Cost of Living Comparison Between Olsztyn and Warsaw Cost of Living Comparison Between Olsztyn and Warsaw

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,804 in Olsztyn versus $2,184 in Warsaw.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,768 in Olsztyn versus $3,125 in Warsaw.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Olsztyn versus $4,066 in Warsaw.

Living in Olsztyn costs roughly 17% less than in Warsaw, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Olsztyn 31% above, Warsaw 59% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Olsztyn
Warsaw
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.26 zł 49.58
$12.19 zł 45.55
8.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 zł 193
$61.8 zł 231
-16.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 zł 35.53
$10.60 zł 39.63
-10.38%
Cappuccino
$3.51 zł 13.14
$4.61 zł 17.25
-23.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 zł 9.83
$2.52 zł 9.42
4.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 zł 7.68
$2.40 zł 8.97
-14.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 zł 12.13
$4.86 zł 18.16
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 zł 15.11
$5.24 zł 19.60
-22.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Olsztyn
Warsaw
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 zł 3.96
$1.15 zł 4.31
-7.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 zł 4.90
$1.58 zł 5.92
-17.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 zł 5.39
$1.82 zł 6.79
-20.88%
Eggs
$3.95 zł 14.77
$3.98 zł 14.87
-0.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.25 zł 38.33
$9.70 zł 36.26
5.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.44 zł 27.80
$7.33 zł 27.39
1.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 zł 59.7
$15.32 zł 57.3
4.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 zł 4.77
$1.32 zł 4.95
-3.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 zł 6.61
$1.78 zł 6.67
-0.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 zł 7.15
$1.84 zł 6.89
3.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.58 zł 13.37
$4.06 zł 15.20
-11.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 zł 3.72
$0.94 zł 3.50
5.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 zł 4.79
$0.93 zł 3.47
37.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 zł 5.30
$1.57 zł 5.85
-9.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 zł 2.73
$0.72 zł 2.69
1.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.99 zł 22.41
$6.54 zł 24.43
-8.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.21 zł 30.70
$6.63 zł 24.80
23.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 zł 4.35
$1.14 zł 4.27
1.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 zł 5.98
$1.88 zł 7.03
-14.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Olsztyn
Warsaw
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 zł 4.05
$1.20 zł 4.50
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.93 zł 101
$29.66 zł 111
-9.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 zł 8.11
$2.63 zł 9.84
-17.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 zł 2.94
$1.32 zł 4.92
-40.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.60 zł 39.63
$13.55 zł 50.6
-21.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 zł 6.19
$1.68 zł 6.28
-1.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K zł 127.4K
$32.3K zł 120.6K
5.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K zł 114.9K
$32.0K zł 119.6K
-3.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olsztyn
Warsaw
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$311 zł 1,162
$372 zł 1,390
-16.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.22 zł 38.21
$8.79 zł 32.85
16.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.80 zł 70.3
$17.37 zł 65.0
8.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Olsztyn
Warsaw
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.2 zł 199
$51.6 zł 193
3.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.66 zł 88.4
$29.74 zł 111
-20.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 zł 34.34
$9.82 zł 36.72
-6.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Olsztyn
Warsaw
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$399 zł 1,491
$608 zł 2,273
-34.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K zł 56.1K
$15.4K zł 57.6K
-2.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Olsztyn
Warsaw
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 zł 394
$115 zł 430
-8.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 zł 192
$42.18 zł 158
21.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 zł 394
$116 zł 432
-8.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 zł 418
$125 zł 469
-10.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Olsztyn
Warsaw
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$902 zł 3,371
$1,250 zł 4,672
-27.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$726 zł 2,712
$984 zł 3,678
-26.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,809 zł 6,763
$2,138 zł 7,993
-15.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 zł 5,355
$1,550 zł 5,793
-7.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,004 zł 15.0K
$6,397 zł 23.9K
-37.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,717 zł 10.2K
$4,118 zł 15.4K
-34.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Olsztyn
Warsaw
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,454 zł 5,436
$2,103 zł 7,861
-30.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.52
6.68
12.57%

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

Last update for Olsztyn: September 1, 2026

Last update for Warsaw: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $902 in Olsztyn and $1,250 in Warsaw. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Warsaw pays 45% 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: $52.0 in Olsztyn vs $62.0 in Warsaw for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $250 per month, with Olsztyn 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
Olsztyn vs Warsaw: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Warsaw cheaper than Olsztyn?
Olsztyn is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Olsztyn or Warsaw?
On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Warsaw. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Olsztyn and Warsaw?
Rent for a central apartment: $902 in Olsztyn versus $1,250 in Warsaw. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Olsztyn and in Warsaw?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Warsaw. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Olsztyn or in Warsaw?
Dining out is cheaper in Olsztyn – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $62.0 in Warsaw. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Olsztyn or in Warsaw?
At $1,804 in Olsztyn versus $2,184 in Warsaw, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Olsztyn but tight or insufficient in Warsaw. The gap between the two cities makes Olsztyn the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Olsztyn or Warsaw more family-friendly?
For families, Olsztyn is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Warsaw, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Olsztyn or Warsaw?
Safety-wise, Olsztyn and Warsaw 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Olsztyn gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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