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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,038 per month in Warsaw vs $1,421 in Bialystok, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,911 per month in Warsaw vs $2,002 in Bialystok, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,784 per month in Warsaw vs $2,582 in Bialystok, rent included.

Warsaw costs about 43% more than Bialystok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Warsaw and Bialystok sit above the global median – Warsaw by 53%, Bialystok by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.66 zł 39.83

$9.69 zł 36.19

10.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.1 zł 210

$47.92 zł 179

17.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.65 zł 36.04

$8.21 zł 30.68

17.54%

Cappuccino

$4.11 zł 15.36

$3.18 zł 11.86

29.25%

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

$2.12 zł 7.92

$1.82 zł 6.82

16.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 zł 7.06

$1.65 zł 6.15

14.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.44 zł 16.58

$3.30 zł 12.33

34.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 zł 16.73

$2.95 zł 11.01

51.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 zł 4.47

$1.09 zł 4.06

10.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 zł 5.34

$1.23 zł 4.58

16.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 zł 6.81

$1.23 zł 4.59

47.97%

Eggs

$3.61 zł 13.48

$3.13 zł 11.69

15.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 zł 38.30

$8.48 zł 31.69

20.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 zł 26.71

$6.10 zł 22.79

17.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.25 zł 53.2

$10.69 zł 39.93

33.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 zł 4.73

$0.95 zł 3.56

33.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 zł 6.93

$1.80 zł 6.72

2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 zł 7.58

$1.75 zł 6.54

16.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.74 zł 13.98

$2.18 zł 8.15

71.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 zł 3.90

$0.92 zł 3.45

13.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 zł 4.44

$1.02 zł 3.80

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 zł 5.47

$1.15 zł 4.30

26.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 zł 2.67

$0.55 zł 2.06

29.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.45 zł 20.35

$5.08 zł 18.98

7.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 zł 29.91

$6.33 zł 23.67

26.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 zł 5.10

$1.25 zł 4.67

9.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 zł 7.04

$1.62 zł 6.04

16.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 zł 4.52

$1.12 zł 4.19

8.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.26 zł 113

$35.00 zł 131

-13.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 zł 10.00

$2.19 zł 8.19

22.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 zł 3.78

$0.49 zł 1.83

106.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.55 zł 50.6

$12.10 zł 45.21

11.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 zł 6.59

$1.76 zł 6.56

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

$33.2K zł 123.9K

$34.1K zł 127.3K

-2.66%

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

$32.7K zł 122.1K

$29.3K zł 109.4K

11.58%

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

$351 zł 1,311

$305 zł 1,141

14.96%

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

$9.98 zł 37.28

$8.15 zł 30.44

22.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.14 zł 64.0

$16.58 zł 61.9

3.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.33 zł 162

$37.14 zł 139

16.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 zł 108

$19.20 zł 71.7

50.63%

Cinema Ticket

$9.65 zł 36.07

$6.98 zł 26.08

38.25%

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

$589 zł 2,199

$340 zł 1,270

73.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K zł 58.1K

$9,556 zł 35.7K

62.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$97.4 zł 364

$90.8 zł 339

7.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.77 zł 178

$31.01 zł 116

54.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 zł 352

$75.4 zł 282

24.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 zł 406

$96.1 zł 359

13.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,123 zł 4,194

$549 zł 2,052

104.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 zł 3,352

$492 zł 1,839

82.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,054 zł 7,673

$873 zł 3,261

135.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 zł 5,728

$733 zł 2,739

109.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,293 zł 23.5K

$2,719 zł 10.2K

131.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,875 zł 14.5K

$2,351 zł 8,783

64.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,200 zł 8,220

$1,474 zł 5,507

49.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.55

6.47

16.69%

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

Last update for Warsaw: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bialystok: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,123 in Warsaw versus $549 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 49% 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 $56.0 in Warsaw versus $48.00 in Bialystok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $200 – 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 Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,058 per month in Warsaw and $2,132 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 $589 per month in Warsaw and $340 in Bialystok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $1,421, than in Warsaw at $2,038. 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 $1,421 versus $2,038 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.