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Prague 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.

Prague, CZ vs Warsaw, PL at a glance — Warsaw, PL is 11% cheaper than Prague, CZ overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $900/mo versus $950/mo. Top income tax: 32% vs 23%.

$/ year

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

$66,804 / year

Warsaw, PL is 11% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Warsaw, PL vs Prague, CZ)

  • Housing-18%
  • Food & groceries-10%
  • Transport-8%
  • Utilities0%
  • Healthcare0%
  • Goods & services-10%

◎ How Prague, CZ and Warsaw, PL compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Prague, CZWarsaw, PL

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

▤ Full comparison

Prague, CZWarsaw, PL
Cost of living
Overall cost index8172
Housing8872
Food7870
Transport6055
Utilities100100
Healthcare6565
Goods & services8274
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$950/mo$900/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$720/mo$650/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$1,800/mo$1,700/mo
Buy price / m² centre$5,500$4,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$1,236$1,388
Inexpensive meal$9$8
Monthly transit pass$25$30
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)23%32%
VAT / sales tax21%23%
Corporate tax21%19%
Capital gains—19%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$1,400/mo$1,200/mo
Avg annual wage (OECD, PPP)$43,607✓$49,074✓
Minimum wage$1,070/mo✓$1,297/mo✓
GDP per capita$31,368✓$28,420✓
Inflation (annual)2.4%✓3.8%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaYesNo
English proficiencyModerateModerate
Coworking spaces4050
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+1
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)7367
Safety index7568
Healthcare index7572
Pollution index4055
Internet speed150 Mbps150 Mbps
Walkability8280
Public transport8582
Family-friendly7068
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Life expectancy80 yr✓78 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateLow
Climate
January avg0 °C-2 °C
July avg+19 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year17090
Rainfall / year500 mm550 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1.5 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Czech Republic 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: Prague vs Warsaw — in your currency

PragueWarsaw
1-bed rent, city centre$950$900
1-bed rent, outside centre$720$650
Inexpensive meal$9$8
Monthly transit pass$25$30
Utilities (monthly)$200$200

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

Good to know before you move to Prague

A fairy-tale capital of Gothic spires and Baroque squares that doubles as one of Central Europe's biggest expat and IT hubs — Western-quality living at noticeably lower prices, though rents have climbed fast.

Currency
Czech koruna (Kč CZK)
Languages
Czech
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
150 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
75/100
Climate
❄ 0°C · ☀ 19°C · 170 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
E · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Vinohrady · Žižkov · Karlín · Malá Strana

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 Prague to Warsaw: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Prague to Warsaw, your cost of living will be roughly 11% cheaper. Warsaw’s cost-of-living index is 72 versus 81 for Prague (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Prague cheaper than Warsaw?

Warsaw is about 11% cheaper than Prague overall — its cost-of-living index is 72 versus 81 for Prague.

Which is more expensive, Prague or Warsaw?

Prague is more expensive than Warsaw. Its cost-of-living index is 81 vs 72 (US = 100) — about 13% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Prague or Warsaw?

Rent is cheaper in Warsaw — about $900/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $950 in Prague.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Prague is worth about $66,804 in Warsaw. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Prague or Warsaw?

Czech Republic has the lower top income-tax rate — 23% versus 32% in Poland.

◷ More comparisons from Prague

How we calculate these figures →

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