🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,388 in Zgorzelec versus $1,738 in Krakow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,057 in Zgorzelec versus $2,487 in Krakow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,725 in Zgorzelec versus $3,236 in Krakow.
🙂Living in Zgorzelec costs roughly 20% less than in Krakow, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zgorzelec4% above, Krakow30% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.32zł 33.98
$10.66zł 38.87
-12.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.63zł 177
$55.2zł 201
-11.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.17zł 29.78
$9.30zł 33.92
-12.15%
Cappuccino
$3.28zł 11.97
$4.03zł 14.71
-18.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92zł 3.36
$2.22zł 8.08
-58.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68zł 6.14
$2.22zł 8.10
-24.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.59zł 5.80
$4.03zł 14.70
-60.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18zł 7.96
$4.16zł 15.16
-47.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01zł 3.67
$1.10zł 4.01
-8.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31zł 4.77
$1.45zł 5.27
-9.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65zł 6.03
$1.47zł 5.37
12.24%
Eggs
$3.23zł 11.80
$3.75zł 13.67
-13.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.09zł 36.80
$9.05zł 33.00
11.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.50zł 23.72
$6.37zł 23.23
2.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.78zł 42.95
$11.55zł 42.12
1.99%
Apples(1kg)
$0.92zł 3.35
$1.25zł 4.55
-26.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66zł 6.04
$1.81zł 6.62
-8.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76zł 6.43
$1.80zł 6.55
-2.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61zł 5.88
$3.13zł 11.42
-48.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70zł 2.56
$1.05zł 3.82
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15zł 4.20
$1.01zł 3.69
13.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31zł 4.76
$1.36zł 4.95
-3.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66zł 2.39
$0.66zł 2.42
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.87zł 17.76
$5.48zł 19.99
-11.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.26zł 30.11
$6.84zł 24.93
20.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91zł 3.33
$1.23zł 4.50
-26.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55zł 5.66
$1.76zł 6.43
-11.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11zł 4.04
$1.10zł 4.02
0.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.45zł 118
$39.51zł 144
-17.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.13zł 7.75
$2.51zł 9.14
-15.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90zł 3.27
$1.02zł 3.70
-11.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.79zł 39.33
$12.91zł 47.07
-16.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71zł 6.22
$1.72zł 6.26
-0.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2Kzł 121.0K
$33.0Kzł 120.3K
0.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4Kzł 118.0K
$31.4Kzł 114.4K
3.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$277zł 1,011
$270zł 985
2.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.07zł 36.73
$9.39zł 34.23
7.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.44zł 63.6
$16.80zł 61.3
3.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.85zł 131
$39.23zł 143
-8.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.48zł 71.0
$22.83zł 83.2
-14.67%
Cinema Ticket
$7.62zł 27.79
$8.22zł 29.96
-7.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$409zł 1,490
$446zł 1,626
-8.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,725zł 24.5K
$13.3Kzł 48.5K
-49.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.5zł 334
$77.8zł 284
17.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.26zł 136
$44.83zł 163
-16.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3zł 340
$99.5zł 363
-6.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105zł 383
$111zł 407
-5.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$660zł 2,406
$908zł 3,310
-27.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$491zł 1,790
$768zł 2,799
-36.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$984zł 3,589
$1,585zł 5,780
-37.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$801zł 2,922
$1,189zł 4,335
-32.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,951zł 10.8K
$5,925zł 21.6K
-50.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,634zł 9,605
$3,808zł 13.9K
-30.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zgorzelec
Krakow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,469zł 5,355
$1,961zł 7,151
-25.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.8
7.77
-12.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zgorzelec: June 1, 2026
Last update for Krakow: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Zgorzelec and $908 in Krakow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Krakow pays 34% 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: $49.00 in Zgorzelec vs $55.0 in Krakow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $222 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 25% 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 Krakow?
On paper, Krakow earns 34% less. 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 vs Krakow?
Rent for a central apartment: $660 in Zgorzelec versus $908 in Krakow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Zgorzelec or Krakow?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Krakow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Zgorzelec vs Krakow?
Dining out is cheaper in Zgorzelec – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $55.0 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 Krakow?
At $1,388 in Zgorzelec versus $1,738 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 $1,388 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 25% less than in Krakow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.