How much Zloty to have an average life in Poland?

plk123:

it's called freedom and one domain.. can't really explain it to you.. you'd have to experience it to appreciate it. but thank you for the explanations.. makes sense and i was thinking that poles were over communal living.. but i guess not.

Jihozapad:

I agree - I have relatives in Warsaw, and we once discussed how much my lifestyle (assuming renting a small flat, not in the centre, at Polish not "expat" rents) would cost - and we agreed that 2500PLN would easily be enough. However, knowing Polish, how to cook, not smoking, and drinking little alcohol does help.

lilly	Jul 10, 09, 18:02 / #
How many zl a month would you need to live an average life in Poland, let's say with rent and all...?

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jul 10, 09, 18:04 / #
If you give me 50zł then I will point out the search feature which will answer your question. But basically it depends on where and how you want to live.

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 [Suspended]	Jul 10, 09, 19:07 / #
lilly: How many zl a month would you need to live an average life in Poland, let's say with rent and all...? An average life? Depends on the city, but I'd say 2000zl in a smaller place and 2500zl in a bigger place. You won't be ridiculously rich or live like a king, but it's more than enough money to be comfortable and not have to worry about anything.

BartolomeThreads: 2 Posts: 1,345 Joined: Sep 14, 06	Edited by: Bartolome Jul 10, 09, 19:11 / #
lilly: How many zl a month would you need to live an average life in Poland, let's say with rent and all...? It depends on where you want to live, what is your lifestyle, etc... The more information you put here, the better information you get. delphiandomine: 2500zl in a bigger place. Definitely not in Warsaw.

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 [Suspended]	Jul 10, 09, 21:04 / #
Bartolome: Definitely not in Warsaw. Are living costs so high in Warsaw that you can't get by on 2500zl? Bearing in mind that you can get a 30sqm, one roomed place in the centre of Poznan for 1200zl including bills, I really can't imagine Warsaw to be that much higher. There's also plenty of rooms to be had in shared flats here for 500zl including bills - I really can't imagine Warsaw to be significantly more - unless of course, you want to live the expat lifestyle.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 [Suspended]	Jul 10, 09, 21:07 / #
delphiandomine: Bearing in mind that you can get a 30sqm, one roomed place in the centre of Poznan for 1200zl including bills, I really can't imagine Warsaw to be that much higher. Here in Warsaw you're looking at 1800zl plus bills for 30sqm, one roomed place in the centre. And beer costs 8zl to 10zl too!

scarbyirp	Jul 10, 09, 21:11 / #
Harry: an average life 5,000zl in the city and 3,000zl in the country.

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Jul 10, 09, 22:20 / #
^^.. hmmm.. and many poles make half of the lower figure per month.. interesting..

buniaThreads: 1 Posts: 159 Joined: May 27, 07	Jul 10, 09, 22:35 / #
plk123: ^^.. hmmm.. and many poles make half of the lower figure per month.. interesting.. Its called "na raty"...

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Jul 10, 09, 23:26 / #
so, everyone is living on credit? na raty doesn't explain anything as that means that it's ono payments.. when your outgoing expenses are more then your income.. something doesn't add up which seems to be the norm in PL..

local	Jul 11, 09, 01:11 / #
Lilly from my experience living in Warsaw is very expensive especially if you want to live it up, renting a two bedroom apartment could cost 3000zl a month plus, of course one room premises could cost around 1000zl, keep in mind you are still required to pay approximately 300zl for service fees., add on costs for power, gas and water. The cost of gas in winter cost around 700zl. Food is cheap and costs of eating out compares to the US. Transport is cheap. Living out of a major city is cheaper. Good news if you have access to US dollars as it is currently getting a good rate. It is not know how local Poles can live with high rental costs where the average wage is around the 3000zl mark per month. Good Luck, oh finally you would proablly need 5000zl a month to live in warsaw and enjoy a good lifestyle.

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jul 11, 09, 09:59 / #
terri: I've been paying 9.50-10 PLN for beer in Krakow for a long time The Rynek might be good for watching the world go by, but there are other places you can do the same and it will not cost as much. Le Scandale...one of the most expensive places in Kazimierz is only 8PLN a beer and you can sit outside there :)

EurolaThreads: 6 Posts: 2,647 Joined: Dec 2, 06	Edited by: Eurola Jul 12, 09, 08:50 / #
scarbyirp: have an average life . . . Who wants one of those? Everybody now. Living above average or affluent life is seen as living against the times. Thank you f**n liberals.

scarbyirp	Jul 12, 09, 09:20 / #
Eurola: Everybody now. Living above average or affluent life is seen as living against the times. Wot a load of bollix. Being average is nothing to do with money.

sadieannThreads: 4 Posts: 320 Joined: Apr 28, 09	Jul 11, 09, 00:01 / #
na raty..? bunia: Its called "na raty"... If one has been smart with money and not living on credit, doubt the na raty.. People that have money usually know the value of money and how to use it wisely. They probably can live on half, but actually are capable and have the means to spend more. Security with money is the best. It is interesting to hear the varying costs of living. Should atleast, get an average depending upon where you live and life style and overall, plan.

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 [Suspended]	Edited by: delphiandomine Jul 11, 09, 03:21 / #
plk123: so, everyone is living on credit? na raty doesn't explain anything as that means that it's ono payments.. when your outgoing expenses are more then your income.. something doesn't add up which seems to be the norm in PL.. It's also because Poles are more willing to make sacrifices to live. The idea of a married couple sharing a flat with other people is almost unheard of in the UK for instance - but it's hardly out of the ordinary in Poland. Even in my block, there's plenty of examples of 5-6 people sharing a 3 roomed flat. It seems to be almost accepted that three generations of a family will be sharing the same place. Likewise, I know of examples where two adult children and parents will be sharing a two roomed flat. For that reason, people can easily live on 2000. But a foreigner coming to Poland won't be so happy to live in a shared flat. I've never understood why, to be honest - all it does is force them to end up paying a ridiculous amount for a 1 roomed flat through English speaking agents. Harry: Here in Warsaw you're looking at 1800zl plus bills for 30sqm, one roomed place in the centre. And beer costs 8zl to 10zl too! 8-10zl for beer? Bloody hell...5.50 in Poznan in anywhere that isn't 'tourist trap hellhole' - and even lower if you can bothered to look. With what you can potentially get in Warsaw, 1800zl plus bills really isn't that much though. local: It is not know how local Poles can live with high rental costs where the average wage is around the 3000zl mark per month. As I said above, Poles will be making sacrifices in their living arrangements, combined with the advantage of not being ripped off by English-speaking letting companies that know that their clients will pay over the top. Good Luck, oh finally you would proablly need 5000zl a month to live in warsaw and enjoy a good lifestyle. That seems hideously unrealistic to be honest - unless you define 'good lifestyle' as 'expat hell'.

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Edited by: plk123 Jul 11, 09, 05:46 / #
delphiandomine: But a foreigner coming to Poland won't be so happy to live in a shared flat. I've never understood why, to be honest - all it does is force them to end up paying a ridiculous amount for a 1 roomed flat through English speaking agents. it's called freedom and one domain.. can't really explain it to you.. you'd have to experience it to appreciate it. but thank you for the explanations.. makes sense and i was thinking that poles were over communal living.. but i guess not.

terriThreads: 1 Posts: 385 Joined: May 3, 09	Jul 11, 09, 08:39 / #
>>>>8-10zl for beer? Bloody hell... I've been paying 9.50-10 PLN for beer in Krakow for a long time - grant it it is in the centre Rynek, and I could get the same beer for 4.50 down some cellar, but now and again, surely, we are entitled to sit and watch the world go by. >>>>I was thinking that Poles were over communal living ...everyone WANTS to be over the communal living - but not many can afford it, it is not through CHOICE but necessity and that is the difference.

Jihozapad	Jul 11, 09, 11:50 / #
delphiandomine: That seems hideously unrealistic to be honest - unless you define 'good lifestyle' as 'expat hell'. I agree - I have relatives in Warsaw, and we once discussed how much my lifestyle (assuming renting a small flat, not in the centre, at Polish not "expat" rents) would cost - and we agreed that 2500PLN would easily be enough. However, knowing Polish, how to cook, not smoking, and drinking little alcohol does help. People here in the UK sometimes ask me how I managed to live in London on my own for so long, on my salary (which is only slightly above-average, even in the provinces), but I've never attempted to live a "celeb" lifestyle, and make sacrifices as needed. Unlike, for example, my brother - who earns more than I do, but is always in debt because he has to prove to everyone that he's "successful".

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 [Suspended]	Edited by: delphiandomine Jul 11, 09, 18:38 / #
plk123: it's called freedom and one domain.. can't really explain it to you.. you'd have to experience it to appreciate it. but thank you for the explanations.. makes sense and i was thinking that poles were over communal living.. but i guess not. Why would you need to explain it to me? I'm from Scotland and have exactly that in Poland. But it's not a question of choice - there simply isn't enough accomodation to allow everyone to live as they please. Combined with Western property speculators, you've got a situation where rents and mortgages are very high compared to the amount of money that can be made by an average Pole. To be honest, I struggle to see why an expat in his 20's needs a place of his/her own in the first place. Plenty of people in the UK will be sharing at that age, especially in London - so if someone's can't have a decent life on 2500zl-ish in Warsaw, then they're doing something wrong. Jihozapad: I agree - I have relatives in Warsaw, and we once discussed how much my lifestyle (assuming renting a small flat, not in the centre, at Polish not "expat" rents) would cost - and we agreed that 2500PLN would easily be enough. However, knowing Polish, how to cook, not smoking, and drinking little alcohol does help. Sometimes just have a little bit of common sense can save you a fortune - look at prices in markets as opposed to in supermarkets, for instance. Likewise, not using a car to go everywhere when public transport is so laughably cheap in Poland. But if you don't go off the beaten track and insist on living in a gated osiedle, then of course Warsaw (or indeed, anywhere else) is going to cost you an absolute fortune. Even eating out can be done stupidly cheaply if you take the time to look - we've got one favourite Italian restaurant in Poznan that's literally 90 seconds walk from Stary Rynek, and you can get a fantastic meal there with wine and extras for about 40zl for two. The same thing will cost you twice the price, maybe even three times the price if you insist on eating at 'expat English menu friendly' places.

local	Jul 12, 09, 08:07 / #
Jihozapad: and we agreed that 2500PLN would easily be enough. However, knowing Polish, how to cook, not smoking, and drinking little alcohol does help. Why do people talk such nonsense, unless your prepared to live in a cellar and eat lard and and drink water coming down the drains. 2500zl is 84zl a day, ah these people must cheat the system not pay for trains and trams etc. Pehaps jihozapad would like to explain what she pays for rent and food etc in a month.

scarbyirp	Jul 12, 09, 08:39 / #
have an average life . . . Who wants one of those?

esekThreads: 5 Posts: 269 Joined: Jun 3, 08	Jul 12, 09, 10:03 / #
I've been living in Warsaw (alone) for a year and I can say that: - 2000zl is enough to survive - 2500zl definitelly you will survive, moreover you can go to a pub or disco/cinema from time to time - 3000zl is enough to not to worry about everything and salary above 3000zl is more than enough for (one) typical Polish person.

Jihozapad	Jul 12, 09, 11:58 / #
local: Why do people talk such nonsense, unless your prepared to live in a cellar and eat lard and and drink water coming down the drains. 2500zl is 84zl a day, ah these people must cheat the system not pay for trains and trams etc. Pehaps jihozapad would like to explain what she pays for rent and food etc in a month. £600GBP a month, now **** off and troll somewhere else.

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07	Jul 12, 09, 12:03 / #
Jihozapad: £600GBP a month, take home pay we are talking about i presume

Jihozapad	Jul 12, 09, 12:11 / #
sausage: take home pay we are talking about i presume My take-home pay is higher, the figure above was a reply to the trolling "guest's" question. I live and work in the UK. Based on what I discussed with my family in PL, the percentage of my salary which goes on outgoings would be similar in the UK and in PL (assuming I did the same job as well), and because of the differences in prices, I would have a similar lifestyle on less money. Obviously my disposable income would be less, when compared to what it is in the UK, and would therefore buy me less if I were to travel to the UK, but that isn't what was being asked in the first place.

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07	Jul 12, 09, 12:17 / #
jizz, sorry I directed my question at the wrong person. esek: and salary above 3000zl takehome, after tax?

esekThreads: 5 Posts: 269 Joined: Jun 3, 08	Edited by: esek Jul 12, 09, 12:50 / #
sausage: takehome, after tax? yes edit: of course read this sentence as: 'salary above 3000zl is more than enough for typical Polish person to have _average_ life in Poland'

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07	Jul 12, 09, 12:51 / #
esek: yes well, that settles it, i'm moving to Poland