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 $1,738 in Krakow.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,210 in Lublin versus $2,487 in Krakow.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,827 in Lublin versus $3,236 in Krakow.

Living in Lublin costs roughly 8% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lublin 19% above, Krakow 30% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.29 zł 33.95
$10.66 zł 38.94
-12.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.05 zł 146
$55.2 zł 202
-27.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.34 zł 30.48
$9.30 zł 33.98
-10.32%
Cappuccino
$3.18 zł 11.62
$4.03 zł 14.74
-21.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 zł 7.90
$2.22 zł 8.09
-2.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 zł 6.02
$2.22 zł 8.12
-25.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.01 zł 11.01
$4.03 zł 14.72
-25.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 zł 13.26
$4.16 zł 15.18
-12.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 zł 3.69
$1.10 zł 4.01
-8.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 zł 4.49
$1.45 zł 5.28
-15.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 zł 5.78
$1.47 zł 5.38
7.48%
Eggs
$3.30 zł 12.04
$3.75 zł 13.69
-12.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.56 zł 27.60
$9.05 zł 33.06
-16.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.33 zł 23.14
$6.37 zł 23.28
-0.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.65 zł 35.25
$11.55 zł 42.20
-16.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 zł 4.18
$1.25 zł 4.55
-8.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 zł 5.85
$1.81 zł 6.63
-11.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 zł 5.91
$1.80 zł 6.56
-10.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 zł 9.26
$3.13 zł 11.44
-18.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 zł 3.55
$1.05 zł 3.83
-7.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 zł 4.55
$1.01 zł 3.70
22.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 zł 4.77
$1.36 zł 4.96
-4.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 zł 2.35
$0.66 zł 2.42
-3.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.21 zł 19.03
$5.48 zł 20.03
-4.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 zł 26.48
$6.84 zł 24.97
5.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 zł 3.91
$1.23 zł 4.50
-13.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 zł 6.77
$1.76 zł 6.44
5.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 zł 3.68
$1.10 zł 4.03
-8.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.96 zł 120
$39.51 zł 144
-16.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 zł 8.14
$2.51 zł 9.16
-11.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 zł 2.82
$1.02 zł 3.71
-24.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.43 zł 38.09
$12.91 zł 47.15
-19.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 zł 6.54
$1.72 zł 6.27
4.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K zł 125.5K
$33.0K zł 120.5K
4.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K zł 111.5K
$31.4K zł 114.6K
-2.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$293 zł 1,069
$270 zł 987
8.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.91 zł 28.88
$9.39 zł 34.29
-15.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.23 zł 59.3
$16.80 zł 61.4
-3.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.27 zł 122
$39.23 zł 143
-15.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.57 zł 60.5
$22.83 zł 83.4
-27.42%
Cinema Ticket
$8.93 zł 32.63
$8.22 zł 30.01
8.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$510 zł 1,862
$446 zł 1,629
14.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,831 zł 17.6K
$13.3K zł 48.6K
-63.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.3 zł 330
$77.8 zł 284
16.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.35 zł 166
$44.83 zł 164
1.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 zł 368
$99.5 zł 363
1.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 zł 468
$111 zł 407
14.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$803 zł 2,932
$908 zł 3,316
-11.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$614 zł 2,242
$768 zł 2,805
-20.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 zł 3,687
$1,585 zł 5,790
-36.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 zł 3,370
$1,189 zł 4,342
-22.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,924 zł 14.3K
$5,925 zł 21.6K
-33.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,453 zł 8,961
$3,808 zł 13.9K
-35.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lublin
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,587 zł 5,799
$1,961 zł 7,163
-19.05%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Krakow: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Lublin and $908 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: $40.00 in Lublin vs $55.0 in Krakow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $222 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 9% 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 Krakow?
On paper, Krakow earns 24% less. 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 vs Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $803 in Lublin versus $908 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lublin or 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 vs Krakow?
Dining out is cheaper in Lublin – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $55.0 in Krakow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lublin or Krakow?
At $1,594 in Lublin versus $1,738 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 9% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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