin: July 11, 2026

Last update for Krakow: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $811 in Lublin and $904 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 $201 vs $221 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 11% 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: $811 in Lublin versus $904 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 $1,594 in Lublin versus $1,773 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 $1,594 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 11% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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