Moving from USA to Poland (job at $100K a year)

I am an American contemplating taking a job with a company in Warsaw. It pays about US$100,000 per year. I would be moving there from Washington, D.C. with my wife and two young children. Would someone care to give me their opinion as to how different our lives will be?

Great salary (for the US standards too). For that kind of money the standard should be about the same in Warsaw like it is Washington, DC.

Note the US dollar is weak overall now. Renting an apartment or a house should be cheaper in Warsaw; but if you want to buy a car expect to pay 1.5/2 time more than in the US. You should bring as many clothes as possible from the US as in Poland they are expensive. Same for electronic goods. Actually, all goods are much cheaper now in the US so try to find a cheap way to get them to Poland.

Education and healthcare is considerably cheaper in Poland. Not so many attractions though. You may not feel as safe as in DC either.

Overall, I think you will notice Warsaw is a very provintional city compared to Washington or other cities in the US; it's bleak in Winter/Fall too. But you should get used to it especially that that's how many European cities are.

may i ask what kind of job pays $100,000 USD or $300,000 zl?

I would think your life will be very different as you would be moving into a new culture....thats not necessarily a bad thing....depends on your attitude while living there....you can take away great things from the experience or find things to criticize. We make our own happiness in life....doesn't matter where you live in the world....as long as you are open and accepting to the differences in cultures, I think overall it would be a great experience. You only live once, might as well experience as much variety as you can. Good luck. :)

That is a good salary, although for a couple with 2 small children, living in DC, it's really not a lot....DC has very high cost of living.....not sure about Warszawa, although I know its more expensive to live there as opposed to other cities in Poland. You really would have to get an opinion from someone who actually lives there to get a true sense as to whether 100k would be worth your packing up the entire family and moving.

If you bring electronic goods, make sure you have an electrical transformer because it's different electrical currency. If you buy a new car be very wary because they tend to get stolen faster and if you have something interesting inside, the windows might get broken.
You can find some deals at a bazar where they sell clothes and everything else. American clothes go for higher price, so it is wise and cheaper to bring them with you.
The food is excellent. Fresh fruits and vegetables. Deserts out of this world!!
Be prepared to pay for using the toilets. And the sand-paper toilet paper.
You'll soon learn that the hot water is on the right marked with red.
Stores are well stocked.
Watch out for nervous drivers. Make sure your brakes are very good.
You will hear a lot of complaining about everything.
Get used to watch boring TV programs with only 3 or 4 channels, unless you have a satelite.
You probably won't be able to return something you bought and didn't like.
Be prepared for unsmiling service in restaurants or stores.
The cashiers sit in stores and other places where in the US they stand to serve the people better. Some are impolite and don't care about the customer.
Poland is a beautiful country, most people are very warm, hospitable with big hearts.
I was born in the US but moved there when I was 8. I missed the US at first, cried at night because I didn't have the neat stuff I had in the US, but slowly got used to country. The teachers were very strict, but in Poland people tend to have goals, they want to achieve something, be better than others but it will take time to get used to it.

I live in Poland and I have new car. It never happened to me.

What is this? Sand-paper? Toilet paper is the same like in the States.

Where did you get this one?

In the cities they got cable TV everywhere. With channels like CNN.

Yeah, if you buy something on flea market.

Now this one makes me laugh. Thanks.

If you don't take the job I will I live here all ready. I'm American too. But I make considerably less than 300,000pln yearly

Thank you to everyone that responded to my message. I am so glad I found this site. I am an engineer working in the construction industry. Basically, I manage the construction of buildings. My wife and I are certainly interested in the cultural exerience, however, my kids might throw a fit. Hopefully, there is youth basketball league.

Could anyone suggest to me where they would live if 1) they wanted a single family home in the suburbs or 2) if they wanted to experience life in the urban environment living in an apartment?

I am not from warsaw myself, so my advice would be to contact your future employer re your concerns and questions. He might be helpful to aswer your questions in full.
I am sure there will be more advices coming form the members of the forum in the future.
When are you planning your move?

Warsaw has many schools for foreigners' children, since it has a fairly large population of foreign workers and I am sur ethat with time you would be able to sort things out and come to the right conclusion.

Also, living in Europe will give you the opoortunity to visit other countires, which I am sure will add to your experiance.
Have you ever lived abroad in the past?

american school of warsaw

english-schools.org/poland/american-school-warsaw.htm

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I knew of a couple who bought a new fiat. They didn't even have this thing for a month when it was stolen.

Yeah, if you pay more money for it.

Every place I know the hot water is on the opposite side than the US

For those who can afford it.

Stores don't return your money for merchandise. Some might give you a store credit, but they aren't happy about it.

I've noticed that too. You go to a grocery store and the women sit there. Go to the Post office, they all sit. In the US they all stand.

sure, but why would the whole world do things the same way. they still serve you, don't they?

So, everything looks to be normal. Just like in any other european country and just like in good old U.S. of A. New cars, cable TV, good quality toilet paper. We don`t have George Bush in Poland though.

One thing you may be surprised of - when you go to a restaurant take two portions for yourself; othewise after you leave the restaurant you will still be hungry (plates and portions in Poland are small and you don't get enough food to get fat for sure.. ).

Hi !!! You are allowed to bring all of your belongings to Poland.It will be worth to bring your cars and maybe furniture.The shipping cost are not so high and maybe your moving costs could be paid by your employer.Only TV system is different and your tv set would not work in Europe unles it is multi system which is rather not very popular in the US.I think you would make the right decision accepting this job offer.There is american school in Warsaw.And if your kids would like to get a medical education studying in poland is much cheaper and there is the simple way to obtain the diploma valid in the USA. About your accomodation.I think that in downtown of Warsaw there is more apartment buildings so if you want to rent a house you have to find it few kilometers away from the city center.I think that you can contact a real estate agency that will help you to find a nice place of living .There are some agencies that offer service in english.I think it might be a good investment tu purchase the property there because the prices are increasing about 12% annualy.This is the situation in warsaw but the prediction of the market analyst for another Polish city Poznan sais that prices of propertys there should raise by 50% within 1 year.I know that in the US that increase was much bigger in recent years but I `ve heard that the real estate market rght now in US is slowing down.

??? If you mean 5% a year as "bigger" only.

I agree If you can buy something in Warsaw do it!

And what about Polish napkins? I want to coin a new saying "as useless as a Polish napkin"

What is the general feeling toward foreigners coming to work in Poland? Are they welcomed? Do the locals disike that a multi-national company brings in people from outside Poland? I've worked internationally before, in Latin America, and, unfortunately, the fact that a US company brought in foreign management was not really accepted by the locals. In fact, someone shot at one of my associates.

friendly

I don't think so, especially when you are in Warsaw
there must be more to that story than that:). South America has a strange realtionship when it comes to American bussiness to say the least. Poland has not experianced that, so it should be OK.

sorry to hear that, however there must be more to the story.....

In Poland we do not allow guns in schools. You can safely send your children to school and we can guarantee that your childe will return in one piece.

I am living and working in Warsaw for foreigner Company
Foreigners should have no problem here in Poland specially those who come from US or Europe. they are very welcome

May you can also save more money in PL than in US. so go ahead
and good luck

Topic attached on merging:
Income taxes

Once again, I am an American contemplating a move to Poland with a multi-national company. Taxes seem pretty high in Poland. In the US we are able to deduct interest on a home mortgage. Is this true in Poland? Are there any other ways to get around the high tax rate?

Hi, I have been to Warsaw many times,I really fell in love with Warsaw, i am interested in moving to Poland and i am wondering how can an American get a job in Poland, a job with high salary....is there companies who hire Americans who dont speak Polish?