Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Szczecin and Wroclaw

For one person, living is cheaper in Szczecin: $1,343 a month against $1,704 in Wroclaw, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Szczecin
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,343
/mo nomad
Wroclaw
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Szczecin and in Wroclaw

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,343 in Szczecin versus $1,704 in Wroclaw.

  • Szczecin $1,343
  • Wroclaw $1,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,997 in Szczecin versus $2,461 in Wroclaw.

  • Szczecin $1,997
  • Wroclaw $2,461

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,651 in Szczecin versus $3,218 in Wroclaw.

  • Szczecin $2,651
  • Wroclaw $3,218

Living in Szczecin costs roughly 21% less than in Wroclaw, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Szczecin is 1% below, Wroclaw is 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Wroclaw
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.13 zł 35.49
$10.31 zł 40.05
-11.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.70 zł 178
$49.97 zł 194
-8.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 zł 31.94
$10.25 zł 39.82
-19.80%
Cappuccino
$2.96 zł 11.50
$3.91 zł 15.17
-24.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 zł 7.22
$2.11 zł 8.19
-11.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 zł 5.42
$1.90 zł 7.37
-26.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.01 zł 11.70
$3.96 zł 15.37
-23.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 zł 11.53
$5.01 zł 19.45
-40.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Wroclaw
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 zł 3.56
$1.05 zł 4.08
-12.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 zł 5.01
$1.56 zł 6.07
-17.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 zł 4.27
$1.45 zł 5.64
-24.14%
Eggs
$3.35 zł 13.02
$3.93 zł 15.26
-14.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.32 zł 36.22
$9.06 zł 35.18
2.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.43 zł 24.99
$6.55 zł 25.45
-1.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.89 zł 50.1
$11.87 zł 46.11
8.59%
Apples (1kg)
$0.89 zł 3.46
$1.25 zł 4.87
-28.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 zł 6.50
$1.62 zł 6.30
3.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 zł 5.90
$1.66 zł 6.45
-8.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 zł 9.03
$3.43 zł 13.32
-32.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 zł 3.28
$0.93 zł 3.61
-9.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 zł 4.04
$0.78 zł 3.04
33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 zł 4.27
$1.40 zł 5.43
-21.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 zł 2.17
$0.66 zł 2.57
-15.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.26 zł 20.43
$6.07 zł 23.59
-13.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.19 zł 24.05
$7.66 zł 29.75
-19.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 zł 4.13
$1.21 zł 4.69
-12.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 zł 5.71
$1.85 zł 7.20
-20.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Wroclaw
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 zł 3.04
$1.16 zł 4.50
-32.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.46 zł 98.9
$28.31 zł 110
-10.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.98 zł 7.70
$2.50 zł 9.70
-20.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 zł 3.40
$0.93 zł 3.61
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.65 zł 49.15
$9.98 zł 38.78
26.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.64 zł 6.37
$1.64 zł 6.38
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K zł 116.6K
$30.9K zł 120.2K
-2.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K zł 108.5K
$29.7K zł 115.4K
-5.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Wroclaw
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$241 zł 937
$333 zł 1,293
-27.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 zł 47.52
$9.72 zł 37.77
25.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.03 zł 73.9
$17.51 zł 68.0
8.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Wroclaw
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.45 zł 118
$40.13 zł 156
-24.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.3 zł 196
$31.57 zł 123
59.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.26 zł 24.32
$9.14 zł 35.51
-31.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Wroclaw
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$335 zł 1,301
$490 zł 1,902
-31.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,493 zł 29.1K
$12.2K zł 47.3K
-38.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Wroclaw
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.1 zł 268
$93.3 zł 362
-25.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.31 zł 137
$39.11 zł 152
-9.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 zł 310
$91.9 zł 357
-13.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.6 zł 352
$107 zł 416
-15.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Wroclaw
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$602 zł 2,339
$837 zł 3,252
-28.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$495 zł 1,922
$664 zł 2,581
-25.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,136 zł 4,415
$1,429 zł 5,553
-20.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$834 zł 3,240
$1,101 zł 4,277
-24.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,284 zł 12.8K
$4,544 zł 17.7K
-27.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,343 zł 9,102
$3,354 zł 13.0K
-30.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Wroclaw
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,556 zł 6,046
$1,702 zł 6,611
-8.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
7.2
-5.28%

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

Last update for Szczecin: October 11, 2026

Last update for Wroclaw: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
$495
Wroclaw
$664 34.3% $170
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
$272
Wroclaw
$360 32.2% $88
Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
$207
Wroclaw
$226 9.1% $19
Eating Out
Szczecin
$167
Wroclaw
$206 23.1% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
$124
Wroclaw
$149 20.6% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
$43
Wroclaw
$58 36% $15
Getting Around
Szczecin
$35
Wroclaw
$40 14.7% $5.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $602 in Szczecin and $837 in Wroclaw. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wroclaw pays 9% 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: $46.00 in Szczecin vs $50.0 in Wroclaw for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $226 per month, with Szczecin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Szczecin
🇵🇱 Wroclaw
🕒 Local time
05:57 5:57 AM
05:57 5:57 AM
Same time as Szczecin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
387,700
642,869
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Szczecin Wroclaw 310 km
From you
  • Szczecin
  • Wroclaw

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
Szczecin vs Wroclaw: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wroclaw cheaper than Szczecin?
Szczecin is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Szczecin or Wroclaw?
On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Wroclaw. 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 Wroclaw?
Rent for a central apartment: $602 in Szczecin versus $837 in Wroclaw. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Szczecin and in Wroclaw?
All in, you'll spend $1,343 per month in Szczecin versus $1,704 in Wroclaw – a 27% 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 11% less than in Wroclaw. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Szczecin or in Wroclaw?
At $1,343 in Szczecin versus $1,704 in Wroclaw, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szczecin but tight or insufficient in Wroclaw. The gap between the two cities makes Szczecin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Szczecin or Wroclaw more family-friendly?
For families, Szczecin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Wroclaw, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Szczecin or Wroclaw?
Safety-wise, Szczecin and Wroclaw 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 27% less than in Wroclaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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