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: $2,040 in Warsaw versus $1,521 in Lodz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,889 in Warsaw versus $2,245 in Lodz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,737 in Warsaw versus $2,969 in Lodz.

Living in Warsaw is roughly 34% more expensive than Lodz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Warsaw 52% above, Lodz 13% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.04 zł 40.35
$11.06 zł 40.41
-0.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 zł 212
$48.39 zł 177
20.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 zł 35.59
$8.25 zł 30.15
18.06%
Cappuccino
$4.29 zł 15.67
$3.62 zł 13.22
18.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 zł 7.72
$1.90 zł 6.94
11.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 zł 6.63
$1.62 zł 5.91
11.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.45 zł 16.26
$3.27 zł 11.95
36.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 zł 17.11
$4.02 zł 14.69
16.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 zł 4.20
$1.09 zł 3.98
5.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 zł 4.98
$1.22 zł 4.46
11.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 zł 6.71
$1.17 zł 4.29
57.26%
Eggs
$3.63 zł 13.26
$3.06 zł 11.18
18.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.11 zł 36.94
$8.63 zł 31.54
17.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.98 zł 25.49
$6.74 zł 24.61
3.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.55 zł 53.2
$10.92 zł 39.90
33.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.29 zł 4.72
$1.21 zł 4.44
6.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 zł 6.52
$1.78 zł 6.50
0.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 zł 7.07
$1.93 zł 7.05
0.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.62 zł 13.24
$2.81 zł 10.28
28.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 zł 3.87
$0.91 zł 3.31
16.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 zł 4.30
$1.19 zł 4.35
-0.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 zł 5.26
$1.14 zł 4.18
26.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 zł 2.44
$0.56 zł 2.04
19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.29 zł 19.33
$5.10 zł 18.64
3.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.29 zł 30.29
$7.20 zł 26.30
15.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 zł 5.21
$1.20 zł 4.38
19.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 zł 6.88
$1.89 zł 6.90
-0.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 zł 4.24
$1.20 zł 4.39
-3.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.77 zł 109
$46.48 zł 170
-35.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 zł 9.62
$2.16 zł 7.88
21.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 zł 3.57
$0.49 zł 1.79
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.42 zł 49.04
$9.69 zł 35.40
38.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 zł 6.24
$1.68 zł 6.15
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K zł 122.0K
$34.3K zł 125.1K
-2.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K zł 122.7K
$29.1K zł 106.1K
15.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$357 zł 1,305
$332 zł 1,212
7.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 zł 36.65
$8.53 zł 31.17
17.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 zł 64.1
$16.64 zł 60.8
5.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.87 zł 164
$42.71 zł 156
5.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.23 zł 107
$25.66 zł 93.7
13.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.70 zł 35.43
$8.35 zł 30.49
16.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$580 zł 2,117
$332 zł 1,213
74.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K zł 57.2K
$9,335 zł 34.1K
67.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2 zł 363
$91.7 zł 335
8.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.99 zł 172
$30.73 zł 112
52.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.5 zł 338
$75.4 zł 275
22.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 zł 404
$95.8 zł 350
15.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,161 zł 4,241
$626 zł 2,287
85.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 zł 3,250
$483 zł 1,764
84.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,033 zł 7,427
$1,104 zł 4,032
84.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 zł 5,576
$878 zł 3,207
73.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,283 zł 23.0K
$3,246 zł 11.9K
93.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,074 zł 14.9K
$2,565 zł 9,371
58.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,228 zł 8,140
$1,676 zł 6,123
32.95%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lodz: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,161 in Warsaw and $626 in Lodz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Warsaw pays 33% 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: $58.0 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 34% 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 Lodz?
Warsaw pays 33% more on average, 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 vs Lodz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,161 in Warsaw versus $626 in Lodz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Warsaw or 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 vs Lodz?
Dining out is cheaper in Lodz – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $58.0 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 Lodz?
At $1,521 in Lodz versus $2,040 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 $1,521 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 34% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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