CostTrek

✦ Compare

Milan 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.

Milan, IT vs Warsaw, PL at a glance — Warsaw, PL is 35% cheaper than Milan, IT overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $900/mo versus $1,500/mo. Top income tax: 32% vs 43%.

$/ year

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

$48,731 / year

Warsaw, PL is 35% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Warsaw, PL vs Milan, IT)

  • Housing-47%
  • Food & groceries-33%
  • Transport-31%
  • Utilities-17%
  • Healthcare-21%
  • Goods & services-30%

◎ How Milan, IT and Warsaw, PL compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Milan, ITWarsaw, PL

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

▤ Full comparison

Milan, ITWarsaw, PL
Cost of living
Overall cost index11172
Housing13572
Food10570
Transport8055
Utilities120100
Healthcare8265
Goods & services10674
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,500/mo$900/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,150/mo$650/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$3,000/mo$1,700/mo
Buy price / m² centre$8,500$4,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$902$1,388
Inexpensive meal$16$8
Monthly transit pass$42$30
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)43%32%
VAT / sales tax22%23%
Corporate tax24%19%
Capital gains26%19%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$1,900/mo$1,200/mo
Minimum wage—$1,297/mo✓
GDP per capita$43,309✓$28,420✓
Inflation (annual)1.5%✓3.8%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaYesNo
English proficiencyModerateModerate
Coworking spaces6050
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+1
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)6667
Safety index5568
Healthcare index8072
Pollution index7055
Internet speed120 Mbps150 Mbps
Walkability8580
Public transport8282
Family-friendly6468
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Life expectancy84 yr✓78 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateLow
Climate
January avg+3 °C-2 °C
July avg+24 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year13090
Rainfall / year1,000 mm550 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1.5 h

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

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

Cost of living: Milan vs Warsaw — in your currency

MilanWarsaw
1-bed rent, city centre$1,500$900
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,150$650
Inexpensive meal$16$8
Monthly transit pass$42$30
Utilities (monthly)$190$200

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

Good to know before you move to Milan

Italy's business, finance and fashion capital — the country's best job market, at its highest prices.

Currency
Euro (€ EUR)
Languages
Italian
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
120 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
55/100
Climate
❄ 3°C · ☀ 24°C · 130 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
F/L · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Navigli · Brera · Isola

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 Milan to Warsaw: cheaper or more expensive?

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

Is Milan cheaper than Warsaw?

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

Which is more expensive, Milan or Warsaw?

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

Is rent cheaper in Milan or Warsaw?

Rent is cheaper in Warsaw — about $900/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $1,500 in Milan.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Milan is worth about $48,731 in Warsaw. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Milan or Warsaw?

Poland has the lower top income-tax rate — 32% versus 43% in Italy.

◷ More comparisons from Milan

How we calculate these figures →

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