Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Zgorzelec Cost of Living Comparison Between Warsaw and Zgorzelec

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,040 in Warsaw versus $1,388 in Zgorzelec.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,889 in Warsaw versus $2,057 in Zgorzelec.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,737 in Warsaw versus $2,725 in Zgorzelec.

Living in Warsaw is roughly 47% more expensive than Zgorzelec, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Warsaw 52% above, Zgorzelec 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.04 zł 40.27

$9.32 zł 33.98

18.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 zł 212

$48.63 zł 177

19.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 zł 35.52

$8.17 zł 29.78

19.22%

Cappuccino

$4.29 zł 15.64

$3.28 zł 11.97

30.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 zł 7.70

$0.92 zł 3.36

129.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 zł 6.62

$1.68 zł 6.14

7.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.45 zł 16.23

$1.59 zł 5.80

179.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 zł 17.08

$2.18 zł 7.96

114.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 zł 4.20

$1.01 zł 3.67

13.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 zł 4.97

$1.31 zł 4.77

3.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 zł 6.70

$1.65 zł 6.03

11.52%

Eggs

$3.63 zł 13.24

$3.23 zł 11.80

12.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.11 zł 36.87

$10.09 zł 36.80

0.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.98 zł 25.45

$6.50 zł 23.72

7.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.55 zł 53.1

$11.78 zł 42.95

23.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 zł 4.71

$0.92 zł 3.35

40.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 zł 6.51

$1.66 zł 6.04

7.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 zł 7.06

$1.76 zł 6.43

10.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.62 zł 13.21

$1.61 zł 5.88

124.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 zł 3.86

$0.70 zł 2.56

51.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 zł 4.29

$1.15 zł 4.20

2.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 zł 5.25

$1.31 zł 4.76

9.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 zł 2.43

$0.66 zł 2.39

1.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.29 zł 19.30

$4.87 zł 17.76

8.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.29 zł 30.24

$8.26 zł 30.11

0.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 zł 5.20

$0.91 zł 3.33

57.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 zł 6.86

$1.55 zł 5.66

21.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 zł 4.23

$1.11 zł 4.04

4.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.77 zł 109

$32.45 zł 118

-8.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 zł 9.60

$2.13 zł 7.75

23.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 zł 3.56

$0.90 zł 3.27

8.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.42 zł 48.95

$10.79 zł 39.33

24.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 zł 6.23

$1.71 zł 6.22

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.4K zł 121.8K

$33.2K zł 121.0K

0.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.6K zł 122.5K

$32.4K zł 118.0K

3.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$357 zł 1,302

$277 zł 1,011

28.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.03 zł 36.58

$10.07 zł 36.73

-0.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 zł 64.0

$17.44 zł 63.6

0.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.87 zł 164

$35.85 zł 131

25.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.23 zł 107

$19.48 zł 71.0

50.05%

Cinema Ticket

$9.70 zł 35.36

$7.62 zł 27.79

27.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$580 zł 2,114

$409 zł 1,490

41.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K zł 57.1K

$6,725 zł 24.5K

133.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$99.2 zł 362

$91.5 zł 334

8.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.99 zł 171

$37.26 zł 136

26.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 zł 337

$93.3 zł 340

-0.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 zł 404

$105 zł 383

5.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,161 zł 4,233

$660 zł 2,406

75.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$890 zł 3,244

$491 zł 1,790

81.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,033 zł 7,414

$984 zł 3,589

106.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 zł 5,566

$801 zł 2,922

90.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 zł 22.9K

$2,951 zł 10.8K

112.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,074 zł 14.9K

$2,634 zł 9,605

54.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,228 zł 8,126

$1,469 zł 5,355

51.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.55

6.8

11.03%

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

Last update for Warsaw: June 1, 2026

Last update for Zgorzelec: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,161 in Warsaw and $660 in Zgorzelec. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Warsaw pays 52% 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 $49.00 in Zgorzelec for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $212 per month, with Zgorzelec 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 Zgorzelec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zgorzelec wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Warsaw. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zgorzelec the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Warsaw pays 52% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,161 in Warsaw versus $660 in Zgorzelec. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,040 per month in Warsaw versus $1,388 in Zgorzelec – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Zgorzelec runs roughly 9% less than in Warsaw. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,388 in Zgorzelec versus $2,040 in Warsaw, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zgorzelec but tight or insufficient in Warsaw. The gap between the two cities makes Zgorzelec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Zgorzelec delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,388 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zgorzelec hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Warsaw and Zgorzelec are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zgorzelec gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.