🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,539 in Szczecinek versus $1,738 in Krakow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,179 in Szczecinek versus $2,487 in Krakow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,820 in Szczecinek versus $3,236 in Krakow.
🙂Living in Szczecinek costs roughly 11% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Szczecinek15% above, Krakow30% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.66zł 38.85
$10.66zł 38.87
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.71zł 90.1
$55.2zł 201
-55.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.21zł 33.58
$9.30zł 33.92
-0.97%
Cappuccino
$3.69zł 13.44
$4.03zł 14.71
-8.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04zł 3.80
$2.22zł 8.08
-53.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70zł 2.54
$2.22zł 8.10
-68.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.19zł 15.28
$4.03zł 14.70
3.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53zł 5.60
$4.16zł 15.16
-63.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11zł 4.04
$1.10zł 4.01
0.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06zł 3.86
$1.45zł 5.27
-26.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55zł 5.63
$1.47zł 5.37
5.44%
Eggs
$3.40zł 12.41
$3.75zł 13.67
-9.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.33zł 30.39
$9.05zł 33.00
-7.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.51zł 27.38
$6.37zł 23.23
17.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.79zł 46.63
$11.55zł 42.12
10.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02zł 3.72
$1.25zł 4.55
-18.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98zł 7.21
$1.81zł 6.62
9.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94zł 7.09
$1.80zł 6.55
7.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.07zł 11.18
$3.13zł 11.42
-1.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93zł 3.38
$1.05zł 3.82
-11.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70zł 2.55
$1.01zł 3.69
-30.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55zł 5.66
$1.36zł 4.95
13.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69zł 2.53
$0.66zł 2.42
4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43zł 19.80
$5.48zł 19.99
-0.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.48zł 30.93
$6.84zł 24.93
23.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11zł 4.07
$1.23zł 4.50
-9.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60zł 5.82
$1.76zł 6.43
-9.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11zł 4.05
$1.10zł 4.02
0.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.71zł 119
$39.51zł 144
-17.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.37zł 8.63
$2.51zł 9.14
-5.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77zł 2.82
$1.02zł 3.70
-24.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.61zł 49.62
$12.91zł 47.07
5.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76zł 6.42
$1.72zł 6.26
2.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3Kzł 124.9K
$33.0Kzł 120.3K
3.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2Kzł 109.9K
$31.4Kzł 114.4K
-3.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$361zł 1,318
$270zł 985
33.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.75zł 42.83
$9.39zł 34.23
25.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.59zł 56.8
$16.80zł 61.3
-7.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.01zł 135
$39.23zł 143
-5.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41zł 70.8
$22.83zł 83.2
-14.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.54zł 27.51
$8.22zł 29.96
-8.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$377zł 1,373
$446zł 1,626
-15.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,552zł 23.9K
$13.3Kzł 48.5K
-50.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122zł 445
$77.8zł 284
56.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.47zł 169
$44.83zł 163
3.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110zł 400
$99.5zł 363
10.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.2zł 329
$111zł 407
-19.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505zł 1,843
$908zł 3,310
-44.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$494zł 1,803
$768zł 2,799
-35.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$962zł 3,506
$1,585zł 5,780
-39.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807zł 2,944
$1,189zł 4,335
-32.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,673zł 9,747
$5,925zł 21.6K
-54.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,552zł 9,307
$3,808zł 13.9K
-32.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecinek
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,354zł 4,938
$1,961zł 7,151
-30.95%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Krakow: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $505 in Szczecinek and $908 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: $25.00 in Szczecinek vs $55.0 in Krakow. Groceries flip the comparison at $227 vs $222, 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 13% 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 Krakow?
On paper, Krakow earns 45% less. 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 vs Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $505 in Szczecinek versus $908 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Szczecinek or 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 vs Krakow?
Dining out is cheaper in Szczecinek – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $55.0 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 Krakow?
At $1,539 in Szczecinek versus $1,738 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 $1,539 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 13% 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