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: $1,375 in Szczecin versus $2,024 in Warsaw.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,989 in Szczecin versus $2,895 in Warsaw.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,603 in Szczecin versus $3,766 in Warsaw.

Living in Szczecin costs roughly 32% less than in Warsaw, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Szczecin 3% above, Warsaw 51% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.52 zł 34.57

$10.65 zł 38.67

-10.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.30 zł 175

$55.9 zł 203

-13.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 zł 31.57

$9.40 zł 34.12

-7.45%

Cappuccino

$3.18 zł 11.55

$4.30 zł 15.62

-26.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 zł 6.71

$2.10 zł 7.63

-11.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 zł 5.24

$1.89 zł 6.85

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 zł 11.75

$4.43 zł 16.07

-26.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 zł 11.59

$4.49 zł 16.29

-28.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 zł 3.32

$1.19 zł 4.31

-22.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 zł 4.64

$1.43 zł 5.18

-10.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 zł 3.33

$1.85 zł 6.71

-50.27%

Eggs

$3.39 zł 12.31

$3.61 zł 13.10

-6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.76 zł 35.44

$10.31 zł 37.44

-5.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.40 zł 23.24

$6.90 zł 25.06

-7.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.02 zł 47.25

$14.44 zł 52.4

-9.83%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 zł 3.28

$1.27 zł 4.59

-29.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 zł 6.25

$1.78 zł 6.46

-3.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 zł 5.10

$2.00 zł 7.25

-29.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 zł 7.75

$3.77 zł 13.69

-43.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 zł 3.25

$1.05 zł 3.82

-15.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 zł 3.92

$1.22 zł 4.44

-11.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 zł 3.49

$1.51 zł 5.50

-36.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 zł 2.07

$0.71 zł 2.58

-19.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 zł 19.53

$5.47 zł 19.86

-1.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.82 zł 24.77

$8.49 zł 30.81

-19.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 zł 3.91

$1.38 zł 5.02

-21.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 zł 5.44

$1.88 zł 6.82

-20.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 zł 2.81

$1.17 zł 4.26

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.16 zł 98.6

$29.68 zł 108

-8.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 zł 7.66

$2.77 zł 10.07

-23.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 zł 3.58

$1.03 zł 3.73

-3.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.66 zł 49.58

$13.79 zł 50.1

-0.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 zł 6.35

$1.73 zł 6.27

1.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.9K zł 119.3K

$33.6K zł 121.9K

-2.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.3K zł 113.6K

$33.5K zł 121.8K

-6.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$259 zł 942

$363 zł 1,318

-28.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.68 zł 38.77

$10.23 zł 37.12

4.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.11 zł 62.1

$17.25 zł 62.6

-0.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.67 zł 108

$43.78 zł 159

-32.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.12 zł 58.5

$28.60 zł 104

-43.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 zł 23.88

$9.72 zł 35.30

-32.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$377 zł 1,369

$591 zł 2,144

-36.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,149 zł 29.6K

$15.6K zł 56.5K

-47.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 zł 204

$100 zł 364

-44.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.75 zł 112

$47.21 zł 171

-34.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 zł 270

$94.9 zł 344

-21.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 zł 303

$108 zł 391

-22.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$639 zł 2,321

$1,144 zł 4,153

-44.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$547 zł 1,986

$913 zł 3,313

-40.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 zł 3,567

$2,068 zł 7,507

-52.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$821 zł 2,982

$1,549 zł 5,623

-46.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,469 zł 12.6K

$6,290 zł 22.8K

-44.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,435 zł 8,841

$3,953 zł 14.3K

-38.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,695 zł 6,154

$2,251 zł 8,170

-24.68%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Warsaw: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $639 in Szczecin and $1,144 in Warsaw. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Warsaw pays 33% 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 $248 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

Szczecin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Warsaw earns 33% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $639 in Szczecin versus $1,144 in Warsaw. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,375 per month in Szczecin versus $2,024 in Warsaw – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Szczecin runs roughly 9% less than in Warsaw. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,375 in Szczecin versus $2,024 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Szczecin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.