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: $2,153 in Warsaw versus $1,481 in Zgorzelec.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,118 in Warsaw versus $2,181 in Zgorzelec.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,082 in Warsaw versus $2,882 in Zgorzelec.

Living in Warsaw is roughly 45% more expensive than in Zgorzelec, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Warsaw 57% above, Zgorzelec 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.62 zł 47.90

$9.22 zł 35.00

36.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.3 zł 244

$52.8 zł 200

21.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.53 zł 39.96

$8.11 zł 30.81

29.84%

Cappuccino

$4.52 zł 17.17

$3.23 zł 12.25

39.94%

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

$2.43 zł 9.23

$0.95 zł 3.60

155.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 zł 8.72

$1.66 zł 6.29

38.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 zł 18.57

$1.58 zł 6.00

209.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 zł 19.82

$2.11 zł 8.03

147.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 zł 4.31

$0.96 zł 3.63

18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 zł 6.07

$1.31 zł 4.96

22.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 zł 7.01

$1.47 zł 5.58

25.85%

Eggs

$3.95 zł 14.98

$3.82 zł 14.52

3.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.47 zł 35.94

$8.92 zł 33.85

6.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.20 zł 27.35

$6.28 zł 23.85

14.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.58 zł 59.2

$13.64 zł 51.8

14.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 zł 4.74

$0.90 zł 3.41

38.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 zł 6.98

$1.58 zł 6.00

16.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 zł 6.91

$1.77 zł 6.73

2.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 zł 15.30

$1.62 zł 6.15

148.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 zł 3.32

$0.70 zł 2.65

25.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 zł 3.68

$1.04 zł 3.95

-6.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 zł 5.83

$1.29 zł 4.89

19.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 zł 2.75

$0.72 zł 2.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 zł 24.73

$4.85 zł 18.41

34.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.68 zł 25.35

$7.96 zł 30.21

-16.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 zł 4.48

$0.90 zł 3.43

31.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 zł 7.15

$1.47 zł 5.58

27.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 zł 4.53

$1.08 zł 4.10

10.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.05 zł 110

$26.70 zł 101

8.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 zł 9.81

$2.42 zł 9.20

6.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 zł 5.00

$1.08 zł 4.09

22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 zł 51.4

$13.15 zł 49.92

2.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 zł 6.38

$1.62 zł 6.14

3.70%

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

$31.3K zł 118.9K

$31.3K zł 118.7K

0.13%

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

$31.2K zł 118.4K

$28.2K zł 107.2K

10.46%

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

$366 zł 1,391

$299 zł 1,134

22.69%

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

$8.92 zł 33.85

$7.93 zł 30.12

12.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.20 zł 65.3

$19.91 zł 75.6

-13.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.2 zł 191

$39.24 zł 149

28.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.82 zł 109

$23.18 zł 88.0

24.33%

Cinema Ticket

$9.75 zł 37.02

$7.96 zł 30.24

22.49%

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

$623 zł 2,366

$512 zł 1,945

21.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K zł 60.1K

$7,726 zł 29.3K

104.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$112 zł 426

$82.4 zł 313

36.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.82 zł 159

$38.68 zł 147

8.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 zł 426

$89.4 zł 339

25.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 zł 467

$112 zł 424

9.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 zł 4,693

$716 zł 2,717

72.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$967 zł 3,673

$492 zł 1,866

96.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,167 zł 8,228

$1,165 zł 4,421

86.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 zł 5,990

$766 zł 2,909

105.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,401 zł 24.3K

$3,113 zł 11.8K

105.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,165 zł 15.8K

$2,189 zł 8,309

90.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,145 zł 8,145

$1,426 zł 5,414

50.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.65

6.63

0.30%

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

Last update for Warsaw: September 14, 2026

Last update for Zgorzelec: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,236 in Warsaw and $716 in Zgorzelec. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Warsaw pays 50% 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 $53.0 in Zgorzelec for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $213 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 45% 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.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Warsaw, 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: $1,236 in Warsaw versus $716 in Zgorzelec. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,153 per month in Warsaw versus $1,481 in Zgorzelec – a 45% 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 $1,481 in Zgorzelec versus $2,153 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 $1,481 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 45% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.