Cost of Living Comparison Between Poland and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Poland and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,429 in Poland versus $1,718 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,073 in Poland versus $2,621 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,717 in Poland versus $3,524 in Italy.

Living in Poland costs about 17% less than in Italy on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Poland 7% above, Italy 29% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,176 to $2,467, compared to $1,137$2,025 in Poland. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Poland
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.04 zł 41.94
$17.58 €15.38
-37.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.66 zł 185
$82.5 €72.1
-40.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.85 zł 33.62
$11.72 €10.25
-24.49%
Cappuccino
$3.77 zł 14.31
$1.92 €1.68
96.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 zł 7.48
$2.99 €2.62
-34.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 zł 6.49
$1.36 €1.19
25.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.87 zł 14.70
$5.76 €5.04
-32.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 zł 15.54
$5.22 €4.57
-21.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Poland
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 zł 4.08
$1.69 €1.48
-36.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 zł 5.22
$2.33 €2.04
-41.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 zł 5.68
$3.05 €2.67
-50.82%
Eggs
$3.45 zł 13.10
$3.99 €3.49
-13.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 zł 35.49
$16.68 €14.59
-44.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.56 zł 24.90
$12.57 €11.00
-47.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.38 zł 47.01
$20.53 €17.96
-39.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.10 zł 4.20
$2.56 €2.24
-57.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 zł 6.57
$2.20 €1.93
-21.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 zł 6.85
$2.68 €2.34
-32.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.89 zł 10.98
$3.37 €2.95
-14.24%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 zł 3.76
$2.04 €1.78
-51.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 zł 4.42
$1.88 €1.65
-38.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 zł 4.95
$1.47 €1.29
-11.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 zł 2.63
$0.54 €0.47
27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36 zł 20.36
$7.00 €6.12
-23.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.66 zł 25.30
$7.09 €6.20
-6.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 zł 4.35
$1.80 €1.58
-36.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 zł 6.26
$2.51 €2.19
-34.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Poland
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 zł 4.20
$1.96 €1.71
-43.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.50 zł 123
$41.58 €36.38
-21.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 zł 9.00
$5.80 €5.08
-59.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 zł 3.11
$1.60 €1.40
-48.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.48 zł 51.2
$35.07 €30.68
-61.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 zł 6.72
$2.13 €1.86
-16.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K zł 127.9K
$32.6K €28.5K
3.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K zł 117.0K
$33.8K €29.6K
-8.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poland
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$300 zł 1,140
$225 €197
33.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.90 zł 37.58
$13.14 €11.50
-24.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.96 zł 64.4
$31.19 €27.29
-45.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Poland
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.41 zł 146
$57.2 €50.0
-32.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.64 zł 82.2
$25.85 €22.61
-16.29%
Cinema Ticket
$8.24 zł 31.31
$10.34 €9.05
-20.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Poland
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$392 zł 1,488
$564 €493
-30.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,923 zł 37.7K
$10.3K €9,047
-4.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Poland
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.6 zł 314
$91.9 €80.4
-10.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.07 zł 156
$40.54 €35.47
1.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 zł 347
$98.2 €85.9
-6.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 zł 384
$132 €116
-23.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Poland
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$782 zł 2,970
$855 €748
-8.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 zł 2,411
$663 €580
-4.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 zł 4,843
$1,522 €1,332
-16.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,005 zł 3,816
$1,089 €953
-7.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,698 zł 14.0K
$3,747 €3,278
-1.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,698 zł 10.2K
$2,299 €2,011
17.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Poland
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,649 zł 6,263
$1,897 €1,659
-13.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.91
4.41
56.69%

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

Last update for Poland: July 14, 2026

Last update for Italy: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $648 in Poland, $742 in Italy. Capital cities: $1,135 in Warsaw vs $1,328 in Rome.

National salary averages: $1,384 in Poland, $1,912 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 15% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 72% more in Italy.

Public transport is 38% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 38% 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 $1,822 per month in Italy and $1,581 in Poland, there's a 15% 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.

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