CostTrek

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Athens vs Warsaw

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Athens, GR vs Warsaw, PL at a glance — Warsaw, PL is 4% cheaper than Athens, GR overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $900/mo versus $750/mo. Top income tax: 32% vs 44%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Warsaw, PL, you'd need

$72,156 / year

Warsaw, PL is 4% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Warsaw, PL vs Athens, GR)

  • Housing0%
  • Food & groceries-10%
  • Transport0%
  • Utilities0%
  • Healthcare0%
  • Goods & services-7%

◎ How Athens, GR and Warsaw, PL compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Athens, GRWarsaw, PL

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Athens, GRWarsaw, PL
Cost of living
Overall cost index7572
Housing7272
Food7870
Transport5555
Utilities100100
Healthcare6565
Goods & services8074
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$750/mo$900/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$550/mo$650/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$1,400/mo$1,700/mo
Buy price / m² centre$2,800$4,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$1,335$1,388
Inexpensive meal$13$8
Monthly transit pass$30$30
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)44%32%
VAT / sales tax24%23%
Corporate tax22%19%
Capital gains—19%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$1,000/mo$1,200/mo
Avg annual wage (OECD, PPP)$32,412✓$49,074✓
Minimum wage$1,244/mo✓$1,297/mo✓
GDP per capita$23,565✓$28,420✓
Inflation (annual)2.6%✓3.8%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaYesNo
English proficiencyModerateModerate
Coworking spaces3550
Time zoneUTC+2UTC+1
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)6667
Safety index6268
Healthcare index6572
Pollution index5555
Internet speed100 Mbps150 Mbps
Walkability7580
Public transport7282
Family-friendly6268
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Life expectancy82 yr✓78 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateLow
Climate
January avg+10 °C-2 °C
July avg+28 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year25090
Rainfall / year400 mm550 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub2 h1.5 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Greece vs Poland. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (OECD (PPP), Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Athens vs Warsaw — in your currency

AthensWarsaw
1-bed rent, city centre$750$900
1-bed rent, outside centre$550$650
Inexpensive meal$13$8
Monthly transit pass$30$30
Utilities (monthly)$190$200

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Athens

Ancient ruins, Mediterranean sun and a coastline on the doorstep — the cheapest of the big Western-European capitals, with a golden visa and a 50% tax break drawing nomads. Grittier than the postcard, and warming fast.

Currency
Euro (€ EUR)
Languages
Greek
Time zone
UTC+2
Internet
100 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
62/100
Climate
❄ 10°C · ☀ 28°C · 250 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
F · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Koukaki · Kolonaki · Exarchia · Glyfada

Good to know before you move to Warsaw

Central Europe's fastest-rising business hub — modern, safe and affordable, with cold winters.

Currency
Polish złoty (zł PLN)
Languages
Polish
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
150 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
68/100
Climate
❄ -2°C · ☀ 19°C · 90 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
E · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Śródmieście · Praga · Mokotów

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Athens to Warsaw: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Athens to Warsaw, your cost of living will be roughly 4% cheaper. Warsaw’s cost-of-living index is 72 versus 75 for Athens (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Athens cheaper than Warsaw?

Warsaw is about 4% cheaper than Athens overall — its cost-of-living index is 72 versus 75 for Athens.

Which is more expensive, Athens or Warsaw?

Athens is more expensive than Warsaw. Its cost-of-living index is 75 vs 72 (US = 100) — about 4% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Athens or Warsaw?

Rent is cheaper in Athens — about $750/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $900 in Warsaw.

How much do you need to earn in Warsaw to live like in Athens?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Athens is worth about $72,156 in Warsaw. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Athens or Warsaw?

Poland has the lower top income-tax rate — 32% versus 44% in Greece.

◷ More comparisons from Athens

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.