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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,040 per month in Warsaw vs $1,207 in Kalisz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,889 per month in Warsaw vs $1,727 in Kalisz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,737 per month in Warsaw vs $2,247 in Kalisz, rent included.

Warsaw costs about 69% more than Kalisz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Warsaw sits 52% above the global median, while Kalisz is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.04 zł 40.35
$10.06 zł 36.73
9.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 zł 212
$46.80 zł 171
24.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 zł 35.59
$8.07 zł 29.49
20.69%
Cappuccino
$4.29 zł 15.67
$2.96 zł 10.82
44.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 zł 7.72
$2.43 zł 8.89
-13.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 zł 6.63
$1.91 zł 6.97
-5.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.45 zł 16.26
$3.57 zł 13.05
24.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 zł 17.11
$2.66 zł 9.71
75.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 zł 4.20
$1.03 zł 3.75
11.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 zł 4.98
$1.48 zł 5.40
-8.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 zł 6.71
$1.76 zł 6.44
4.55%
Eggs
$3.63 zł 13.26
$3.47 zł 12.68
4.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.11 zł 36.94
$8.37 zł 30.59
20.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.98 zł 25.49
$4.64 zł 16.94
50.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.55 zł 53.2
$9.71 zł 35.47
49.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.29 zł 4.72
$1.25 zł 4.57
3.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 zł 6.52
$1.66 zł 6.06
7.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 zł 7.07
$1.66 zł 6.05
16.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.62 zł 13.24
$3.35 zł 12.24
8.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 zł 3.87
$0.92 zł 3.36
15.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 zł 4.30
$1.11 zł 4.04
6.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 zł 5.26
$1.31 zł 4.77
9.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 zł 2.44
$0.59 zł 2.16
13.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.29 zł 19.33
$4.98 zł 18.19
6.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.29 zł 30.29
$7.52 zł 27.48
10.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 zł 5.21
$0.96 zł 3.52
48.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 zł 6.88
$1.50 zł 5.50
25.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 zł 4.24
$1.08 zł 3.94
7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.77 zł 109
$36.70 zł 134
-18.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 zł 9.62
$2.11 zł 7.71
24.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 zł 3.57
$0.77 zł 2.80
27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.42 zł 49.04
$10.73 zł 39.20
25.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 zł 6.24
$1.78 zł 6.50
-3.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K zł 122.0K
$33.5K zł 122.2K
-0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K zł 122.7K
$30.3K zł 110.7K
10.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$357 zł 1,305
$198 zł 725
79.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 zł 36.65
$8.88 zł 32.45
12.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 zł 64.1
$16.83 zł 61.5
4.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.87 zł 164
$34.64 zł 127
29.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.23 zł 107
$19.49 zł 71.2
49.97%
Cinema Ticket
$9.70 zł 35.43
$6.95 zł 25.37
39.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$580 zł 2,117
$458 zł 1,675
26.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K zł 57.2K
$5,468 zł 20.0K
186.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2 zł 363
$93.4 zł 341
6.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.99 zł 172
$26.71 zł 97.6
75.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.5 zł 338
$85.3 zł 312
8.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 zł 404
$95.5 zł 349
15.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,161 zł 4,241
$450 zł 1,645
157.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 zł 3,250
$352 zł 1,286
152.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,033 zł 7,427
$552 zł 2,015
268.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 zł 5,576
$448 zł 1,637
240.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,283 zł 23.0K
$2,109 zł 7,704
197.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,074 zł 14.9K
$1,597 zł 5,834
155.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Warsaw
Kalisz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,228 zł 8,140
$1,268 zł 4,634
75.68%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kalisz: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,161 in Warsaw versus $450 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 76% 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 $58.0 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 69%, 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 $3,059 per month in Warsaw and $1,811 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 $580 per month in Warsaw and $458 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 Warsaw or Kalisz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kalisz, where all-in costs run around $1,207, than in Warsaw at $2,040. 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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