🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,578 in Szczecinek versus $1,943 in Krakow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,233 in Szczecinek versus $2,761 in Krakow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,888 in Szczecinek versus $3,580 in Krakow.
🌍Living in Szczecinek costs roughly 19% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Szczecinek15% above, Krakow41% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.98zł 44.49
$12.82zł 47.61
-6.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.11zł 168
$54.2zł 201
-16.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34zł 34.70
$9.65zł 35.83
-3.21%
Cappuccino
$3.70zł 13.75
$4.51zł 16.74
-17.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21zł 4.50
$2.60zł 9.66
-53.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88zł 3.26
$2.52zł 9.35
-65.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15zł 11.72
$4.90zł 18.20
-35.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46zł 5.43
$4.26zł 15.81
-65.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96zł 3.56
$1.17zł 4.35
-17.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31zł 4.85
$1.61zł 5.99
-18.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50zł 5.56
$1.82zł 6.76
-17.58%
Eggs
$3.85zł 14.29
$4.10zł 15.23
-6.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26zł 30.69
$9.58zł 35.58
-13.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.17zł 22.91
$8.04zł 29.88
-23.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.81zł 51.3
$13.67zł 50.8
1.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.28zł 4.76
$1.40zł 5.21
-8.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22zł 4.55
$1.79zł 6.63
-31.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72zł 6.41
$1.79zł 6.64
-3.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.61zł 9.69
$3.25zł 12.07
-19.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81zł 3.00
$0.95zł 3.54
-14.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84zł 3.13
$1.04zł 3.86
-19.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35zł 5.00
$1.33zł 4.94
1.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72zł 2.69
$0.84zł 3.11
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98zł 22.21
$6.48zł 24.06
-7.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.11zł 30.13
$6.56zł 24.39
23.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17zł 4.36
$1.27zł 4.72
-7.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55zł 5.76
$1.71zł 6.35
-9.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29zł 4.79
$1.58zł 5.88
-18.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.52zł 102
$35.11zł 130
-21.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.38zł 8.85
$2.38zł 8.83
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08zł 4.03
$1.10zł 4.08
-1.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.30zł 45.69
$12.44zł 46.20
-1.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52zł 5.63
$1.63zł 6.07
-6.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5Kzł 117.1K
$32.7Kzł 121.5K
-3.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1Kzł 108.0K
$29.8Kzł 110.6K
-2.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$309zł 1,149
$335zł 1,245
-7.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.29zł 30.78
$9.40zł 34.93
-11.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.90zł 73.9
$19.31zł 71.8
3.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.46zł 147
$47.25zł 176
-16.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.26zł 86.4
$26.50zł 98.4
-12.23%
Cinema Ticket
$8.15zł 30.26
$8.95zł 33.26
-8.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$212zł 789
$476zł 1,769
-55.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,757zł 28.8K
$10.3Kzł 38.4K
-24.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.4zł 314
$101zł 377
-16.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.44zł 147
$41.76zł 155
-5.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.1zł 338
$92.6zł 344
-1.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115zł 426
$127zł 473
-9.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585zł 2,172
$981zł 3,644
-40.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$558zł 2,075
$789zł 2,932
-29.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,094zł 4,065
$1,505zł 5,592
-27.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$900zł 3,344
$1,165zł 4,328
-22.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,439zł 12.8K
$5,819zł 21.6K
-40.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,088zł 7,755
$3,745zł 13.9K
-44.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,336zł 4,965
$1,944zł 7,223
-31.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
6.64
-36.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szczecinek: August 29, 2026
Last update for Krakow: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $585 in Szczecinek and $981 in Krakow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Krakow pays 45% 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: $45.00 in Szczecinek vs $54.0 in Krakow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $246 per month, with Szczecinek 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
Szczecinek vs Krakow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Szczecinek or Krakow?
Szczecinek wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Szczecinek the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Szczecinek or in Krakow?
On paper, salaries run 45% 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 Szczecinek compared to Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $585 in Szczecinek versus $981 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Szczecinek or in Krakow?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Krakow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Szczecinek and in Krakow?
Dining out is cheaper in Szczecinek – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $54.0 in Krakow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Szczecinek or in Krakow?
At $1,578 in Szczecinek versus $1,943 in Krakow, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Szczecinek but tight or insufficient in Krakow. The gap between the two cities makes Szczecinek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Szczecinek or Krakow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Szczecinek delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,578 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Szczecinek hard to pass up.
How safe is Szczecinek compared to Krakow?
Safety-wise, Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Szczecinek vs other spots: cost of living compared