😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,700 in Wroclaw versus $1,408 in Szczecin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,451 in Wroclaw versus $2,007 in Szczecin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,202 in Wroclaw versus $2,606 in Szczecin.
😐Living in Wroclaw is roughly 21% more expensive than Szczecin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wroclaw27% above, Szczecin5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.65zł 38.92
$9.33zł 34.08
14.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.5zł 199
$49.78zł 182
9.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.13zł 33.35
$8.76zł 31.98
4.22%
Cappuccino
$4.08zł 14.90
$3.33zł 12.15
22.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76zł 6.42
$1.86zł 6.81
-5.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42zł 5.17
$1.41zł 5.16
0.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.15zł 15.16
$3.32zł 12.13
25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00zł 14.63
$3.18zł 11.62
25.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99zł 3.60
$0.96zł 3.51
3.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39zł 5.10
$1.28zł 4.68
8.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42zł 5.20
$0.99zł 3.60
43.43%
Eggs
$3.32zł 12.11
$3.34zł 12.18
-0.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.35zł 34.15
$9.64zł 35.22
-3.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.38zł 23.29
$6.39zł 23.33
-0.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.30zł 44.93
$13.30zł 48.58
-7.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15zł 4.20
$0.89zł 3.26
29.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77zł 6.45
$1.78zł 6.50
-0.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98zł 7.23
$1.39zł 5.09
42.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.28zł 12.00
$2.18zł 7.97
50.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12zł 4.08
$0.89zł 3.24
25.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26zł 4.62
$1.07zł 3.90
17.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32zł 4.84
$1.03zł 3.77
28.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75zł 2.75
$0.60zł 2.20
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.00zł 18.28
$5.32zł 19.44
-6.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.38zł 30.63
$7.03zł 25.67
19.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27zł 4.62
$1.14zł 4.15
11.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99zł 7.28
$1.47zł 5.38
35.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28zł 4.68
$0.82zł 3.01
56.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.86zł 109
$27.10zł 99.0
10.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.78zł 10.14
$2.20zł 8.04
26.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91zł 3.33
$0.97zł 3.55
-6.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.82zł 39.51
$13.44zł 49.09
-19.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74zł 6.37
$1.67zł 6.10
4.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0Kzł 124.2K
$32.7Kzł 119.6K
3.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1Kzł 113.7K
$30.7Kzł 112.2K
1.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$330zł 1,204
$253zł 924
30.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.99zł 36.50
$10.70zł 39.07
-6.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.61zł 60.7
$17.06zł 62.3
-2.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.53zł 133
$29.59zł 108
23.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.70zł 79.3
$15.99zł 58.4
35.71%
Cinema Ticket
$8.08zł 29.53
$6.91zł 25.23
16.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$454zł 1,658
$379zł 1,386
19.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,262zł 33.8K
$8,219zł 30.0K
12.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.2zł 289
$56.4zł 206
40.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78zł 142
$30.67zł 112
26.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.0zł 329
$72.4zł 265
24.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100zł 367
$85.1zł 311
17.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$932zł 3,404
$657zł 2,399
41.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$699zł 2,555
$534zł 1,950
31.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,512zł 5,525
$963zł 3,519
57.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,117zł 4,079
$811zł 2,962
37.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,856zł 17.7K
$3,413zł 12.5K
42.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,487zł 12.7K
$2,566zł 9,374
35.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wroclaw
Szczecin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,906zł 6,961
$1,660zł 6,064
14.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.38
6.36
16.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wroclaw: June 1, 2026
Last update for Szczecin: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $932 in Wroclaw and $657 in Szczecin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wroclaw pays 15% 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: $54.0 in Wroclaw vs $50.0 in Szczecin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $211 per month, with Szczecin 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
Wroclaw vs Szczecin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szczecin cheaper than Wroclaw?
Szczecin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Wroclaw or Szczecin?
Wroclaw pays 15% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Wroclaw and Szczecin?
Rent for a central apartment: $932 in Wroclaw versus $657 in Szczecin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Wroclaw vs Szczecin?
All in, you'll spend $1,700 per month in Wroclaw versus $1,408 in Szczecin – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Szczecin runs roughly 10% less than in Wroclaw. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Wroclaw or Szczecin?
At $1,408 in Szczecin versus $1,700 in Wroclaw, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szczecin but tight or insufficient in Wroclaw. The gap between the two cities makes Szczecin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Wroclaw or Szczecin more family-friendly?
For families, Szczecin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Wroclaw, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Wroclaw or Szczecin?
Safety-wise, Wroclaw and Szczecin 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Szczecin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Wroclaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.