How much do you need to earn to live here, after Poland takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Poland's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Krakow is roughly zł7,358/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think 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
Second-hand 1BR 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
All 11 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Poland's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
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.