CostTrek

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Boston 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.

Boston, MA vs Warsaw, PL at a glance — Warsaw, PL is 35% cheaper than Boston, MA overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $900/mo versus $3,000/mo. Top income tax: 32% vs 37%.

$/ year

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

$48,473 / year

Warsaw, PL is 35% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Warsaw, PL vs Boston, MA)

  • Housing-53%
  • Food & groceries-22%
  • Transport-40%
  • Utilities+5%
  • Healthcare-34%
  • Goods & services-23%

◎ How Boston, MA and Warsaw, PL compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Boston, MAWarsaw, PL

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

▤ Full comparison

Boston, MAWarsaw, PL
Cost of living
Overall cost index11172
Housing15272
Food9070
Transport9155
Utilities95100
Healthcare9865
Goods & services9674
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$3,000/mo$900/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$2,300/mo$650/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$5,500/mo$1,700/mo
Buy price / m² centre$11,000$4,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$897$1,388
Inexpensive meal$22$8
Monthly transit pass$90$30
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%32%
VAT / sales tax0%23%
Social security (employee)7.7%—
Corporate tax21%19%
Capital gains20%19%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$1,200/mo
Minimum wage$1,257/mo✓$1,297/mo✓
GDP per capita$90,027✓$28,420✓
Inflation (annual)—3.8%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyNativeModerate
Coworking spaces8050
Time zoneUTC-5UTC+1
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)7367
Safety index6268
Healthcare index8572
Pollution index3555
Internet speed200 Mbps150 Mbps
Walkability8380
Public transport7582
Family-friendly6568
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$460/mo—
Life expectancy79 yr✓78 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighLow
Climate
January avg-1 °C-2 °C
July avg+23 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year20090
Rainfall / year1,100 mm550 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1.5 h

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

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

Cost of living: Boston vs Warsaw — in your currency

BostonWarsaw
1-bed rent, city centre$3,000$900
1-bed rent, outside centre$2,300$650
Inexpensive meal$22$8
Monthly transit pass$90$30
Utilities (monthly)$200$200

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

Good to know before you move to Boston

Historic, walkable and a global university and biotech hub — winters are long and rents are steep.

Currency
US dollar ($ USD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC-5
Internet
200 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
62/100
Climate
❄ -1°C · ☀ 23°C · 200 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 120V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Back Bay · Cambridge · South End

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 Boston to Warsaw: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Boston to Warsaw, your cost of living will be roughly 35% cheaper. Warsaw’s cost-of-living index is 72 versus 111 for Boston (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Boston cheaper than Warsaw?

Warsaw is about 35% cheaper than Boston overall — its cost-of-living index is 72 versus 111 for Boston.

Which is more expensive, Boston or Warsaw?

Boston is more expensive than Warsaw. Its cost-of-living index is 111 vs 72 (US = 100) — about 54% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Boston or Warsaw?

Rent is cheaper in Warsaw — about $900/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $3,000 in Boston.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Boston is worth about $48,473 in Warsaw. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Warsaw?

Poland has the lower top income-tax rate — 32% versus 37% in United States.

◷ More comparisons from Boston

How we calculate these figures →

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