Wondering how far your salary goes in Warsaw? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed apartment, centralPLN 3,500–5,000 / month
Public transport monthly pass≈PLN 180 / month
Groceries, one personPLN 1,200–1,800 / month
Milk bar lunchPLN 20–30
CoffeePLN 14–20
Good to know
Population
≈1.86 million (city); ≈3.1 million (metro)
Languages
Polish; English widely spoken in the corporate sector
Currency
Polish złoty (PLN) — Poland is in the EU but not the eurozone
Time zone
CET (GMT+1); CEST (GMT+2) in summer
Power plug
Type C/E, 230 V / 50 Hz
Climate
Humid continental — warm summers, cold snowy winters
Driving side
Right
EU status
In the EU and Schengen; not in the eurozone
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Warsaw checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.