Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Elblag Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Elblag

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,006 in Warsaw versus $1,547 in Elblag.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,899 in Warsaw versus $2,223 in Elblag.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,792 in Warsaw versus $2,900 in Elblag.

Living in Warsaw is roughly 30% more expensive than Elblag, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Warsaw 49% above, Elblag 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Warsaw
Elblag
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.90 zł 39.84
$10.91 zł 39.87
-0.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.5 zł 206
$29.42 zł 108
91.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 zł 35.38
$7.69 zł 28.09
25.88%
Cappuccino
$4.28 zł 15.63
$4.31 zł 15.75
-0.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 zł 7.83
$2.11 zł 7.71
1.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 zł 6.68
$1.91 zł 6.98
-4.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 zł 16.48
$3.28 zł 11.99
37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 zł 17.18
$4.73 zł 17.29
-0.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Warsaw
Elblag
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 zł 4.37
$1.18 zł 4.32
1.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 zł 4.93
$1.42 zł 5.20
-4.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 zł 6.53
$1.77 zł 6.47
1.13%
Eggs
$3.52 zł 12.85
$3.63 zł 13.28
-3.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 zł 36.83
$10.29 zł 37.62
-2.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.96 zł 25.45
$6.88 zł 25.14
1.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.28 zł 52.2
$14.36 zł 52.5
-0.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.29 zł 4.72
$1.24 zł 4.55
4.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 zł 6.81
$1.78 zł 6.51
4.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 zł 7.16
$2.02 zł 7.38
-2.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.61 zł 13.19
$3.75 zł 13.70
-3.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 zł 3.97
$1.04 zł 3.80
4.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 zł 4.31
$1.24 zł 4.53
-4.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 zł 5.52
$1.47 zł 5.36
2.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 zł 2.46
$0.69 zł 2.51
-2.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35 zł 19.56
$4.43 zł 16.18
20.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.27 zł 30.21
$6.93 zł 25.33
19.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 zł 4.98
$1.44 zł 5.26
-5.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 zł 7.10
$1.87 zł 6.85
3.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Warsaw
Elblag
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 zł 4.44
$1.07 zł 3.92
14.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 zł 109
$26.04 zł 95.2
14.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 zł 9.83
$2.72 zł 9.95
-1.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 zł 3.72
$1.02 zł 3.73
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.84 zł 50.6
$13.83 zł 50.6
0.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 zł 6.40
$1.71 zł 6.27
2.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K zł 119.3K
$33.0K zł 120.6K
-1.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K zł 122.1K
$27.0K zł 98.7K
23.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Warsaw
Elblag
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$358 zł 1,308
$362 zł 1,323
-1.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.14 zł 37.06
$10.06 zł 36.77
0.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.61 zł 64.4
$15.06 zł 55.1
16.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Warsaw
Elblag
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.24 zł 162
$35.12 zł 128
25.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.04 zł 106
$13.54 zł 49.50
114.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.78 zł 35.76
$6.54 zł 23.90
49.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Warsaw
Elblag
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 zł 2,084
$589 zł 2,154
-3.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K zł 56.0K
$2,088 zł 7,630
634.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Warsaw
Elblag
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.9 zł 358
$98.9 zł 362
-0.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.82 zł 171
$47.50 zł 174
-1.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 zł 338
$95.7 zł 350
-3.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 zł 400
$111 zł 404
-1.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Warsaw
Elblag
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,121 zł 4,097
$683 zł 2,497
64.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$912 zł 3,333
$479 zł 1,750
90.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,032 zł 7,429
$974 zł 3,561
108.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 zł 5,615
$825 zł 3,017
86.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,351 zł 23.2K
$2,318 zł 8,472
174.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,022 zł 14.7K
$2,323 zł 8,489
73.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Warsaw
Elblag
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,257 zł 8,250
$1,397 zł 5,107
61.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.55
7
7.86%

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

Last update for Warsaw: June 7, 2026

Last update for Elblag: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,121 in Warsaw and $683 in Elblag. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Warsaw pays 62% 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: $56.0 in Warsaw vs $29.00 in Elblag for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $244 per month, with Elblag 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
Warsaw vs Elblag: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elblag cheaper than Warsaw?
Elblag is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Warsaw or Elblag?
Warsaw pays 62% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Warsaw and Elblag?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,121 in Warsaw versus $683 in Elblag. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Warsaw and Elblag?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Warsaw. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Warsaw or Elblag?
Dining out is cheaper in Elblag – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $56.0 in Warsaw. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Warsaw or Elblag?
At $1,547 in Elblag versus $2,006 in Warsaw, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Elblag but tight or insufficient in Warsaw. The gap between the two cities makes Elblag the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Warsaw or Elblag more family-friendly?
For families, Elblag is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Warsaw, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Warsaw or Elblag?
Safety-wise, Warsaw and Elblag 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Elblag gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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