🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,560 in Szczecinek versus $1,773 in Krakow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,175 in Szczecinek versus $2,539 in Krakow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,789 in Szczecinek versus $3,305 in Krakow.
🌍Living in Szczecinek costs roughly 12% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Szczecinek17% above, Krakow33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.90zł 41.35
$10.91zł 41.39
-0.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.52zł 93.0
$53.7zł 204
-54.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.36zł 35.50
$9.55zł 36.22
-1.99%
Cappuccino
$3.64zł 13.82
$3.98zł 15.09
-8.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03zł 3.91
$2.21zł 8.40
-53.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70zł 2.67
$2.26zł 8.59
-69.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.12zł 15.62
$4.16zł 15.79
-0.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51zł 5.73
$4.04zł 15.34
-62.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06zł 4.02
$1.16zł 4.39
-8.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09zł 4.15
$1.45zł 5.51
-24.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58zł 6.01
$1.46zł 5.54
8.22%
Eggs
$3.46zł 13.11
$3.61zł 13.68
-4.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.18zł 31.02
$8.98zł 34.07
-8.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.24zł 27.47
$6.51zł 24.68
11.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.18zł 50.0
$11.52zł 43.69
14.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.05zł 4.00
$1.25zł 4.75
-16.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99zł 7.56
$1.74zł 6.61
14.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88zł 7.12
$1.80zł 6.83
4.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.03zł 11.49
$3.03zł 11.50
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.87zł 3.32
$1.02zł 3.86
-14.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67zł 2.54
$1.06zł 4.01
-36.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51zł 5.73
$1.30zł 4.94
16.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72zł 2.74
$0.71zł 2.68
1.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36zł 20.34
$5.59zł 21.19
-4.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.83zł 29.70
$6.44zł 24.45
21.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06zł 4.03
$1.23zł 4.67
-13.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66zł 6.28
$1.70zł 6.44
-2.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06zł 4.01
$1.11zł 4.23
-4.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.83zł 125
$39.41zł 150
-16.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28zł 8.65
$2.51zł 9.53
-9.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76zł 2.89
$0.99zł 3.74
-23.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.51zł 51.3
$13.03zł 49.43
3.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67zł 6.34
$1.69zł 6.42
-1.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3Kzł 126.3K
$33.1Kzł 125.7K
0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0Kzł 113.9K
$32.5Kzł 123.2K
-7.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$367zł 1,393
$278zł 1,056
31.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59zł 43.96
$9.20zł 34.89
25.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.07zł 61.0
$16.58zł 62.9
-3.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.83zł 140
$38.22zł 145
-3.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.35zł 73.4
$22.23zł 84.3
-12.96%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43zł 28.20
$8.05zł 30.54
-7.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$370zł 1,404
$437zł 1,657
-15.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,626zł 25.1K
$12.9Kzł 48.9K
-48.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$121zł 460
$76.7zł 291
58.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.21zł 172
$45.54zł 173
-0.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110zł 417
$101zł 384
8.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.7zł 344
$113zł 428
-19.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$507zł 1,922
$904zł 3,430
-43.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$491zł 1,864
$757zł 2,873
-35.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$965zł 3,661
$1,601zł 6,073
-39.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$802zł 3,042
$1,154zł 4,379
-30.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,936zł 11.1K
$5,725zł 21.7K
-48.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,296zł 8,713
$3,721zł 14.1K
-38.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,317zł 4,995
$1,883zł 7,146
-30.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
7.77
-45.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szczecinek: July 12, 2026
Last update for Krakow: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $507 in Szczecinek and $904 in Krakow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Krakow pays 43% 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: $25.00 in Szczecinek vs $54.0 in Krakow. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $221, with Krakow cheaper for home cooking.
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 14% 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 43% 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: $507 in Szczecinek versus $904 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?
Shoppers in Krakow pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Szczecinek and in Krakow?
Dining out is cheaper in Szczecinek – a meal for two runs $25.00 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 $1,560 in Szczecinek versus $1,773 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 $1,560 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 14% 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