Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Suwalki and Krakow

For one person, living is cheaper in Suwalki: $1,460 a month against $1,815 in Krakow, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Suwalki
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,460
/mo nomad
Krakow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,815
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Suwalki and in Krakow

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Suwalki and in Krakow actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,460 in Suwalki versus $1,815 in Krakow.

  • Suwalki $1,460
  • Krakow $1,815

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,030 in Suwalki versus $2,587 in Krakow.

  • Suwalki $2,030
  • Krakow $2,587

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,599 in Suwalki versus $3,359 in Krakow.

  • Suwalki $2,599
  • Krakow $3,359

Living in Suwalki costs roughly 20% less than in Krakow, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Suwalki 8% above, Krakow 34% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suwalki
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.22 zł 20.30
$11.83 zł 45.95
-55.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.41 zł 79.3
$50.5 zł 196
-59.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 zł 35.51
$9.81 zł 38.12
-6.83%
Cappuccino
$3.21 zł 12.48
$4.22 zł 16.40
-23.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 zł 3.40
$2.59 zł 10.06
-66.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 zł 8.79
$2.35 zł 9.12
-3.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 zł 18.26
$4.63 zł 17.98
1.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.11 zł 19.83
$4.72 zł 18.32
8.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suwalki
Krakow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 zł 3.72
$1.07 zł 4.14
-10.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 zł 3.51
$1.50 zł 5.84
-40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 zł 4.16
$1.76 zł 6.83
-39.20%
Eggs
$2.69 zł 10.44
$3.90 zł 15.13
-31.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.79 zł 30.26
$9.40 zł 36.53
-17.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.24 zł 20.37
$7.87 zł 30.57
-33.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.23 zł 24.21
$13.41 zł 52.1
-53.54%
Apples (1kg)
$0.77 zł 3.01
$1.34 zł 5.20
-42.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 zł 6.46
$1.69 zł 6.56
-1.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 zł 6.76
$1.80 zł 6.98
-3.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 zł 15.39
$3.07 zł 11.93
28.99%
Potato (1kg)
$0.53 zł 2.07
$0.88 zł 3.40
-39.77%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 zł 3.33
$1.02 zł 3.98
-15.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 zł 4.33
$1.21 zł 4.70
-7.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 zł 1.43
$0.80 zł 3.12
-53.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23 zł 24.21
$6.24 zł 24.24
-0.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.19 zł 24.05
$6.40 zł 24.86
-3.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 zł 4.31
$1.21 zł 4.70
-8.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 zł 6.35
$1.67 zł 6.49
-2.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Suwalki
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 zł 4.06
$1.57 zł 6.10
-33.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.22 zł 117
$33.06 zł 128
-8.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 zł 9.98
$2.22 zł 8.63
15.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 zł 4.86
$1.01 zł 3.91
23.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.84 zł 49.87
$12.48 zł 48.51
2.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 zł 6.90
$1.67 zł 6.49
6.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K zł 118.9K
$30.7K zł 119.3K
-0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K zł 118.8K
$28.6K zł 111.2K
6.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suwalki
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$341 zł 1,326
$325 zł 1,261
5.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.21 zł 35.78
$8.70 zł 33.80
5.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.89 zł 61.7
$17.84 zł 69.3
-10.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suwalki
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.37 zł 149
$45.16 zł 175
-15.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.80 zł 96.4
$24.28 zł 94.3
2.14%
Cinema Ticket
$8.98 zł 34.89
$8.57 zł 33.29
4.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suwalki
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$588 zł 2,283
$463 zł 1,799
26.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K zł 56.4K
$9,760 zł 37.9K
48.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suwalki
Krakow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109 zł 423
$96.7 zł 376
12.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.37 zł 153
$40.10 zł 156
-1.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 zł 412
$89.1 zł 346
18.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 zł 434
$122 zł 473
-8.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suwalki
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$606 zł 2,354
$937 zł 3,642
-35.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 zł 1,942
$735 zł 2,854
-31.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,002 zł 3,891
$1,477 zł 5,738
-32.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$825 zł 3,207
$1,147 zł 4,456
-28.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,067 zł 11.9K
$5,395 zł 21.0K
-43.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,388 zł 9,276
$3,529 zł 13.7K
-32.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suwalki
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,459 zł 5,669
$1,894 zł 7,360
-22.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.68
6.62
0.91%

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

Last update for Suwalki: October 12, 2026

Last update for Krakow: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Suwalki
$500
Krakow
$735 47% $235
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suwalki
$366
Krakow
$351 4.2% $15
Groceries & Markets
Suwalki
$176
Krakow
$237 34.6% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Suwalki
$165
Krakow
$156 5% $8.2
Eating Out
Suwalki
$154
Krakow
$227 47.4% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Suwalki
$56
Krakow
$62 10.6% $6
Getting Around
Suwalki
$43
Krakow
$47 7.8% $3.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $606 in Suwalki and $937 in Krakow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krakow pays 30% 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: $20.00 in Suwalki vs $50.0 in Krakow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $237 per month, with Suwalki cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Suwalki
🇵🇱 Krakow
🕒 Local time
01:08 1:08 AM
01:08 1:08 AM
Same time as Suwalki
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
69,575
806,201
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Suwalki Krakow 490 km
From you
  • Suwalki
  • Krakow

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Suwalki vs Krakow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Suwalki or Krakow?
Suwalki wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Suwalki the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Suwalki or in Krakow?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Krakow. 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 Suwalki compared to Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $606 in Suwalki versus $937 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Suwalki or in Krakow?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Krakow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Suwalki and in Krakow?
Dining out is cheaper in Suwalki – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $50.0 in Krakow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Suwalki or in Krakow?
At $1,460 in Suwalki versus $1,815 in Krakow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Suwalki but tight or insufficient in Krakow. The gap between the two cities makes Suwalki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Suwalki or Krakow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Suwalki delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,460 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Suwalki hard to pass up.
How safe is Suwalki compared to Krakow?
Safety-wise, Suwalki 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 Suwalki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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