Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Lodz Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Lodz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,025 in Warsaw versus $1,495 in Lodz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,904 in Warsaw versus $2,201 in Lodz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,783 in Warsaw versus $2,907 in Lodz.

Living in Warsaw is roughly 35% more expensive than in Lodz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Warsaw 52% above, Lodz 12% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 zł 40.77
$10.98 zł 41.65
-2.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.6 zł 215
$48.34 zł 183
17.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.45 zł 35.86
$8.36 zł 31.71
13.04%
Cappuccino
$4.17 zł 15.81
$3.62 zł 13.75
15.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 zł 7.98
$1.83 zł 6.94
14.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 zł 6.93
$1.70 zł 6.45
7.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.47 zł 16.95
$3.32 zł 12.61
34.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 zł 17.23
$3.98 zł 15.11
14.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 zł 4.51
$1.03 zł 3.91
15.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 zł 5.40
$1.24 zł 4.72
14.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 zł 6.79
$1.17 zł 4.45
52.99%
Eggs
$3.57 zł 13.56
$3.04 zł 11.52
17.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 zł 37.88
$8.75 zł 33.18
14.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.92 zł 26.27
$6.76 zł 25.64
2.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 zł 55.1
$10.92 zł 41.44
33.06%
Apples (1kg)
$1.30 zł 4.93
$1.15 zł 4.37
13.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 zł 7.06
$1.78 zł 6.75
4.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 zł 7.34
$2.01 zł 7.62
-3.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 zł 14.29
$2.85 zł 10.81
32.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 zł 4.00
$0.91 zł 3.47
16.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 zł 4.70
$1.19 zł 4.52
4.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 zł 5.47
$1.20 zł 4.56
20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 zł 2.73
$0.59 zł 2.25
22.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.55 zł 21.05
$5.03 zł 19.08
10.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.75 zł 29.40
$6.93 zł 26.28
11.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 zł 5.21
$1.21 zł 4.59
13.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 zł 7.08
$1.96 zł 7.43
-4.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 zł 4.43
$1.18 zł 4.47
-0.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.63 zł 112
$46.31 zł 176
-36.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 zł 10.11
$2.22 zł 8.43
19.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 zł 3.86
$0.51 zł 1.94
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.35 zł 50.6
$9.53 zł 36.15
40.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 zł 6.78
$1.71 zł 6.49
4.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K zł 124.3K
$33.2K zł 125.8K
-1.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K zł 123.6K
$29.0K zł 110.1K
12.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$357 zł 1,353
$335 zł 1,270
6.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23 zł 38.80
$8.44 zł 32.02
21.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 zł 66.4
$17.08 zł 64.8
2.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.37 zł 168
$42.89 zł 163
3.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.18 zł 111
$26.01 zł 98.7
12.19%
Cinema Ticket
$9.39 zł 35.63
$8.07 zł 30.63
16.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$571 zł 2,168
$341 zł 1,293
67.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K zł 58.1K
$9,485 zł 36.0K
61.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.7 zł 375
$93.4 zł 354
5.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.99 zł 178
$30.84 zł 117
52.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.7 zł 359
$77.0 zł 292
22.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 zł 415
$93.1 zł 353
17.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,135 zł 4,305
$623 zł 2,365
82.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 zł 3,497
$482 zł 1,830
91.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 zł 7,931
$1,131 zł 4,291
84.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 zł 5,790
$889 zł 3,372
71.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,322 zł 24.0K
$3,199 zł 12.1K
97.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,919 zł 14.9K
$2,451 zł 9,299
59.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,150 zł 8,157
$1,637 zł 6,212
31.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.55
6.78
11.36%

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

Last update for Warsaw: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lodz: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,135 in Warsaw and $623 in Lodz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Warsaw pays 31% 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: $57.0 in Warsaw vs $48.00 in Lodz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $212 per month, with Lodz 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 Lodz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Warsaw or Lodz?
Lodz wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Warsaw. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lodz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Warsaw or in Lodz?
Average pay runs 31% higher in Warsaw, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Warsaw compared to Lodz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,135 in Warsaw versus $623 in Lodz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Warsaw or in Lodz?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Warsaw. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Warsaw and in Lodz?
Dining out is cheaper in Lodz – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $57.0 in Warsaw. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Warsaw or in Lodz?
At $1,495 in Lodz versus $2,025 in Warsaw, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lodz but tight or insufficient in Warsaw. The gap between the two cities makes Lodz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Warsaw or Lodz?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lodz delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,495 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lodz hard to pass up.
How safe is Warsaw compared to Lodz?
Safety-wise, Warsaw and Lodz 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lodz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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