Cost of Living Comparison Between Poland and ItalyCost of Living Comparison Between Poland and Italy
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,468 in Poland versus $1,792 in Italy.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,138 in Poland versus $2,735 in Italy.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,808 in Poland versus $3,678 in Italy.
🌍Living in Poland costs about 18% less than in Italy on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Poland 7% above, Italy 30% above.
📏Poland ($937–$2,184) and Italy ($1,168–$2,645) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Poland
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.79zł 40.02
$21.31€18.34
-49.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1zł 186
$81.6€70.2
-38.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.51zł 35.25
$11.64€10.02
-18.30%
Cappuccino
$3.78zł 14.00
$2.02€1.74
87.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19zł 8.11
$3.15€2.71
-30.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94zł 7.21
$1.45€1.25
33.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00zł 14.82
$5.69€4.90
-29.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97zł 14.73
$5.94€5.11
-33.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Poland
Italy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09zł 4.04
$1.69€1.46
-35.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.34zł 4.97
$2.48€2.13
-45.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55zł 5.76
$2.97€2.55
-47.81%
Eggs
$3.60zł 13.35
$4.32€3.72
-16.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.34zł 34.64
$17.42€14.99
-46.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.69zł 24.80
$12.79€11.01
-47.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.24zł 49.08
$21.28€18.31
-37.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19zł 4.40
$2.64€2.27
-54.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71zł 6.34
$2.21€1.90
-22.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76zł 6.53
$2.79€2.40
-36.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94zł 10.88
$3.37€2.90
-12.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86zł 3.21
$2.10€1.81
-59.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09zł 4.03
$1.97€1.69
-44.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35zł 5.00
$1.60€1.38
-15.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69zł 2.58
$0.57€0.49
21.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.64zł 20.92
$7.13€6.13
-20.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.80zł 25.21
$7.59€6.53
-10.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19zł 4.40
$1.85€1.59
-35.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64zł 6.09
$2.50€2.15
-34.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Poland
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.21zł 4.49
$2.00€1.72
-39.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.86zł 118
$45.09€38.80
-29.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.39zł 8.87
$5.80€4.99
-58.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10zł 4.08
$1.79€1.54
-38.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.27zł 49.19
$34.95€30.07
-62.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66zł 6.14
$2.13€1.83
-22.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4Kzł 120.0K
$37.4K€32.1K
-13.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6Kzł 106.2K
$36.3K€31.3K
-21.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poland
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$308zł 1,143
$239€205
29.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.52zł 35.28
$12.14€10.45
-21.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.79zł 66.0
$31.42€27.04
-43.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Poland
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.29zł 149
$54.9€47.26
-26.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.21zł 101
$24.84€21.38
9.54%
Cinema Ticket
$8.28zł 30.72
$10.92€9.40
-24.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Poland
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$442zł 1,640
$568€488
-22.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,493zł 35.2K
$12.2K€10.5K
-22.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Poland
Italy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4zł 328
$93.7€80.6
-5.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.20zł 149
$40.71€35.03
-1.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0zł 349
$105€90.3
-10.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102zł 379
$139€120
-26.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Poland
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$748zł 2,775
$857€738
-12.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617zł 2,289
$657€565
-6.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,223zł 4,534
$1,476€1,270
-17.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$962zł 3,568
$1,093€940
-11.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,724zł 13.8K
$3,786€3,257
-1.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,742zł 10.2K
$2,332€2,007
17.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Poland
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,688zł 6,260
$1,928€1,659
-12.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.82
3.57
91.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Poland: August 31, 2026
Last update for Italy: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $642 in Poland, $758 in Italy. Capital cities: $1,250 in Warsaw vs $1,244 in Rome.
💰National salary averages: $1,408 in Poland, $1,967 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 18% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 77% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 43% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 40% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.
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
Poland vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Poland?
At $1,907 per month in Italy and $1,561 in Poland, there's a 22% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Poland: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Italy is consistently higher than in Poland across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget in Italy or in Poland?
In Poland, $3,000 covers most cities easily; in Italy it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or to Poland?
It depends on what you're after: Poland wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.