Your all-in-one guide to cost of living in Poland
A growing economy, rich cultural heritage and high quality of living make Poland an exciting destination for South Africans looking to move. The country which became a part of the European Union in the early 2000’s is known for its scenic landscape comprising the Baltic Sea and good natured population.
Moving to a new country can be an exciting adventure, but it also comes with practical considerations, especially when it comes to managing finances. With Wise* you can make international money transfers at the mid-market exchange rate. In this article we breakdown the cost of living in Poland to help you prepare for a move.
*Wise Europe is not a bank. Wise Europe is an authorised Payment Institution incorporated as an SA in Belgium, supervised by the National Bank of Belgium.
Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
How expensive is Poland in comparison to South Africa
The average cost of living in Poland ($1137) is 40% more expensive than in South Africa ($815)5. Poland ranked 74th vs 102nd for South Africa in the list of the most expensive countries in the world6. It is, however, one of the most affordable countries in the EU.
The currency in Poland
While Poland joined the European Union in 2004, the country doesn’t use the Euro. The country uses its own national currency, the złoty or PLN for short. You can check the latest Zloty to Rand rate here using our free online currency converter.
Sending money from Poland to South Africa can be tricky business with varying exchange rates between banks and other forex agencies. So how do you ensure you get the best possible exchange rate?
Send money from Poland to South Africa at the mid-market exchange rate with Wise
If you’re a South African expat living in Poland, Wise can help you save money¹ when making international money transfers back to South Africa.
Although the majority of banks may allow their account holders to make an international transfer, it is possible that a markup is added to the mid-market exchange rate. It is recommended to check the exchange rate offered by your bank against the mid-market rate, which is similar to the exchange rate shown on Google. Say no to hidden fees!
The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them and is considered the fairest rate in the market. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:
Wise customers don’t have to pay an additional markup fee but only a small transparent fee to make an international transaction¹. That’s because Wise uses the mid-market rate for overseas payments!
With Wise, South African expats can save money¹ when making international payments from Poland to South Africa.
Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
Cost of living in Poland vs. South Africa
Poland alongside Hungary and Romania is among the most affordable countries to live in Europe8. Warsaw, its capital city ranks 170 out of 220 cities in Mercer’s cost of living survey7. The cost of living in Poland largely depends on where you’re living along with other lifestyle factors. In this guide we breakdown the costs of rent, groceries, transport, healthcare, and education in major cities to give you an understanding of what a move from South Africa to Poland would cost.
Rental costs in Poland
Renting in Poland, depends on your preferred location. That said, property prices in major cities tend to be consistent. For example the cost of living in Warsaw is pretty similar to the cost of living in Krakow.
The tables below breakdown rents for a single person and a family in the city centre and outside it.
Average monthly rent in Warsaw
| Rental for | Average monthly rent in Warsaw9 |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | 4,509.05 zł (20,759.48 R) |
| 1-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | 3,427.96 zł (15,782.17 R) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | 7,850.00 zł (36,141.08 R) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | 5,664.76 zł (26,080.31 R) |
Average monthly rent in Lodz
| Rental for | Average monthly rent in Lodz10 |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | 2,543.75 zł (11,711.32 R) |
| 1-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | 2,214.29 zł (10,194.48 R) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | 4,904.05 zł (22,578.03 R) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | 4,100.00 zł (18,876.23 R) |
Average monthly rent in Krakow
| Rental for | Average monthly rent in Krakow11 |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | 3,691.85 zł (16,997.11 R) |
| 1-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | 2,721.55 zł (12,529.90 R) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (in the city centre) | 7,274.33 zł (33,490.74 R) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) | 4,934.28 zł (22,717.23 R) |
Cost of groceries in Poland
German grocery stores like Lidl and Kaufland are quite popular in Poland offering a variety of global products at affordable prices. Apart from these Polish supermarkets like Zabka and French chain Auchan are commonly found in the region. The tables below give you an overview of the prices of everyday products in the country.
Average grocery costs in Warsaw
| Basic groceries | Average cost in Warsaw9 |
|---|---|
| Bread | 4.01 zł (18.47 R) |
| Milk | 15.36 zł (70.70 R) |
| Eggs | 12.08 zł (55.61 R) |
| Cheese | 16.48 zł (75.88 R) |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | 10.67 zł (49.12 R) |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | 30.00 zł (138.12 R) |
Average grocery costs in Lodz
| Basic groceries | Average cost in Lodz10 |
|---|---|
| Bread | 4.13 zł (19.02 R) |
| Milk | 13.77 zł (63.39 R) |
| Eggs | 11.41 zł (52.52 R) |
| Cheese | 13.64 zł (62.82 R) |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | 11.03 zł (50.80 R) |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | 25.00 zł (115.10 R) |
Average grocery costs in Krakow
| Basic groceries | Average cost in Krakow11 |
|---|---|
| Bread | 4.73 zł (21.80 R) |
| Milk | 14.54 zł (66.95 R) |
| Eggs | 12.29 zł (56.58 R) |
| Cheese | 17.28 zł (79.54 R) |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | 11.81 zł (54.36 R) |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | 30.00 zł (138.12 R) |
Transport costs in Poland
The country has a good public transport system that offers discounts to students, children, and senior citizens. You can also choose to hire a cab using apps such as Uber and iTaxi. We list the price of public transport in major cities in the table below:
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-way ticket in Warsaw9 | 4.40 zł (20.26 R) |
| Monthly transport pass in Warsaw9 | 110.00 zł (506.44 R) |
| 1-way ticket in Lodz10 | 4.40 zł (20.26 R) |
| Monthly transport pass in Lodz10 | 168.00 zł (773.47 R) |
| 1-way ticket in Krakow11 | 5.00 zł (23.02 R) |
| Monthly transport pass in Krakow11 | 148.00 zł (681.39 R) |
Eating out in Poland
Eating out in Poland is affordable when compared to other European cities. The country has a rich cultural scene and you can easily find cuisines from around the globe in major cities.
Average meal costs in Warsaw
| Category | Warsaw9 |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | 40.00 zł (184.16 R) |
| Meal for 2 people, mid-range Restaurant, three-course | 200.00 zł (920.79 R) |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or equivalent combo meal) | 34.00 zł (156.53 R) |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 14.44 zł (66.46 R) |
Average meal costs in Lodz
| Category | Lodz10 |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | 39.00 zł (179.55 R) |
| Meal for 2 people, mid-range Restaurant, three-course | 150.00 zł (690.59 R) |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or equivalent combo meal) | 30.00 zł (138.12 R) |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 13.05 zł (60.08 R) |
Average meal costs in Krakow
| Category | Krakow11 |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | 40.00 zł (184.16 R) |
| Meal for 2 people, mid-range Restaurant, three-course | 185.00 zł (851.73 R) |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or equivalent combo meal) | 33.50 zł (154.23 R) |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 13.89 zł (63.96 R) |
Study costs in Poland
Public universities degrees taught in Polish are free for Polish and EU/EEA & Swiss students. All the other study programmes have a set tuition fee that needs to be paid by students. Degrees in Business and Medicine are priced higher than others and can cost you almost 15,000 euros per year14. If you enrol at a private university you may also end up shelling out more money that you would at a public university as an international student. On average the tuition can be between the following:
- 500 – 6,000 EUR/academic year for Bachelor’s degrees14
- 1,000 – 8,000 EUR/academic year for Master’s degrees14
But don’t worry you can also find free programmes in Poland commonly at the Master’s level. Be careful while checking as some programmes are offered free of charge only for EU/EEA students.
What is the average salary in Poland?
A major player in European and international trade, Poland boasts one of the highest GDPs in Europe and attracts significant foreign investment12. The country boasts a highly skilled workforce, presenting a plethora of career prospects for expats across diverse sectors such as information and communication technologies, tourism, renewable energy, and services.We’ve put together a list of some common professions and their average pay to help you understand how much you could make if you move there:
Average salary in Poland
| Designation | Average salary in Poland13 |
|---|---|
| Lawyer | 78,000 zl |
| Architect | 72,000 zl |
| Front-end Developer | 90,000 zl |
| Graphic Designer | 81,000 zl |
| Accountant | 95,000 zl |
| Business Analyst | 84,000 zl |
| Content Marketer | 90,000 zl |
| Lab Technician | 66,000 zl |
| Teacher | 69,600 zl |
What about healthcare costs in Poland?
Poland operates a universal and mandatory public polish health insurance system known as Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia (NFZ), which provides basic cover for public health services. However, due to recurring issues such as patient overload and long waiting times in the public sector, expatriates often opt for private international health insurance. This type of insurance covers them in the private sector in Poland as well as abroad and allows access to comprehensive health services in no time. The rates vary from provider to provider and it is important you do your research before purchasing a policy15.
While Poland's cost of living surpasses that of South Africa, the opportunities there are plenty. Whether you're seeking advanced education, career advancement, or just want to broaden your horizons, Poland offers a wealth of opportunities. With above-average salaries, vibrant nightlife, and a culture of discipline, it offers a balanced blend of allure and practicality.
One smart way to avoid paying excess bank fees for international money transfers from Poland to South Africa is to use a Wise multi-currency account to send, spend, and receive money internationally4.
Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
Sources:
- Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
- Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
- Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
- Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
- Average cost of living SA vs Poland
- Most expensive countries list
- Mercer’s cost of living index
- Affordable European Countries
- Cost of living in Warsaw
- Cost of living in Lodz
- Cost of living in Krakow
- Polish economy
- Salaries in Poland
- Studying in Poland
- Healthcare in Poland
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
