Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Bialystok Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Bialystok

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,153 per month in Warsaw vs $1,508 in Bialystok, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,118 per month in Warsaw vs $2,127 in Bialystok, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,082 per month in Warsaw vs $2,745 in Bialystok, rent included.

Warsaw costs about 43% more than Bialystok, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Warsaw and Bialystok sit above the global median – Warsaw by 57%, Bialystok by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.62 zł 47.98

$9.83 zł 37.37

28.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.3 zł 245

$47.09 zł 179

36.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.53 zł 40.03

$9.49 zł 36.07

10.96%

Cappuccino

$4.52 zł 17.20

$3.84 zł 14.61

17.71%

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

$2.43 zł 9.25

$1.99 zł 7.55

22.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 zł 8.74

$1.64 zł 6.23

40.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 zł 18.60

$3.63 zł 13.80

34.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 zł 19.85

$3.23 zł 12.28

61.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 zł 4.32

$1.11 zł 4.21

2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 zł 6.08

$1.02 zł 3.88

56.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 zł 7.02

$2.30 zł 8.75

-19.57%

Eggs

$3.95 zł 15.00

$3.97 zł 15.08

-0.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.47 zł 36.00

$9.91 zł 37.70

-4.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.20 zł 27.40

$5.91 zł 22.47

21.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.58 zł 59.3

$11.87 zł 45.16

31.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 zł 4.75

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 zł 6.99

$1.81 zł 6.87

1.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 zł 6.92

$1.67 zł 6.35

8.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 zł 15.33

$2.09 zł 7.95

92.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 zł 3.33

$1.12 zł 4.27

-21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 zł 3.69

$1.25 zł 4.76

-22.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 zł 5.84

$1.22 zł 4.65

26.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 zł 2.75

$0.65 zł 2.46

10.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 zł 24.77

$5.25 zł 19.96

24.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.68 zł 25.39

$6.51 zł 24.75

2.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 zł 4.49

$1.20 zł 4.56

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 zł 7.16

$1.56 zł 5.95

20.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 zł 4.54

$1.10 zł 4.17

8.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.05 zł 110

$34.17 zł 130

-14.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 zł 9.83

$2.09 zł 7.95

23.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 zł 5.00

$0.66 zł 2.52

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 zł 51.5

$13.38 zł 50.9

1.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 zł 6.39

$1.55 zł 5.89

8.39%

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

$31.3K zł 119.1K

$31.7K zł 120.6K

-1.28%

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

$31.2K zł 118.6K

$29.0K zł 110.2K

7.68%

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

$366 zł 1,393

$308 zł 1,170

19.12%

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

$8.92 zł 33.91

$8.70 zł 33.09

2.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.20 zł 65.4

$18.87 zł 71.8

-8.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.2 zł 191

$43.40 zł 165

15.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.82 zł 110

$28.41 zł 108

1.44%

Cinema Ticket

$9.75 zł 37.08

$7.13 zł 27.10

36.75%

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

$623 zł 2,370

$370 zł 1,409

68.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K zł 60.2K

$4,510 zł 17.1K

250.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$112 zł 426

$104 zł 394

8.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.82 zł 159

$37.59 zł 143

11.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 zł 427

$88.4 zł 336

27.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 zł 467

$92.4 zł 351

33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 zł 4,701

$547 zł 2,079

126.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$967 zł 3,679

$528 zł 2,008

83.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,167 zł 8,242

$842 zł 3,203

157.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 zł 6,000

$743 zł 2,825

112.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,401 zł 24.3K

$2,726 zł 10.4K

134.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,165 zł 15.8K

$2,387 zł 9,078

74.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,145 zł 8,159

$1,547 zł 5,882

38.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.65

7.07

-5.94%

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

Last update for Warsaw: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bialystok: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,236 in Warsaw versus $547 in Bialystok. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Warsaw, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Warsaw versus $47.00 in Bialystok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $216 – making Bialystok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Warsaw vs Bialystok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Warsaw costs about 43% more than Bialystok, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,229 per month in Warsaw and $2,262 in Bialystok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bialystok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $623 per month in Warsaw and $370 in Bialystok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Warsaw, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bialystok, where all-in costs run around $1,508, than in Warsaw at $2,153. In Bialystok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Warsaw it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bialystok costs $1,508 versus $2,153 in Warsaw. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bialystok. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Warsaw makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.