🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,401 in Szczecin versus $2,006 in Warsaw.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,004 in Szczecin versus $2,899 in Warsaw.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,608 in Szczecin versus $3,792 in Warsaw.
🙂Living in Szczecin costs roughly 30% less than in Warsaw, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Szczecin4% above, Warsaw49% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.60zł 35.09
$10.90zł 39.84
-11.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.93zł 175
$56.5zł 206
-15.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.40zł 30.70
$9.68zł 35.38
-13.22%
Cappuccino
$3.31zł 12.08
$4.28zł 15.63
-22.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79zł 6.54
$2.14zł 7.83
-16.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47zł 5.38
$1.83zł 6.68
-19.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24zł 11.83
$4.51zł 16.48
-28.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29zł 12.02
$4.70zł 17.18
-30.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92zł 3.34
$1.20zł 4.37
-23.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28zł 4.68
$1.35zł 4.93
-5.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93zł 3.41
$1.79zł 6.53
-48.04%
Eggs
$3.25zł 11.87
$3.52zł 12.85
-7.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.74zł 35.60
$10.08zł 36.83
-3.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.28zł 22.95
$6.96zł 25.45
-9.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01zł 47.53
$14.28zł 52.2
-8.89%
Apples(1kg)
$0.95zł 3.49
$1.29zł 4.72
-26.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79zł 6.53
$1.86zł 6.81
-3.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46zł 5.34
$1.96zł 7.16
-25.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15zł 7.84
$3.61zł 13.19
-40.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93zł 3.39
$1.09zł 3.97
-14.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07zł 3.92
$1.18zł 4.31
-9.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04zł 3.79
$1.51zł 5.52
-31.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57zł 2.10
$0.67zł 2.46
-14.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.31zł 19.42
$5.35zł 19.56
-0.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.77zł 24.73
$8.27zł 30.21
-18.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10zł 4.01
$1.36zł 4.98
-19.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44zł 5.27
$1.94zł 7.10
-25.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.80zł 2.92
$1.22zł 4.44
-34.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.12zł 99.1
$29.89zł 109
-9.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.11zł 7.70
$2.69zł 9.83
-21.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02zł 3.72
$1.02zł 3.72
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.35zł 48.79
$13.84zł 50.6
-3.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67zł 6.09
$1.75zł 6.40
-4.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9Kzł 123.9K
$32.6Kzł 119.3K
3.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8Kzł 112.6K
$33.4Kzł 122.1K
-7.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$253zł 925
$358zł 1,308
-29.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.41zł 38.04
$10.14zł 37.06
2.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14zł 62.6
$17.61zł 64.4
-2.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.60zł 108
$44.24zł 162
-33.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.18zł 59.1
$29.04zł 106
-44.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.83zł 24.98
$9.78zł 35.76
-30.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$380zł 1,388
$570zł 2,084
-33.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,204zł 30.0K
$15.3Kzł 56.0K
-46.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0zł 205
$97.9zł 358
-42.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67zł 112
$46.82zł 171
-34.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.1zł 263
$92.6zł 338
-22.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.3zł 312
$110zł 400
-22.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$637zł 2,330
$1,121zł 4,097
-43.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$548zł 2,002
$912zł 3,333
-39.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$962zł 3,517
$2,032zł 7,429
-52.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$819zł 2,994
$1,536zł 5,615
-46.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,470zł 12.7K
$6,351zł 23.2K
-45.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512zł 9,180
$4,022zł 14.7K
-37.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,612zł 5,893
$2,257zł 8,250
-28.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.36
7.55
-15.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szczecin: June 9, 2026
Last update for Warsaw: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $637 in Szczecin and $1,121 in Warsaw. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Warsaw pays 40% 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: $48.00 in Szczecin vs $56.0 in Warsaw for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $245 per month, with Szczecin 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
Szczecin vs Warsaw: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Warsaw cheaper than Szczecin?
Szczecin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Szczecin or Warsaw?
On paper, Warsaw earns 40% less. 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 Szczecin and Warsaw?
Rent for a central apartment: $637 in Szczecin versus $1,121 in Warsaw. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Szczecin vs Warsaw?
All in, you'll spend $1,401 per month in Szczecin versus $2,006 in Warsaw – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Szczecin runs roughly 10% less than in Warsaw. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Szczecin or Warsaw?
At $1,401 in Szczecin versus $2,006 in Warsaw, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szczecin but tight or insufficient in Warsaw. The gap between the two cities makes Szczecin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Szczecin or Warsaw more family-friendly?
For families, Szczecin 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, Szczecin or Warsaw?
Safety-wise, Szczecin 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 Szczecin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.