Cost Of Living For a Student in Warsaw 2025

Average monthly spending for students in Warsaw

How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Warsaw?

Students in Warsaw spend around 6,800 PLN per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,000 PLN or as high as 45,000 PLN. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do students spend their money in Warsaw?

We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Warsaw typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,600 PLN with expenditure ranging from 250 PLN to 11,000 PLN. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Warsaw ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 270 PLN with 42 PLN and 1,800 PLN being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 73 PLN to 3,200 PLN in a month on commuting with 480 PLN being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Warsaw is 1,400 PLN. The cost of groceries can range between 210 PLN to 9,100 PLN. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in Warsaw allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 62 PLN to 2,700 PLN with 410 PLN being the norm for most students.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for students

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 52 PLN to 2,300 PLN with 340 PLN being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.

Education and schooling expenditure for students

Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,300 PLN per month with 200 PLN being the minimum spent amount and 8,600 PLN being the maximum.

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Warsaw

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Warsaw?

Around 73% of surveyed students think that living in Warsaw is affordable with proper budgeting while 27% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Warsaw

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options63%

Few low-cost options37%

Based on the survey, 63% of the students living in Warsaw have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 37% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Students

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Warsaw whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes71%

No29%

Based on the survey, 29% of the students living in Warsaw said that they don't have an emergency fund while 71% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Poland

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy64%

We asked student guardians and parents in Warsaw whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 36% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 64% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether students of Poland have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 31% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 69% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance31%

Easily manages finances69%

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Warsaw

Rent Cost in Warsaw

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

1,200 PLN

1,800 PLN

4,700 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300

$450

$1,200

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,800 PLN

2,800 PLN

7,100 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$450

$710

$1,800

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,400 PLN

3,600 PLN

9,500 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$600

$890

$2,400

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,800 PLN

4,700 PLN

13,000 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$710

$1,200

$3,200

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

5,700 PLN

14,000 PLN

28,000 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$3,600

$7,100

Townhouse monthly rent cost

4,700 PLN

7,100 PLN

20,000 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$1,800

$5,100

House monthly rent cost

5,700 PLN

14,000 PLN

28,000 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$3,600

$7,100

Villa monthly rent cost

7,100 PLN

18,000 PLN

28,000 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,800

$4,500

$7,100

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Warsaw ranges between 1,200 PLN and 4,700 PLN, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,800 PLN to 7,100 PLN. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,400 PLN and 9,500 PLN per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,800 PLN to 13,000 PLN. The average rent of a townhouse in Warsaw is around 7,100 PLN while house rental costs can be as high as 14,000 PLN per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 7,100 PLN to 28,000 PLN per month.

Apartment and house prices in Warsaw

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

240,000 PLN

360,000 PLN

710,000 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$60,000

$89,000

$180,000

1-bedroom apartment price

280,000 PLN

470,000 PLN

1.8M PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$71,000

$120,000

$450,000

2-bedroom apartment price

470,000 PLN

1.4M PLN

2.8M PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$360,000

$710,000

3-bedroom apartment price

1.6M PLN

2.4M PLN

7.1M PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$400,000

$600,000

$1.8M

Townhouse price

2M PLN

4.7M PLN

18M PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$510,000

$1.2M

$4.5M

House price

2.4M PLN

14M PLN

20M PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$600,000

$3.6M

$5.1M

Villa price

2.8M PLN

16M PLN

24M PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$710,000

$4M

$6M

The average price of a studio apartment in Warsaw can range from 240,000 PLN to 710,000 PLN depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 280,000 PLN to 1.8M PLN. A villa can cost you 16M PLN on average with prices ranging from 2.8M PLN to 24M PLN.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Warsaw can be x110 to x214 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x110 multiples of the average monthly salary in Warsaw.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Warsaw is around 32%. This means that people pay 32% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 42% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Warsaw

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Warsaw

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student

42 PLN

270 PLN

1,800 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10

$68

$450

Internet and cable cost

64 PLN

130 PLN

170 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$16

$32

$43

Mobile phone bill and charges

52 PLN

86 PLN

260 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$22

$65

The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 270 PLN. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 64 PLN to 170 PLN with 130 PLN being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 86 PLN but can range between 52 PLN and 260 PLN depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Warsaw is around 6.3%. This means that people pay 6.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.2% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Warsaw

Prices and cost of goods and services in Warsaw

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

13 PLN

26 PLN

43 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.2

$6.5

$11

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Warsaw is approximatly 26 PLN with meal cost ranging from 13 PLN to 43 PLN. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

45 PLN

68 PLN

140 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$17

$34

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 45 PLN and 140 PLN with 68 PLN being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Warsaw.

Fine dining meal for one price

90 PLN

140 PLN

540 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23

$34

$140

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 90 PLN to 540 PLN with the average cost being 140 PLN for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Warsaw.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

11 PLN

17 PLN

26 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.7

$4.3

$6.5

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Warsaw is around 17 PLN. Price ranges between 11 PLN and 26 PLN depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

8.6 PLN

10 PLN

13 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$2.6

$3.2

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Warsaw is 10 PLN. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 13 PLN and the minimum being 8.6 PLN depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

6.4 PLN

8.6 PLN

13 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2.2

$3.2

A dozen eggs costs around 8.6 PLN on average with 6.4 PLN and 13 PLN being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

15 PLN

19 PLN

27 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.7

$4.8

$6.7

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Warsaw is between 15 PLN and 27 PLN depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 19 PLN.

Pack of beef price

17 PLN

26 PLN

52 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.3

$6.5

$13

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 26 PLN. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

6.9 PLN

9.5 PLN

13 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.4

$3.4

A bag of rice in Warsaw costs around 9.5 PLN on average with prices rangeing between 6.9 PLN and 13 PLN depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

2.6 PLN

3.4 PLN

6.4 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.65

$0.86

$1.6

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 2.6 PLN to 6.4 PLN. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

4.6 PLN

6 PLN

9.9 PLN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.5

$2.5

A bag of apples costs 6 PLN on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Warsaw is around 27%. This means that students spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 34% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for students