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: $1,430 in Poland versus $1,717 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,076 in Poland versus $2,624 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,721 in Poland versus $3,530 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 28% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,170 to $2,508, compared to $1,157$2,040 in Poland. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Poland
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.70 zł 39.03
$17.44 €15.01
-38.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.62 zł 181
$79.5 €68.4
-37.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 zł 32.11
$11.76 €10.12
-25.09%
Cappuccino
$3.71 zł 13.53
$2.00 €1.72
85.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 zł 7.01
$3.00 €2.59
-36.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 zł 6.47
$1.35 €1.16
31.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.83 zł 13.98
$5.94 €5.11
-35.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 zł 15.18
$5.36 €4.61
-22.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Poland
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 zł 3.98
$1.64 €1.41
-33.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 zł 4.96
$2.41 €2.08
-43.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 zł 5.66
$2.99 €2.58
-48.16%
Eggs
$3.41 zł 12.43
$3.96 €3.41
-13.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.12 zł 33.24
$16.84 €14.50
-45.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.54 zł 23.84
$12.43 €10.70
-47.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.46 zł 45.44
$20.29 €17.47
-38.59%
Apples (1kg)
$1.11 zł 4.05
$2.47 €2.13
-55.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 zł 6.51
$2.15 €1.85
-16.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 zł 6.49
$2.65 €2.28
-32.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.99 zł 10.90
$3.40 €2.92
-12.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 zł 3.53
$1.92 €1.65
-49.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 zł 4.06
$1.81 €1.56
-38.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 zł 4.71
$1.55 €1.33
-16.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 zł 2.31
$0.54 €0.47
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35 zł 19.51
$6.79 €5.85
-21.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.09 zł 25.84
$7.18 €6.18
-1.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 zł 4.15
$1.80 €1.55
-36.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 zł 6.26
$2.42 €2.08
-28.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Poland
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 zł 4.08
$2.00 €1.72
-44.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.16 zł 117
$42.35 €36.45
-24.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 zł 9.08
$5.94 €5.12
-58.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 zł 3.07
$1.51 €1.30
-44.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.56 zł 49.44
$34.04 €29.31
-60.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 zł 6.23
$2.05 €1.77
-16.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K zł 123.6K
$32.8K €28.3K
3.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K zł 115.1K
$33.7K €29.0K
-6.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poland
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$299 zł 1,092
$225 €194
32.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.62 zł 35.09
$13.25 €11.41
-27.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.72 zł 61.0
$30.95 €26.64
-45.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Poland
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.73 zł 138
$55.7 €47.99
-32.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.69 zł 79.1
$25.15 €21.65
-13.76%
Cinema Ticket
$8.30 zł 30.28
$10.25 €8.82
-19.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Poland
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$396 zł 1,445
$576 €496
-31.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,943 zł 36.3K
$10.5K €9,005
-4.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Poland
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.0 zł 306
$91.8 €79.1
-8.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.49 zł 148
$40.72 €35.05
-0.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 zł 325
$98.0 €84.4
-9.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 zł 368
$131 €113
-22.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Poland
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$791 zł 2,883
$860 €740
-8.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$648 zł 2,363
$667 €574
-2.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 zł 4,823
$1,475 €1,270
-10.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 zł 3,698
$1,087 €936
-6.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,832 zł 14.0K
$3,850 €3,315
-0.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,813 zł 10.3K
$2,359 €2,030
19.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Poland
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,697 zł 6,188
$1,933 €1,664
-12.23%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Italy: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $648 in Poland, $743 in Italy. Capital cities: $1,161 in Warsaw vs $1,325 in Rome.

National salary averages: $1,447 in Poland, $1,949 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 35% higher in Italy, giving Italy stronger purchasing power.

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 $1,839 per month in Italy and $1,599 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?
Poland is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 Poland?
In Poland, $3,000 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or 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.

Poland vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries