What lands in your account
Take-home on a US salary (federal tax + FICA, no state tax) next to the same earning power in Poland, converted at current exchange rates. Single filer, standard deductions.
| US salary | US take-home /mo | Poland gross /mo | Poland take-home /mo | In dollars | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $80,000/yr | $5,389 | zł 24,076 | zł 15,357 | ≈ $4,253 | 36.2% vs 19.2% US |
| $120,000/yr | $7,731 | zł 36,112 | zł 22,285 | ≈ $6,171 | 38.3% vs 22.7% US |
US take-home is a national baseline — add state income tax where it applies (0% in Texas or Florida, up to ~13% in California). Poland figures use its own tax calculator. Run your exact pay below.
Where to land in Poland
One-bedroom rent ranges from AffordWhere's data. Open any city with a $80,000 US salary already plugged in.
| City | 1BR rent /mo | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krakow | zł 2,700 – zł 4,200 | 4/5 | See my budget |
| Wrocław | zł 2,900 – zł 4,600 | 3/5 | See my budget |
| Warsaw | zł 3,100 – zł 5,400 | 4/5 | See my budget |
| Gdańsk | zł 3,100 – zł 5,200 | 4/5 | See my budget |
Healthcare, after the US
Poland runs a Public (NFZ) system. Public healthcare if employed. Private very affordable (~PLN 100-200/month). private sits around zł 50 a month — against roughly $400–700 for a US marketplace plan before any employer contribution.
Getting in from the US
Work route: Type A work permit for most jobs. EU Blue Card available. Processing typically takes 1-3 months.
Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current route with the Poland immigration authority before you commit.
Up-front to move in
Deposit: 2 month(s) of rent.
Agency fee: 1 month(s) of rent.
Usually 1-2 months deposit. Market is tenant-friendly.
The weather trade
In Warsaw, summers average about 22°C (72°F) and winters about -1°C (30°F).
Run your own salary against Poland
Enter your US pay. We'll show what lands after Polandtax, which neighborhoods you can actually afford, and what's left over each month.
Weighing other countries?
Questions Americans ask
How far does a US salary go in Poland?
Earning the equivalent of a $80,000 US salary in Poland — about zł 24,076 a month gross — leaves roughly zł 15,357 after tax and contributions, or about $4,253 in dollar terms. A single American on that salary keeps about $5,389 a month at home after federal tax and FICA.
Do Americans pay more tax in Poland?
On the US-equivalent of $80,000, the effective rate is about 36.2% in Poland versus 19.2% in the US (federal + FICA). At $120,000 it is about 38.3% versus 22.7%. These are single-filer baselines with standard deductions and no US state tax; your own rate shifts with state, city, and situation.
What does healthcare cost in Poland compared to the US?
Poland runs a Public (NFZ) system. Public healthcare if employed. Private very affordable (~PLN 100-200/month). private sits around zł 50 a month. For contrast, a US marketplace plan typically runs $400–700 a month before any employer contribution.
What visa do Americans need to work in Poland?
Type A work permit for most jobs. EU Blue Card available. Processing typically takes 1-3 months. Confirm the current route with the Poland immigration authority before you commit.
How much is rent in Poland?
In AffordWhere's Poland data, one-bedroom rents start around zł 2,700 a month in Krakow and climb from there in the larger cities. City-by-city ranges are on each Poland city page.