The Best Places to Live in Poland & the Cheapest Cities

Poland offers great value for anyone looking for a new base in Europe. While it may not be the continent’s most glamorous destination, it has some charming old cities and a rapidly developing capital. In this post, we’ll look at the best places to live in Poland and highlight the cheapest cities for digital nomads, remote workers or anyone looking for both a good standard of living and cheap living costs.

Table of Contents

• 5 of the Best Cities to Live in Poland & Work Remotely
  • 1. Krakow
  • 2. Szczecin
  • 3. Warsaw
  • 4. Wroclaw
  • 5. Gdansk
• Moving to Poland – Useful Resources
• What are the Cheapest Cities to Live in Poland?

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5 of the Best Cities to Live in Poland & Work Remotely

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1. Krakow

Krakow has long been Poland’s most popular city with visitors. Dating back to the 7th Century, what is now the country’s second city, boasts one of the most beautiful old towns in Europe. Its long and complex history makes it one of the most intriguing to get to know. Meanwhile, having a reputation as something of a tourist destination, makes it a bit easier for foreigners to settle and get to know people than it might be in a smaller town where English is less widely spoken.

Slightly cheaper than the capital Warsaw, Krakow is still an affordable city to live in by most European standards. However, as is the case across Poland, living and particularly housing costs have risen dramatically in the last few years. As of late 2023, you should be able to find rooms in shared apartments for around 1500 Polish Zloty (340 Euros) per month while you can find your own studio or one bedroom flat for something in the region of 2500-3500 Zloty (560-790 Euros) per month.

While winters are cold, one positive is that Krakow’s southerly location ensures it has slightly warmer summers than most Polish cities. It also has the advantage of being close to the popular town of Zakopane and the beautiful Tatra Mountains, making the city a good base for nature lovers.

Estimated Living Costs (explanation below) in Krakow – 900-1300 Euros/month

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2. Szczecin

If saving money whilst working remotely is your priority, there are still lots of cheap options for city living in Poland. In truth, many are fairly uninspiring, often industrial places with not much entertainment. Szczecin is perhaps the nicest of the better value choices.

Located in the far northwest of the country, just 15 km from the German border, Szczecin is a green, riverside city with a laid back atmosphere. The level of English spoken is good and while it may lack the nightlife and fun factor of other Polish cities, those looking for a more tranquil pace of life ought to enjoy it. There are plenty of pleasant cafes to work and it also ranks very well in terms of internet speeds.

The main attraction though will be the lower cost of living. You should be able to find your own flat for under 600 Euros per month which, although much more than it was only a couple of years ago, is still outstanding value for a city in the very heart of Europe. 

It’s also worth noting that you can reach Berlin in less than two hours by road or rail, meaning if you get a little bit bored in Szczecin, a day or weekend trip to the German capital, which ranks as one of the most expensive German cities to live in, is an easy option.

Estimated Living Costs in Szczecin – 800-1200 Euros/month

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3. Warsaw

As for Poland’s capital, Warsaw is by far the largest city in Poland and is one of the ten biggest in the EU as a whole, making it the obvious choice for anyone looking for big city living in Poland.

It has changed dramatically since the fall of communism, having already had to virtually rebuild itself following near total destruction during World War II. Warsaw today is a bustling capital with the skyscrapers of its business district towering over historic neighbourhoods.

Today it feels as though Warsaw is finally moving on from its dark past and is going through something of a renaissance as a major cultural and economic hub which is drawing in people from far and wide.

While Warsaw is Poland’s most expensive city, it’s still good value compared to most other European capitals and other cities of its size.

The higher cost of living certainly isn’t putting Poles off from moving though and Warsaw’s population was growing faster than any of the other 15 largest cities in the country, even before a massive influx of Ukrainian refugees in 2022.

Estimated Living Costs in Warsaw – 950-1450 Euros/month

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4. Wroclaw

If you are looking for a city that is of a smaller size than Warsaw but still good fun then Wroclaw is a nice option. It has a population that is roughly a third of that of the capital, but in terms of life and character, it more than makes up for that.

It is a university city with a large student population which helps to ensure there are plenty of nightlife and entertainment options throughout the week. You certainly don’t get that sleepy feel you might have in one of the smaller towns.

Wroclaw is also one of Poland’s prettiest cities. Built on twelve islands, it is a city of rivers, canals and bridges. While comparisons to Venice may be a bit of a stretch, you won’t tire of wandering around its pretty old centre.

In terms of trips away, it’s the closest major Polish city to Prague, while you’re also relatively close to the German border with Dresden around three hours away by road.

Estimated Living Costs in Wroclaw– 850-1250 Euros/month

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5. Gdansk

Finally we head to Poland’s only coastline and the port city of Gdansk. The city has developed into something of a cultural hub with numerous museums, theatres, art galleries and live music venues. Gdansk plays host to various festivals and events throughout the year, where you can get a taste for its rich cultural heritage.

Other benefits include Gdansk’s location on the coast, meaning it’s one of the few Polish cities with easy access to beautiful beaches and pleasant waterfront areas. The city’s seaside promenades are worth a stroll at any time of year, although given the low temperatures, you’ll need to wait until the summer months to enjoy the best of the outdoor activities it has to offer.

Its multi-ethnic make-up and history perhaps in part explains why it has developed into one of Poland’s few cities that truly feels international. That diverse mix has helped it grow into one of the country’s leading digital nomad hubs with a number of quirky districts and plenty of great cafes with easy wifi access, helping to attract remote workers from further afield.

Estimated Living Costs in Gdansk – 850-1250 Euros/month

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Estimated Living Costs Calculation Explained:

The estimated living costs in Poland featured in this post (above and below) aim to cover the total living costs for one person and were updated in October 2023. They include the cost of renting accommodation.

The lower figure in the ranges given should cover the cost of renting a room in a shared apartment and being relatively careful with what you spend in general. The higher figure offers some leeway which should cover the cost of renting your own apartment or studio and perhaps a slightly higher standard of living with more nights out and suchlike. However clearly everybody’s idea of a ‘normal lifestyle’ is different so use the figures as a means of comparison rather than as a definitive guide.

The rental prices factored in are those of renting a regular room or flat like a local would. If you’re a digital nomad and are planning a shorter stay of just a few months or less and will be renting off Airbnb, then you might want to add around 10-20% to the suggested budgets to cover the higher cost of shorter term accommodation. Also consider that in some of the smaller, less touristic cities, it will be more difficult to find a good Airbnb at a good price.

We have used Polish living cost data from Numbeo as a guide when forming the estimations.

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Moving to Poland – Useful Resources

• Learning some basic Polish will help enormously in your early days in the country. Consider taking one of Babbel’s award winning Polish courses.
• SafetyWing offer nomad insurance packages for digital nomads and anyone looking for short-term medical cover in Poland before they get settled and registered into the local healthcare system.
• Find the cheapest prices for flights to Poland by using Skyscanner, Europe’s most useful flight comparison site.
• Book trains around Poland, including high speed options with PKP (the state railway).

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What are the Cheapest Cities to Live in Poland?

City	Estimated Cost of Living (Monthly in Euros)
Warsaw	950-1450
Krakow	900-1300
Gdansk	850-1250
Wroclaw	850-1250
Bydgoszcz	850-1250
Gdynia	800-1200
Szczecin	800-1200
Rzeszow	800-1200
Katowice	800-1200
Poznan	800-1200
Lodz	750-1150
Lublin	700-1100
Bialystok	700-1100
Torun	700-1000

The table above shows there is quite a range in terms of the cost of living across the major cities in Poland. Warsaw is clearly the most expensive place in the country but it’s not vastly pricier than other major cities such as Gdansk, Krakow and Wroclaw. All of those still work much more affordable than even the cheapest places to live in Belgium for example.

If you’re just starting out on the remote working journey, aren’t making a huge income or just want to save as much money as you can, then smaller cities such as Torun or Lublin are decent options. However you should be aware that these kinds of places won’t have much of an international scene and may be slightly difficult to get used to unless you speak good Polish.

Having local language skills will also make it easier to benefit from things like eating and drinking in typical local restaurants and bars where English is far more unlikely to be spoken. Many Polish cities have beautiful old towns where many restaurants will have English menus but you can expect to pay considerably more to eat out.

It’s also worth noting that none of these budgets for living in Poland factor in the cost of any travel or health insurance packages which will depend on your age and circumstances.

Also remember that the currency in Poland is the Zloty and not the Euro. At the time of writing (October 2023), one Euro is worth 4.43 Zloty.

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