Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakopane and Gdansk Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakopane and Gdansk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,586 per month in Zakopane vs $1,847 in Gdansk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,379 per month in Zakopane vs $2,614 in Gdansk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,171 per month in Zakopane vs $3,381 in Gdansk, rent included.

Zakopane is about 14% cheaper than Gdansk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zakopane and Gdansk sit above the global median – Zakopane by 15%, Gdansk by 34%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zakopane
Gdansk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.58 zł 31.94
$12.20 zł 45.42
-29.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.79 zł 111
$60.5 zł 225
-50.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.73 zł 32.51
$9.68 zł 36.05
-9.81%
Cappuccino
$3.58 zł 13.34
$4.49 zł 16.71
-20.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 zł 10.43
$2.36 zł 8.78
18.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 zł 7.94
$1.76 zł 6.54
21.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 zł 9.27
$4.09 zł 15.22
-39.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 zł 17.53
$4.11 zł 15.31
14.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zakopane
Gdansk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 zł 3.77
$1.02 zł 3.81
-0.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 zł 4.94
$1.39 zł 5.19
-4.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 zł 4.91
$1.78 zł 6.63
-25.84%
Eggs
$2.46 zł 9.15
$4.04 zł 15.03
-39.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.10 zł 26.43
$8.96 zł 33.35
-20.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.36 zł 19.96
$6.89 zł 25.66
-22.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.81 zł 21.65
$14.31 zł 53.3
-59.40%
Apples (1kg)
$0.79 zł 2.93
$1.29 zł 4.80
-38.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 zł 5.52
$1.90 zł 7.08
-22.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 zł 5.61
$2.17 zł 8.07
-30.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.79 zł 10.37
$3.35 zł 12.47
-16.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 zł 1.23
$0.89 zł 3.30
-62.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.87 zł 3.26
$1.13 zł 4.22
-23.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 zł 2.59
$1.42 zł 5.27
-51.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 zł 2.50
$0.78 zł 2.92
-14.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 zł 17.26
$6.08 zł 22.64
-23.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.80 zł 17.86
$7.14 zł 26.57
-32.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 zł 4.13
$1.22 zł 4.53
-9.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 zł 5.90
$1.90 zł 7.08
-16.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Zakopane
Gdansk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 zł 5.08
$1.31 zł 4.88
4.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 zł 170
$31.77 zł 118
43.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 zł 5.94
$2.22 zł 8.28
-27.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 zł 2.74
$1.02 zł 3.81
-27.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 zł 20.36
$13.66 zł 50.9
-59.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 zł 6.17
$1.65 zł 6.15
0.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K zł 118.7K
$32.1K zł 119.5K
-0.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K zł 92.7K
$30.7K zł 114.3K
-18.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zakopane
Gdansk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$262 zł 975
$309 zł 1,151
-15.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.55 zł 31.84
$12.93 zł 48.12
-33.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 zł 66.4
$21.95 zł 81.7
-18.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zakopane
Gdansk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.65 zł 35.93
$46.90 zł 175
-79.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.29 zł 53.2
$30.65 zł 114
-53.38%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 zł 28.96
$8.14 zł 30.29
-4.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zakopane
Gdansk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$323 zł 1,202
$561 zł 2,087
-42.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,412 zł 8,980
$8,507 zł 31.7K
-71.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zakopane
Gdansk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 zł 218
$92.7 zł 345
-36.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.37 zł 75.9
$49.53 zł 184
-58.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.4 zł 199
$97.5 zł 363
-45.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.4 zł 188
$109 zł 406
-53.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zakopane
Gdansk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$767 zł 2,857
$1,052 zł 3,919
-27.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$809 zł 3,011
$807 zł 3,004
0.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,333 zł 4,965
$1,760 zł 6,552
-24.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,623 zł 6,042
$1,160 zł 4,319
39.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,344 zł 23.6K
$5,726 zł 21.3K
10.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,308 zł 23.5K
$3,246 zł 12.1K
94.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zakopane
Gdansk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,627 zł 6,060
$1,990 zł 7,410
-18.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
6.67
-2.55%

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

Last update for Zakopane: September 7, 2026

Last update for Gdansk: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $767 in Zakopane versus $1,052 in Gdansk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Gdansk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Zakopane versus $60.0 in Gdansk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $239 – making Zakopane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Zakopane vs Gdansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Zakopane and in Gdansk compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,586 in Zakopane, $1,847 in Gdansk – roughly 16% apart. Gdansk costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Zakopane compared to Gdansk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,380 per month in Zakopane and $2,771 in Gdansk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Zakopane and Gdansk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zakopane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Zakopane and Gdansk?
Kindergarten costs $323 per month in Zakopane and $561 in Gdansk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Gdansk, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakopane, where all-in costs run around $1,586, than in Gdansk at $1,847. In Zakopane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gdansk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Zakopane and Gdansk?
It depends on your priorities. Gdansk has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,586 in Zakopane to $1,847 in Gdansk. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Zakopane or Gdansk safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Zakopane and Gdansk?
If budget matters most, go with Zakopane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gdansk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Zakopane vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities