Cost of living calculator

Average monthly living costs for one person in Poland range from about PLN 2,500 to PLN 4,500, depending on the city and lifestyle. In Warsaw or Krakow costs are higher than in smaller towns — mainly due to higher rental prices.

Core categories are: housing (rent/mortgage, utilities, internet), food (groceries, restaurants), transport (monthly pass, fuel, car insurance), entertainment and culture, health (medicines, doctor visits) and miscellaneous (clothing, cosmetics, gifts).

A reasonable food budget for one person in Poland is PLN 600–1,200 per month — about PLN 700–900 on groceries and PLN 200–400 on restaurants and cafes. The amount depends on diet, cooking habits and location.

Add to the rent or mortgage payment: administration charges (co-op or HOA fees), utilities (electricity, gas, water — about PLN 200–500/month), internet (PLN 50–80) and home insurance (about PLN 30–60/month). In total, housing typically absorbs 30–45% of the budget.

A public transport user in a major city pays about PLN 100–150 for a monthly pass. Car owners must factor in fuel (PLN 300–600), third-party liability insurance (PLN 100–200/month) and servicing (about PLN 100/month). Total car transport costs run to about PLN 600–1,200 per month.

The 50/30/20 rule is a popular budgeting model: 50% of income on needs (housing, food, transport), 30% on wants (entertainment, restaurants, hobbies) and 20% on savings and debt repayment. It is a good starting point, though high rental costs in large cities often force adjustments to the proportions.

In Warsaw a monthly studio apartment rental is about PLN 2,500–4,000, compared to PLN 1,200–2,000 in a city of 50,000–100,000 people. Food and transport are about 15–25% more expensive in Warsaw. Overall, the cost of living in the capital is 40–70% higher than in smaller centres.

Monthly health costs include: a medical subscription or private visits (PLN 100–300), regular medications and supplements (PLN 50–200), gym or sports classes (PLN 100–200) and any health or dental insurance. Even without chronic conditions, it is worth budgeting about PLN 200–400 per month.

Before moving to a new city, enter estimated costs in each category for both locations. The calculator will compute the total monthly cost of living, allowing you to compare options and check whether your planned income will cover all expenses including savings.

The recommended amount is 10–20% of net income. For someone earning PLN 5,000 net that is about PLN 500–1,000 for cinema, streaming, going out, hobbies and travel. It is important to deliberately plan an entertainment budget — it helps avoid accidental overspending and guilt over recreational expenditure.