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: $1,481 in Zgorzelec versus $1,913 in Krakow.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Zgorzelec versus $2,685 in Krakow.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,882 in Zgorzelec versus $3,458 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 8% above, Krakow 40% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.22 zł 35.00
$13.05 zł 49.53
-29.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8 zł 200
$53.7 zł 204
-1.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.11 zł 30.81
$9.96 zł 37.83
-18.57%
Cappuccino
$3.23 zł 12.25
$4.34 zł 16.46
-25.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 zł 3.60
$2.46 zł 9.34
-61.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 zł 6.29
$2.60 zł 9.86
-36.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 zł 6.00
$4.77 zł 18.10
-66.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 zł 8.03
$4.25 zł 16.13
-50.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 zł 3.63
$1.17 zł 4.44
-17.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 zł 4.96
$1.60 zł 6.09
-18.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 zł 5.58
$1.89 zł 7.18
-22.22%
Eggs
$3.82 zł 14.52
$4.08 zł 15.48
-6.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.92 zł 33.85
$9.54 zł 36.21
-6.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.28 zł 23.85
$8.23 zł 31.26
-23.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 zł 51.8
$13.63 zł 51.7
0.07%
Apples (1kg)
$0.90 zł 3.41
$1.42 zł 5.38
-36.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 zł 6.00
$1.84 zł 6.99
-14.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 zł 6.73
$1.78 zł 6.76
-0.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 zł 6.15
$3.17 zł 12.05
-48.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 zł 2.65
$0.95 zł 3.60
-26.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 zł 3.95
$1.09 zł 4.13
-4.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 zł 4.89
$1.38 zł 5.23
-6.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 zł 2.72
$0.85 zł 3.22
-15.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.85 zł 18.41
$6.69 zł 25.40
-27.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.96 zł 30.21
$6.59 zł 25.01
20.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 zł 3.43
$1.22 zł 4.61
-26.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 zł 5.58
$1.69 zł 6.40
-13.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 zł 4.10
$1.57 zł 5.96
-31.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.70 zł 101
$35.26 zł 134
-24.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 zł 9.20
$2.44 zł 9.26
-0.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 zł 4.09
$1.03 zł 3.91
4.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.15 zł 49.92
$12.80 zł 48.60
2.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 zł 6.14
$1.65 zł 6.28
-1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K zł 118.7K
$31.5K zł 119.5K
-0.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K zł 107.2K
$29.4K zł 111.8K
-4.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$299 zł 1,134
$342 zł 1,297
-12.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.93 zł 30.12
$8.91 zł 33.83
-11.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.91 zł 75.6
$19.04 zł 72.3
4.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.24 zł 149
$45.81 zł 174
-14.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.18 zł 88.0
$26.07 zł 99.0
-11.09%
Cinema Ticket
$7.96 zł 30.24
$9.06 zł 34.41
-12.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$512 zł 1,945
$479 zł 1,820
6.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,726 zł 29.3K
$10.2K zł 38.7K
-24.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.4 zł 313
$100.0 zł 379
-17.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.68 zł 147
$41.28 zł 157
-6.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.4 zł 339
$94.4 zł 358
-5.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 zł 424
$124 zł 470
-9.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 zł 2,717
$959 zł 3,642
-25.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$492 zł 1,866
$774 zł 2,937
-36.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,165 zł 4,421
$1,526 zł 5,793
-23.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$766 zł 2,909
$1,162 zł 4,410
-34.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,113 zł 11.8K
$5,810 zł 22.1K
-46.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,189 zł 8,309
$3,694 zł 14.0K
-40.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,426 zł 5,414
$1,942 zł 7,373
-26.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
6.64
-0.15%

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

Last update for Zgorzelec: September 12, 2026

Last update for Krakow: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Zgorzelec and $959 in Krakow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krakow pays 36% 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: $53.0 in Zgorzelec vs $54.0 in Krakow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $247 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 29% 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 36% 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: $716 in Zgorzelec versus $959 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 16% 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 $53.0 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 $1,481 in Zgorzelec versus $1,913 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 $1,481 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 29% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Zgorzelec vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities