Cost of Living Comparison Between Szczecin and Warsaw Cost of Living Comparison Between Szczecin and Warsaw

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Szczecin 4% above, Warsaw 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.60 zł 35.09
$10.90 zł 39.84
-11.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.93 zł 175
$56.5 zł 206
-15.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.40 zł 30.70
$9.68 zł 35.38
-13.22%
Cappuccino
$3.31 zł 12.08
$4.28 zł 15.63
-22.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 zł 6.54
$2.14 zł 7.83
-16.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 zł 5.38
$1.83 zł 6.68
-19.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 zł 11.83
$4.51 zł 16.48
-28.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 zł 12.02
$4.70 zł 17.18
-30.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 zł 3.34
$1.20 zł 4.37
-23.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 zł 4.68
$1.35 zł 4.93
-5.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 zł 3.41
$1.79 zł 6.53
-48.04%
Eggs
$3.25 zł 11.87
$3.52 zł 12.85
-7.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 zł 35.60
$10.08 zł 36.83
-3.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.28 zł 22.95
$6.96 zł 25.45
-9.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 zł 47.53
$14.28 zł 52.2
-8.89%
Apples (1kg)
$0.95 zł 3.49
$1.29 zł 4.72
-26.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 zł 6.53
$1.86 zł 6.81
-3.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 zł 5.34
$1.96 zł 7.16
-25.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 zł 7.84
$3.61 zł 13.19
-40.44%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 zł 3.39
$1.09 zł 3.97
-14.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 zł 3.92
$1.18 zł 4.31
-9.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 zł 3.79
$1.51 zł 5.52
-31.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 zł 2.10
$0.67 zł 2.46
-14.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.31 zł 19.42
$5.35 zł 19.56
-0.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.77 zł 24.73
$8.27 zł 30.21
-18.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 zł 4.01
$1.36 zł 4.98
-19.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 zł 5.27
$1.94 zł 7.10
-25.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 zł 2.92
$1.22 zł 4.44
-34.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.12 zł 99.1
$29.89 zł 109
-9.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.11 zł 7.70
$2.69 zł 9.83
-21.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 zł 3.72
$1.02 zł 3.72
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.35 zł 48.79
$13.84 zł 50.6
-3.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 zł 6.09
$1.75 zł 6.40
-4.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K zł 123.9K
$32.6K zł 119.3K
3.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K zł 112.6K
$33.4K zł 122.1K
-7.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 zł 925
$358 zł 1,308
-29.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.41 zł 38.04
$10.14 zł 37.06
2.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 zł 62.6
$17.61 zł 64.4
-2.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.60 zł 108
$44.24 zł 162
-33.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.18 zł 59.1
$29.04 zł 106
-44.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.83 zł 24.98
$9.78 zł 35.76
-30.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$380 zł 1,388
$570 zł 2,084
-33.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,204 zł 30.0K
$15.3K zł 56.0K
-46.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0 zł 205
$97.9 zł 358
-42.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67 zł 112
$46.82 zł 171
-34.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.1 zł 263
$92.6 zł 338
-22.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.3 zł 312
$110 zł 400
-22.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$637 zł 2,330
$1,121 zł 4,097
-43.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 zł 2,002
$912 zł 3,333
-39.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$962 zł 3,517
$2,032 zł 7,429
-52.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$819 zł 2,994
$1,536 zł 5,615
-46.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,470 zł 12.7K
$6,351 zł 23.2K
-45.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,512 zł 9,180
$4,022 zł 14.7K
-37.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Warsaw
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,612 zł 5,893
$2,257 zł 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.

Szczecin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities