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: $2,186 in Warsaw versus $1,542 in Lodz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,095 in Warsaw versus $2,256 in Lodz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,004 in Warsaw versus $2,969 in Lodz.

Living in Warsaw is roughly 42% more expensive than in Lodz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Warsaw 58% above, Lodz 12% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.62 zł 46.75
$10.27 zł 38.06
22.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.0 zł 237
$49.92 zł 185
28.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.78 zł 39.94
$9.69 zł 35.90
11.25%
Cappuccino
$4.58 zł 16.98
$3.75 zł 13.91
22.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 zł 9.31
$2.77 zł 10.26
-9.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 zł 8.79
$2.86 zł 10.60
-17.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.71 zł 17.44
$4.94 zł 18.32
-4.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.37 zł 19.91
$5.31 zł 19.68
1.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 zł 4.34
$1.07 zł 3.97
9.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 zł 5.98
$1.18 zł 4.38
36.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 zł 6.78
$1.47 zł 5.45
24.49%
Eggs
$4.19 zł 15.54
$3.64 zł 13.47
15.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.75 zł 36.14
$11.04 zł 40.90
-11.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.17 zł 26.55
$7.25 zł 26.85
-1.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.84 zł 58.7
$12.37 zł 45.84
28.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.32 zł 4.91
$1.26 zł 4.66
4.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 zł 6.62
$1.70 zł 6.29
5.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 zł 6.90
$2.52 zł 9.34
-26.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 zł 15.99
$3.06 zł 11.35
41.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 zł 3.51
$0.84 zł 3.12
13.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 zł 3.41
$0.93 zł 3.45
-1.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.50 zł 5.57
$1.42 zł 5.26
5.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 zł 2.69
$0.62 zł 2.32
17.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84 zł 25.35
$5.90 zł 21.85
15.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.85 zł 25.40
$7.14 zł 26.47
-4.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 zł 4.42
$1.17 zł 4.33
1.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 zł 7.16
$1.87 zł 6.94
3.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 zł 4.29
$1.16 zł 4.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.88 zł 111
$54.0 zł 200
-44.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 zł 9.92
$1.68 zł 6.24
59.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 zł 5.15
$0.61 zł 2.25
127.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.57 zł 50.3
$9.45 zł 35.02
43.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 zł 6.55
$1.57 zł 5.83
12.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K zł 118.3K
$31.8K zł 117.7K
0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K zł 119.5K
$27.9K zł 103.3K
15.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$379 zł 1,404
$327 zł 1,213
15.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.49 zł 35.18
$9.03 zł 33.46
5.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.87 zł 66.2
$18.04 zł 66.9
-0.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 zł 188
$38.77 zł 144
31.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.15 zł 112
$18.68 zł 69.2
61.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.93 zł 36.78
$8.20 zł 30.39
21.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$620 zł 2,299
$532 zł 1,970
16.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K zł 57.5K
$11.1K zł 41.1K
39.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114 zł 422
$78.7 zł 292
44.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.74 zł 158
$41.75 zł 155
2.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 zł 415
$93.3 zł 346
19.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 zł 469
$103 zł 381
23.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 zł 4,699
$633 zł 2,347
100.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$994 zł 3,683
$494 zł 1,829
101.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,200 zł 8,154
$1,127 zł 4,178
95.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 zł 5,911
$875 zł 3,244
82.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,459 zł 23.9K
$3,356 zł 12.4K
92.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,168 zł 15.4K
$2,502 zł 9,271
66.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Warsaw
Lodz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,195 zł 8,134
$1,695 zł 6,279
29.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
6.87
-3.20%

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

Last update for Warsaw: September 5, 2026

Last update for Lodz: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,268 in Warsaw and $633 in Lodz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Warsaw pays 30% 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: $64.0 in Warsaw vs $50.0 in Lodz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $233 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 42% 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 30% 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: $1,268 in Warsaw versus $633 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 9% 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 $50.0 versus $64.0 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 $1,542 in Lodz versus $2,186 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 $1,542 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 42% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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