Cost of Living Comparison Between Zgorzelec and Krakow Cost of Living Comparison Between Zgorzelec and Krakow

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,479 in Zgorzelec versus $1,916 in Krakow.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,177 in Zgorzelec versus $2,662 in Krakow.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,875 in Zgorzelec versus $3,409 in Krakow.

Living in Zgorzelec costs roughly 23% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zgorzelec 9% above, Krakow 41% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.36 zł 34.86
$12.69 zł 47.26
-26.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.1 zł 194
$54.3 zł 202
-4.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 zł 30.60
$10.26 zł 38.22
-19.88%
Cappuccino
$3.23 zł 12.02
$4.57 zł 17.02
-29.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 zł 3.59
$2.48 zł 9.22
-61.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 zł 6.37
$2.50 zł 9.30
-31.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.63 zł 6.07
$4.70 zł 17.51
-65.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 zł 7.80
$4.16 zł 15.48
-49.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 zł 3.74
$1.17 zł 4.34
-14.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 zł 4.76
$1.55 zł 5.77
-17.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 zł 5.38
$1.88 zł 7.01
-22.87%
Eggs
$3.61 zł 13.43
$4.23 zł 15.75
-14.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.38 zł 34.94
$9.90 zł 36.86
-5.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 zł 23.03
$7.60 zł 28.30
-18.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 zł 48.79
$13.37 zł 49.80
-2.02%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 zł 3.52
$1.39 zł 5.17
-32.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 zł 6.09
$1.74 zł 6.46
-5.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 zł 6.56
$1.81 zł 6.73
-2.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 zł 6.10
$3.30 zł 12.28
-50.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 zł 2.44
$0.94 zł 3.50
-29.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 zł 4.11
$1.04 zł 3.88
5.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 zł 4.95
$1.27 zł 4.74
4.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 zł 2.73
$0.77 zł 2.85
-5.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08 zł 18.91
$6.48 zł 24.13
-21.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.07 zł 30.06
$6.86 zł 25.54
17.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 zł 3.32
$1.26 zł 4.70
-29.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 zł 5.28
$1.76 zł 6.56
-19.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 zł 4.75
$1.57 zł 5.86
-18.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.63 zł 103
$34.57 zł 129
-20.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.47 zł 9.20
$2.34 zł 8.73
5.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 zł 3.89
$1.05 zł 3.89
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.23 zł 49.25
$12.54 zł 46.71
5.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 zł 6.06
$1.68 zł 6.26
-2.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K zł 119.2K
$31.4K zł 116.8K
2.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K zł 106.4K
$30.5K zł 113.7K
-6.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 zł 1,139
$328 zł 1,222
-6.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.14 zł 30.30
$9.16 zł 34.12
-11.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.35 zł 75.8
$19.35 zł 72.0
5.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.98 zł 149
$46.06 zł 172
-13.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.28 zł 90.4
$24.93 zł 92.8
-2.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.87 zł 29.31
$9.10 zł 33.89
-13.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$513 zł 1,909
$453 zł 1,686
13.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,804 zł 29.1K
$10.2K zł 37.9K
-23.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.5 zł 315
$95.8 zł 357
-11.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.11 zł 146
$42.15 zł 157
-7.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 zł 341
$96.1 zł 358
-4.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 zł 422
$125 zł 464
-8.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$712 zł 2,651
$935 zł 3,480
-23.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 zł 1,714
$784 zł 2,918
-41.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,171 zł 4,361
$1,509 zł 5,618
-22.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$893 zł 3,326
$1,181 zł 4,398
-24.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,437 zł 12.8K
$5,858 zł 21.8K
-41.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,017 zł 7,512
$3,669 zł 13.7K
-45.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,405 zł 5,233
$1,934 zł 7,201
-27.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
6.69
-0.60%

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

Last update for Zgorzelec: August 2, 2026

Last update for Krakow: August 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $712 in Zgorzelec and $935 in Krakow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krakow pays 38% 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: $52.0 in Zgorzelec vs $54.0 in Krakow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $243 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
Zgorzelec vs Krakow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zgorzelec or Krakow?
Zgorzelec wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Krakow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zgorzelec the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Zgorzelec or in Krakow?
On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Krakow. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Zgorzelec compared to Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $712 in Zgorzelec versus $935 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Zgorzelec or in Krakow?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Krakow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Zgorzelec and in Krakow?
Dining out is cheaper in Zgorzelec – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $54.0 in Krakow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Zgorzelec or in Krakow?
At $1,479 in Zgorzelec versus $1,916 in Krakow, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zgorzelec but tight or insufficient in Krakow. The gap between the two cities makes Zgorzelec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Zgorzelec or Krakow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zgorzelec delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,479 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zgorzelec hard to pass up.
How safe is Zgorzelec compared to Krakow?
Safety-wise, Zgorzelec and Krakow 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 Zgorzelec gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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