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Your Stay in Poland

Living Costs

Living in Poland as a student is relatively affordable compared to other European Union countries.

Living expenses for international students can range all the way between 500 and 900 EUR. However, it is worth mentioning that the upper limit is usually applicable for cities like Gdańsk, Kraków and Warsaw.

For your life in Kraków and the Małopolska region you will need around 2500–3500 PLN (550–800 EUR) per month depending on your lifestyle (as of 2025/2026).

Your expenses can be divided into the following sections:

  1. Accommodation – can constitute up to 50% of your monthly allowance with prices for rooms and flats varying between 1000 and 1800 PLN per month for a room in a shared apartment, or 2000–3200 PLN for a small studio without utilities.
  2. Utilities – usually water, heating, garbage disposal and electricity – can vary between 200 and 400 PLN per month depending on the building and the number of tenants. In most cases if the building is renovated or new the cost of utilities is lower compared to buildings which are older or in an unkept state.
  3. Food. The average student will spend anywhere between 700 and 1200 PLN per month. The cost will depend on the way of life of the student. You can save some money if you choose to buy groceries and shop from cheaper supermarkets. Some of the most common ones are Tesco, Auchan, Carrefour, Leclerc, and Lidl.
  4. Transportation and tickets. It is cheaper to buy a monthly ticket no matter which city you are in. In Kraków the student monthly ticket usually costs around 70 PLN, while a regular ticket costs about 140 PLN.
  5. Personal Care. Anything from toilet paper or deodorant to a haircut or a private visit to a doctor will cost you between 250 and 450 PLN per month. It has to be noted that if you are insured by the National Health System (NFZ) then all public healthcare visits are free.
  6. Leisure. For leisure students can spend around 200–400 PLN per month. The average cost of a theatre ticket is 80–150 PLN; for a movie night for two between 50–70 PLN; cappuccino in popular areas of the city 15–20 PLN, etc.