Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Kalisz Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Kalisz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,025 per month in Warsaw vs $1,173 in Kalisz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,904 per month in Warsaw vs $1,705 in Kalisz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,783 per month in Warsaw vs $2,238 in Kalisz, rent included.

Warsaw costs about 73% more than Kalisz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Warsaw sits 52% above the global median, while Kalisz is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 zł 40.81
$10.25 zł 38.93
4.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.6 zł 215
$46.81 zł 178
20.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.45 zł 35.89
$8.23 zł 31.25
14.82%
Cappuccino
$4.17 zł 15.83
$2.91 zł 11.04
43.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 zł 7.99
$2.30 zł 8.74
-8.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 zł 6.94
$1.92 zł 7.28
-4.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.47 zł 16.97
$3.50 zł 13.28
27.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 zł 17.24
$2.64 zł 10.04
71.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 zł 4.52
$1.02 zł 3.89
16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 zł 5.40
$1.47 zł 5.59
-3.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 zł 6.79
$1.78 zł 6.74
0.56%
Eggs
$3.57 zł 13.57
$3.52 zł 13.36
1.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 zł 37.91
$8.31 zł 31.54
20.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.92 zł 26.30
$4.64 zł 17.62
49.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 zł 55.2
$9.74 zł 37.01
49.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.30 zł 4.94
$1.23 zł 4.68
5.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 zł 7.07
$1.67 zł 6.35
11.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 zł 7.35
$1.70 zł 6.47
13.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 zł 14.30
$3.32 zł 12.61
13.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 zł 4.01
$0.87 zł 3.29
21.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 zł 4.70
$1.10 zł 4.18
12.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 zł 5.48
$1.29 zł 4.89
11.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 zł 2.73
$0.62 zł 2.36
16.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.55 zł 21.07
$5.03 zł 19.10
10.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.75 zł 29.43
$7.34 zł 27.88
5.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 zł 5.21
$0.98 zł 3.73
39.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 zł 7.09
$1.48 zł 5.62
26.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 zł 4.43
$1.06 zł 4.04
10.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.63 zł 113
$37.46 zł 142
-20.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 zł 10.12
$2.15 zł 8.15
23.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 zł 3.86
$0.77 zł 2.91
32.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.35 zł 50.7
$10.66 zł 40.48
25.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 zł 6.79
$1.70 zł 6.46
5.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K zł 124.4K
$33.5K zł 127.1K
-2.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K zł 123.7K
$30.3K zł 115.2K
7.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$357 zł 1,354
$196 zł 745
81.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23 zł 38.84
$8.97 zł 34.08
14.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 zł 66.4
$17.09 zł 64.9
2.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.37 zł 169
$35.75 zł 136
24.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.18 zł 111
$19.92 zł 75.7
46.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.39 zł 35.67
$6.80 zł 25.84
38.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$571 zł 2,170
$463 zł 1,758
23.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K zł 58.2K
$5,384 zł 20.4K
184.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.7 zł 375
$93.2 zł 354
5.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.99 zł 178
$27.11 zł 103
73.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.7 zł 360
$84.4 zł 321
12.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 zł 415
$95.4 zł 362
14.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,135 zł 4,309
$456 zł 1,731
148.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 zł 3,501
$348 zł 1,320
165.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 zł 7,939
$544 zł 2,068
283.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 zł 5,796
$460 zł 1,746
232.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,322 zł 24.0K
$2,043 zł 7,758
209.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,919 zł 14.9K
$1,526 zł 5,797
156.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,150 zł 8,165
$1,201 zł 4,562
78.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.55
6.4
17.97%

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

Last update for Warsaw: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kalisz: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,135 in Warsaw versus $456 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 79% 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 $57.0 in Warsaw versus $47.00 in Kalisz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $203 – making Kalisz 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 Kalisz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalisz cheaper than Warsaw?
Yes – Warsaw is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,038 per month in Warsaw and $1,759 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 26% less in Kalisz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $571 per month in Warsaw and $463 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 $1,173, than in Warsaw at $2,025. 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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