🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,481 in Zgorzelec versus $2,153 in Warsaw.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Zgorzelec versus $3,118 in Warsaw.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,882 in Zgorzelec versus $4,082 in Warsaw.
🌍Living in Zgorzelec costs roughly 31% less than in Warsaw, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zgorzelec8% above, Warsaw57% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zgorzelec
Warsaw
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.22zł 35.00
$12.62zł 47.90
-26.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8zł 200
$64.3zł 244
-17.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.11zł 30.81
$10.53zł 39.96
-22.98%
Cappuccino
$3.23zł 12.25
$4.52zł 17.17
-28.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95zł 3.60
$2.43zł 9.23
-60.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66zł 6.29
$2.30zł 8.72
-27.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58zł 6.00
$4.89zł 18.57
-67.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11zł 8.03
$5.22zł 19.82
-59.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zgorzelec
Warsaw
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96zł 3.63
$1.14zł 4.31
-15.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31zł 4.96
$1.60zł 6.07
-18.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47zł 5.58
$1.85zł 7.01
-20.54%
Eggs
$3.82zł 14.52
$3.95zł 14.98
-3.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.92zł 33.85
$9.47zł 35.94
-5.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.28zł 23.85
$7.20zł 27.35
-12.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.64zł 51.8
$15.58zł 59.2
-12.45%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90zł 3.41
$1.25zł 4.74
-28.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58zł 6.00
$1.84zł 6.98
-14.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77zł 6.73
$1.82zł 6.91
-2.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62zł 6.15
$4.03zł 15.30
-59.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70zł 2.65
$0.88zł 3.32
-20.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04zł 3.95
$0.97zł 3.68
7.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29zł 4.89
$1.54zł 5.83
-16.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72zł 2.72
$0.72zł 2.75
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.85zł 18.41
$6.51zł 24.73
-25.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.96zł 30.21
$6.68zł 25.35
19.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90zł 3.43
$1.18zł 4.48
-23.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47zł 5.58
$1.88zł 7.15
-21.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Zgorzelec
Warsaw
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.08zł 4.10
$1.19zł 4.53
-9.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.70zł 101
$29.05zł 110
-8.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.42zł 9.20
$2.58zł 9.81
-6.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08zł 4.09
$1.32zł 5.00
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.15zł 49.92
$13.54zł 51.4
-2.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62zł 6.14
$1.68zł 6.38
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3Kzł 118.7K
$31.3Kzł 118.9K
-0.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2Kzł 107.2K
$31.2Kzł 118.4K
-9.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zgorzelec
Warsaw
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$299zł 1,134
$366zł 1,391
-18.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.93zł 30.12
$8.92zł 33.85
-11.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.91zł 75.6
$17.20zł 65.3
15.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zgorzelec
Warsaw
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.24zł 149
$50.2zł 191
-21.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.18zł 88.0
$28.82zł 109
-19.57%
Cinema Ticket
$7.96zł 30.24
$9.75zł 37.02
-18.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zgorzelec
Warsaw
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$512zł 1,945
$623zł 2,366
-17.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,726zł 29.3K
$15.8Kzł 60.1K
-51.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zgorzelec
Warsaw
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.4zł 313
$112zł 426
-26.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.68zł 147
$41.82zł 159
-7.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.4zł 339
$112zł 426
-20.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112zł 424
$123zł 467
-9.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zgorzelec
Warsaw
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$716zł 2,717
$1,236zł 4,693
-42.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$492zł 1,866
$967zł 3,673
-49.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,165zł 4,421
$2,167zł 8,228
-46.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$766zł 2,909
$1,578zł 5,990
-51.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,113zł 11.8K
$6,401zł 24.3K
-51.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,189zł 8,309
$4,165zł 15.8K
-47.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zgorzelec
Warsaw
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,426zł 5,414
$2,145zł 8,145
-33.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.63
6.65
-0.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zgorzelec: September 12, 2026
Last update for Warsaw: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Zgorzelec and $1,236 in Warsaw. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Warsaw pays 50% 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 $64.0 in Warsaw for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $249 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 Warsaw: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zgorzelec or Warsaw?
Zgorzelec wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Warsaw. 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 Warsaw?
On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Warsaw. 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 Warsaw?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Zgorzelec versus $1,236 in Warsaw. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Zgorzelec compared to Warsaw?
All in, you'll spend $1,481 per month in Zgorzelec versus $2,153 in Warsaw – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Zgorzelec compared to Warsaw?
A monthly transit pass in Zgorzelec runs roughly 9% less than in Warsaw. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Zgorzelec or in Warsaw?
At $1,481 in Zgorzelec versus $2,153 in Warsaw, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zgorzelec but tight or insufficient in Warsaw. 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 Warsaw?
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 Warsaw?
Safety-wise, Zgorzelec and Warsaw 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 45% less than in Warsaw. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.