How much do you need to earn to live in Krakow? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Poland's tax system.
You need at least zł7,358/month gross to live in Krakow on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for zł8,693/month gross (zł6,226 net after ~28% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | zł2,700 Cheapest neighborhood (Nowa Huta) | zł3,250 Median neighborhood | zł3,900 Premium neighborhood (Stare Miasto) |
| Groceries | zł1,300 | zł1,560 | zł1,950 |
| Transport | zł100 | zł100 | zł100 |
| Utilities | zł715 | zł715 | zł715 |
| Dining & Entertainment | zł500 | zł600 | zł750 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | zł5,315 | zł6,225 | zł7,415 |
zł7,358/month gross
zł8,693/month gross
zł10,438/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 11 neighborhoods in Krakow
Nowa Huta
30 min by tram
zł2,700 - zł3,100
Prokocim
25 min by tram
zł2,700 - zł3,400
Prądnik Biały
22 min by tram
zł2,800 - zł3,200
Stare Miasto
5 min by walk
zł3,600 - zł4,200
Kazimierz
10 min by walk
zł3,300 - zł3,800
Bronowice
18 min by tram
zł3,200 - zł3,700
See all 11 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore KrakowEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after Poland's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least zł7,358/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Krakow. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for zł8,693/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Poland.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 11 neighborhoods in Krakow is approximately zł3,273/month. Rents range from zł2,700 in Nowa Huta to zł4,200 in Stare Miasto.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Krakow cost approximately zł1,300. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Poland are progressive. At the budget salary level of zł7,358/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 28%. At the comfortable level of zł8,693/month, it rises to approximately 28%. This includes income tax and social contributions.