Cost of Living in Poland on a Student Budget
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Cost of Living in Poland on a Student Budget

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Jan 29, 2024 14:37 IST

International students planning to study in Poland can expect lower living costs in Poland in comparison to other European countries. The cost of living in Poland is affordable for students starting from EUR 330 (INR 27,736) and can go up to EUR 458 (INR 41,288) monthly. However, the costs may vary sometimes based on the city of study chosen by students in Poland.  

cost of living in poland

On average, the cost to live in Poland is between EUR 4,000 (INR 3,60,364) to EUR 6,000 (INR 5,40,546) annually for international students. The cost of accommodation, utilities and transportation in Poland are slightly lower, thus, students do not have to spend much. Check out the article for details on life costs in Poland for international students.  

Living Expenses in Poland for International Students  

The living expenses in Poland for international students are divided into two broad categories - one is the necessary expense head and the second is the expenses on groceries. Details are as follows in the given sections: 

Monthly Living Expenses in Poland  

Every month, international students studying across various universities in Poland will have to spend on, the following areas:  

Expenses per month

Cost in PLN 

Cost in EUR 

Rent (student dormitory) 

400 - 600 

90 - 140 

Public transportation 

50 - 60 

11 - 13 

Health insurance 

40 - 60 

9 - 13 

Phone, internet, and TV bills 

80 - 100 

17 - 22 

Groceries 

700 - 900 

150 - 200 

Entertainment 

150 - 200 

35 - 45 

Average total expenses 

1,500 - 2,000 

330 - 430 

Students studying in Poland will have to spend at least this amount during their stay every month. The other expenses are also included based on the spending capacities of the applicants.  

Cost of Essentials in Poland for Indian Students  

The expenses of living in Poland for students are based on different commodities. The following table throws light on the prices of these commodities which are essential on a day-to-day basis for Indian students living in Poland:

Grocery Items 

Living in Poland Cost  

Living Cost in Poland for Indians  

Dining in an inexpensive restaurant  

PLN 35 

INR 722 

1 litre of milk  

PLN 3.78 

INR 78 

White bread loaf  

PLN 4.74  

INR 98 

1 kg white rice  

PLN 5.59  

INR 116 

A dozen eggs  

PLN 11.79 

INR 243 

1 kg local cheese  

PLN 34.61 

INR 714 

1 kg red meat  

PLN 44.07 

INR 909 

1 kg apples  

PLN 3.78 

INR 78.01 

1 kg bananas  

PLN 6.23  

INR 129 

1 kg oranges  

PLN 6.64  

INR 137 

1 kg tomatoes  

PLN 9.97  

INR 206 

1 kg potatoes  

PLN 3.13  

INR 65 

1 kg onions  

PLN 4.80  

INR 99 

1.5-litre water bottle  

PLN 25  

INR 516 

Total Monthly Expenses   

PLN 199.13 

INR 4,109 

(Source: Numbeo)

The above-given list of groceries is not exhaustive, thus there may be additions to it as this is a very basic list. Around PLN 700 - PLN 900 is spent on groceries on average in Poland while studying. Thus, Indian students do not spend more than PLN 1,500 - PLN 2,000 including the accommodation costs while staying in Poland.  

Expenditure Analysis for Cost of Living in Poland 

Students going to study in Poland, usually spend more on accommodation rents and on shopping in the markets. Following is the expenditure analysis of the cost of living in Poland: 

  • Monthly Rent: 29.5%  

  • Markets: 26.7%  

  • Dining in restaurants: 13.4%  

  • Transportation for commuting: 12.3%  

  • Monthly utilities: 9.5% 

  • Sports & Leisure: 5.4%  

  • Clothing and shoes: 3.2%  

On an average, international student studying in Poland spend the maximum amounts on their monthly rentals. Then the next most spent expenditure is on shopping in markets. The lowest expenditure is incurred on apparel and shoes. Thus, this is how the expense is divided among different areas based on requirements. 

Cost of Living in Poland Cities 

Since Warsaw is the capital city of Poland and home to the University of Warsaw, a lot of international students apply here for admission. So if we talk about the cost of living in Poland’s Warsaw, then we should look at the living index. Also, let us check out the top cities in Poland and their cost of living index in Poland below: 

  • Warsaw: 46.2/100 

  • Krakow: 45.1/100 

  • Wroclaw: 43.2/100 

  • Gdansk: 43/100 

  • Katowice: 42.4/100 

Students spend more in Warsaw than in Karakow while studying across universities in these Poland cities. Let us draw an analysis of the top five cities in Poland and understand the living costs that international students will have to incur: 

Poland Cities 

Accommodation + Utility Cost 

Transportation Cost 

Total Cost of Living in Poland City 

Warsaw  

PLN 430 

PLN 230 

PLN 660 

Krakow  

PLN 450 

PLN 210 

PLN 660 

Wroclaw  

PLN 560 

PLN 120 

PLN 680 

Gdansk  

PLN 420 

PLN 150 

PLN 570 

Katowice  

PLN 550 

PLN 110 

PLN 660 

On average international students do not spend more than PLN 700 irrespective of the city they stay in Poland. The living expenses in Warsaw and the cost of living in Krakow are the same. Thus, a lot also depends on the personal expenses of the applicants which overall affects the budget.  

If you are looking ahead to studying in Poland and need admission and application-related help, you can sign up for our free Shiksha Abroad Counselling. Or you can write to us in the comments below.

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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio

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MBA, MS & UG in Europe

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