Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Kalisz

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalisz: $1,136 a month against $2,032 in Warsaw, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Warsaw
🇵🇱 Poland
$2,032
/mo nomad
Kalisz
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,136
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Warsaw and in Kalisz

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Warsaw and in Kalisz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,032 per month in Warsaw vs $1,136 in Kalisz, rent included.

  • Warsaw $2,032
  • Kalisz $1,136

A couple spends around $2,918 per month in Warsaw vs $1,596 in Kalisz, rent included.

  • Warsaw $2,918
  • Kalisz $1,596

A family of three spends $3,804 per month in Warsaw vs $2,056 in Kalisz, rent included.

  • Warsaw $3,804
  • Kalisz $2,056

Warsaw costs about 79% more than Kalisz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Warsaw sits 50% above the global median, while Kalisz is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 zł 44.72
$8.73 zł 33.92
31.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 zł 236
$30.31 zł 118
100.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.00 zł 38.87
$8.87 zł 34.47
12.74%
Cappuccino
$4.17 zł 16.22
$3.08 zł 11.96
35.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 zł 8.81
$2.00 zł 7.76
13.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 zł 8.61
$1.63 zł 6.33
35.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.60 zł 17.87
$2.49 zł 9.68
84.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 zł 19.47
$2.59 zł 10.07
93.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 zł 4.07
$0.92 zł 3.59
14.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 zł 5.90
$1.21 zł 4.71
25.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 zł 6.00
$1.62 zł 6.29
-4.94%
Eggs
$3.76 zł 14.60
$2.95 zł 11.44
27.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.55 zł 33.22
$7.96 zł 30.91
7.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.29 zł 24.43
$4.34 zł 16.87
44.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.54 zł 56.5
$9.22 zł 35.82
57.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 zł 4.55
$1.07 zł 4.15
9.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 zł 6.73
$1.60 zł 6.22
8.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 zł 6.66
$1.57 zł 6.12
8.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.04 zł 15.71
$3.10 zł 12.03
30.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 zł 3.53
$0.79 zł 3.06
15.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 zł 3.34
$1.01 zł 3.92
-14.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 zł 5.39
$1.30 zł 5.05
6.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 zł 2.67
$0.55 zł 2.16
25.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.19 zł 24.04
$4.68 zł 18.18
32.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.46 zł 25.10
$6.98 zł 27.14
-7.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 zł 4.28
$0.87 zł 3.39
26.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 zł 6.35
$1.39 zł 5.40
17.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 zł 4.31
$1.04 zł 4.04
6.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.52 zł 111
$34.99 zł 136
-18.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.47 zł 9.58
$2.00 zł 7.75
23.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 zł 5.08
$1.05 zł 4.08
24.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.87 zł 50.0
$6.51 zł 25.30
97.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 zł 6.80
$1.57 zł 6.11
11.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K zł 119.4K
$30.5K zł 118.5K
0.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K zł 119.5K
$27.4K zł 106.5K
12.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$341 zł 1,324
$186 zł 724
82.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.00 zł 34.95
$10.06 zł 39.08
-10.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.19 zł 62.9
$16.83 zł 65.4
-3.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.81 zł 178
$31.87 zł 124
43.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.81 zł 108
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 zł 35.12
$6.46 zł 25.11
39.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$594 zł 2,306
$248 zł 964
139.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K zł 55.6K
$5,003 zł 19.4K
186.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109 zł 424
$83.4 zł 324
30.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.12 zł 156
$25.41 zł 98.7
57.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 zł 405
$79.2 zł 308
31.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 zł 431
$88.5 zł 344
25.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,181 zł 4,587
$445 zł 1,730
165.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$942 zł 3,659
$354 zł 1,376
165.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,074 zł 8,056
$538 zł 2,092
285.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,533 zł 5,958
$457 zł 1,774
235.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,932 zł 23.0K
$1,968 zł 7,648
201.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,836 zł 14.9K
$1,462 zł 5,679
162.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,049 zł 7,959
$1,190 zł 4,622
72.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.68
6.21
7.57%

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

Last update for Warsaw: October 10, 2026

Last update for Kalisz: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Warsaw
$942
Kalisz
$354 62.4% $588
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Warsaw
$366
Kalisz
$213 41.7% $153
Groceries & Markets
Warsaw
$231
Kalisz
$187 19% $44
Eating Out
Warsaw
$223
Kalisz
$166 25.8% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Warsaw
$164
Kalisz
$124 24.1% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Warsaw
$64
Kalisz
$45 29.9% $19
Getting Around
Warsaw
$42
Kalisz
$46 10.6% $4.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,181 in Warsaw versus $445 in Kalisz. 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 72% 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 $61.0 in Warsaw versus $30.00 in Kalisz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $187 – making Kalisz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Warsaw
🇵🇱 Kalisz
🕒 Local time
14:33 2:33 PM
14:33 2:33 PM
Same time as Warsaw
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,861,599 Capital
103,997
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Warsaw Kalisz 210 km
From you
  • Warsaw
  • Kalisz

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kalisz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalisz cheaper than Warsaw?
Yes – Warsaw is pricier by about 79%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,048 per month in Warsaw and $1,704 in Kalisz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalisz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Kalisz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $594 per month in Warsaw and $248 in Kalisz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Warsaw or in Kalisz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kalisz, where all-in costs run around $1,136, than in Warsaw at $2,032. In Kalisz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Warsaw it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Warsaw or Kalisz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kalisz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Warsaw or Kalisz?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kalisz. 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.

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