The currency in Poland

Poland’s currency is the Polish złoty (zł). The official currency code is PLN, which is how it’s displayed at Moneycorp. Being a floating currency, the złoty’s value increases or decreases according to market demand. That said, the currency’s value against other currencies is above the mid-market exchange rate. At the time of writing, 1 British Pound equals approximately 5.30 zł (as of 2 February 2023).

Use Moneycorp’s online currency converter to keep up with the złoty’s current value.

Where to live in Poland

Poland offers expats a welcome change of pace compared to life in Britain, even if the climate isn’t as warm and sunny as other destinations. The cost of living in Poland, as in most if not all other countries, varies from city to city.

The Polish capital of Warsaw ranks 174 out of the world’s 227 most expensive cities, according to Mercer’s 2022 Cost of Living Survey. Wroclaw is in the 187th spot, and Krakow is in the 190th spot. When it comes to calculating the average cost of living in Poland, you should convert the Polish price into British Pounds and then compare the result to UK prices.

How much does accommodation cost in Poland?

The cost of accommodation in Poland, whether you’re planning to rent or to buy, depends on your preferred location. That said, property prices in major cities tend to be consistent.

The table below offers a general guideline regarding the cost of renting or buying property, which is important when considering the average cost of living in Poland. We cover the cost of living in Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw. All figures taken from Numbeo.com and exchange rates calculated on 2nd February 2023 at 11.15am

Warsaw

Monthly rent for 1 bedroom apartment (city centre)	£677.75 (3,587.50 zł)
Monthly rent for 1 bedroom apartment (outside centre)	£528.90 (2,799.62 zł)
Monthly rent for 3 bedroom apartment (city centre)	£1,329.27 (7,0361.17 zł)
Monthly rent for 3 bedroom apartment (outside centre)	£949.05 (5,023.53 zł)
Price per square meter to buy apartment (city centre)	£3,807.79 (20,155.56 zł)
Price per square meter to buy apartment (outside centre)	£2,395.09 (12,677.82 zł)

 

Kraków

Monthly rent for 1 bedroom apartment (city centre)	£581.87 (3,080.00 zł)
Monthly rent for 1 bedroom apartment (outside centre)	£458.93 (2,429.23 zł)
Monthly rent for 3 bedroom apartment (city centre)	£824.74 (4,365.53 zł)
Monthly rent for 3 bedroom apartment (outside centre)	£658.06 (3,483.29 zł)
Price per square meter to buy apartment (city centre)	£3,181.06 (16,838.12 zł)
Price per square meter to buy apartment (outside centre)	£2,053.28 (10,868.52 zł)

 

Wroclaw

Monthly rent for 1 bedroom apartment (city centre)	£548.32 (2,886.49 zł)
Monthly rent for 1 bedroom apartment (outside centre)	£445.79 (2,359.68 zł)
Monthly rent for 3 bedroom apartment (city centre)	£849.49 (4,496.55 zł)
Monthly rent for 3 bedroom apartment (outside centre)	£708.16 (3,748.48 zł)
Price per square meter to buy apartment (city centre)	£2,530.80 (13,396.15 zł)
Price per square meter to buy apartment (outside centre)	£1,772.94 (9,384.62 zł)

 

Cost of transport in Poland

Affordable public transport helps make the average cost of living in Poland attractive to British expats and students. Popular transport options include buses, trams, and regional trains, as well as coaches and trains that offer cross-country travel. The cost of buying a car and the petrol price in Poland are lower than in the UK, offering a viable alternative to public transport.

Single bus ticket	£0.76 (4.00 zł)
Monthly public transport ticket	£20.59 (109.00 zł)
Petrol (1 litre)	£1.27 (6.71 zł)
Volkswagen Golf	£17,002.80 (90,000.00 zł)
Toyota Corolla	£18,580.74 (98,352.44 zł)

 

The cost of living in Poland for international students

With more than 400 universities and colleges and a relatively low cost of living in Poland for international students, it's not surprising that a number of British students opt to further their education in this country. While Polish, EU/EEA, and Swiss students do not pay tuition fees for degree courses taught in Polish, students must pay tuition fees for all other programs.

Those fees can range between £1782,87 (first, second, and long-cycle studies) and £2674,30 (postgraduate and scientific, arts, specialist, and post-doctoral internships) per academic year. Apart from tuition fees, the average cost of living in Poland is relatively low for students, even if you need to adjust your budget slightly, depending on the city or neighbourhood you decide to study in. On average, the monthly cost of living for students outside larger cities starts at approximately £284.00. In larger cities, students should budget for between £430 and £750 per month.

Of that budget, between 35 and 40% is spent on accommodation, whether that be in student residence halls or a shared flat. The rest should be budgeted for utilities, groceries, public transportation, and entertainment. You will need to apply for a temporary residence permit if you plant on studying in Poland for more than three months.

What is the cost of living in Poland compared to the UK?

The cost of living in Poland is noticeably more affordable than in the UK and in other European countries such as Portugal and Spain. The table below offers insights into the cost of living in Poland compared to UK, as it compares the average prices of various goods and services.

 

Milk (1 litre)	£0.63 (3.32 zł)
Bread (500g loaf)	£0.78 (4.13 zł)
Eggs (12pk)	£2.02 (10.68 zł)
Water (1.5 litre bottle)	£0.42 (2.22 zł)
Chicken Breast (1kg)	£4.12 (21.75 zł)
Cappuccino (regular, in a restaurant)	£2.21 (11.67 zł)
Beer (500ml, in a restaurant/pub)	£2.27 (12.00 zł)
Cinema ticket	£4.73 (25.00 zł)
Gym membership (monthly)	£23.57 (124.51 zł)
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)	£232.23 (1,226.58 zł)
Primary School (yearly)	£4,966.82 (26,233.65 zł)

 

Sign up for a personal account with Moneycorp

Whether you’re moving to this beautiful country for business purposes, studies, your retirement, or simply a change of pace, make sending money to Poland and making payments easier by signing up for a Moneycorp personal account. Whether you want to buy a property or rent, Moneycorp has all the information you need to make the process that much simpler. Contact us for more information.