Living in Kraków
In Kraków, the median gross salary is €2,690 a month (2025) and unemployment is 2.6% (2025).
Kraków is a city in Poland. The unemployment rate was 2.6% at the end of 2025. For Kraków, annual PM2.5 was 17.3 µg/m³ at the end of 2024. Its population was 816,614 at the end of 2025.
Lower unemployment than 86% of Polish cities that publish it and dirtier air than 77% of Polish cities that publish it.
Which Poland-wide rules apply when you move to Kraków?
National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.
Housing and cost
How much does it cost to rent in Kraków?
Average net cold rent is 16.5 EUR/m² per month (2026), excluding heating and operating charges.
Published average over existing tenancies; a specific flat can sit either side of it. Asking-rent series, where present, are separate rows in the table.
- Average net rent (nettokalt): 16.5 EUR/m²/month · Otodom24
Supplemental estimate lane; these items are not official statistics.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness club membership, monthly | 39.89 EUR/month | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo23Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
| Col Groceries Index Basket Eur Month | 55.94 EUR/month | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo23Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
| Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited | 16.52 EUR/month | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo23Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
| Private kindergarten, monthly | 391.5 EUR/month | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo23Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 11.27 eur | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo23Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
| Mobile plan, 10 GB | 8.07 EUR/month | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo23Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
| Monthly transport pass | 30.21 EUR/month | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo23Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² home | 293.3 EUR/month | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo23Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
| Average net rent (nettokalt) | 16.5 EUR/m²/month | 4 Aug 2026 | Otodom24Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
Cost of living
Fixed monthly costs for one person in an 85 m² flat were about €1,751 in the latest published figures. From a median gross salary of €2,690, that leaves €939 before income tax and social contributions.
€939 left of €2,690
- Net rent, 85 m² · 80%€1,403
- Utilities, 85 m² · 17%€293
- Transport pass · 2%€30
- Internet and mobile · 1%€25
One person, 85 m² flat; the ring splits the €1,751 fixed basket before income tax and social contributions, latest published figures (checked 2026-09-24).
Is Kraków a good place to live?
There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.
Worked out from these numbers
What does a 60 m² flat cost?
About 990 EUR a month in cold rent at the published average of 16.5 EUR/m² per month, before heating and operating charges.
Heating, water and operating charges come on top, and a specific flat can sit either side of an average.
Is rent affordable on a local salary?
A 60 m² flat at the published average rent is about 990 EUR a month, which is 37% of the published median gross salary of 2,690 (2025). Gross, not take-home, and before heating and operating charges.
Work and income
What is the typical salary in Kraków?
The median gross salary is about 2,690 EUR/month (2025). The regional series (home-region basis, 2026-01) is a separate labelled row in the table.
City-scope median, gross, before tax and social contributions. the regional series (home-region basis, {period}) is a separate labelled row in the table — shown in the table below.
What is the unemployment rate in Kraków?
The unemployment rate is 2.6 % (2025). Source: Local Data Bank — Share of registered unemployed persons in the working-age population by sex, total, 202514
Kraków 2.6%
Unemployment rate (%)
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public employment offices | 1 count | 15 Sept 2026 | Grodzki Urząd Pracy w Krakowie — official office page8Official |
| Median gross salary | 2,690 EUR/month | 31 Dec 2025 | Local Data Bank (Bank Danych Lokalnych, GUS) variable 64428 — Average monthly gross wages and salaries, grand total, city with powiat status15Official |
| Median gross salary (regional) | 2,106 EUR/month | 27 Aug 2026 | bdl.stat.gov.pl2Official |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6 %country median 4.4% | 31 Dec 2025 | Local Data Bank — Share of registered unemployed persons in the working-age population by sex, total, 202514Official |
What does a salary buy in Kraków?
Take-home pay after tax, minus rent and the everyday bills this city publishes. Each line names its source.
RentUtilitiesTransportInternetMobileLeft over
Line-by-line breakdown and sources
| Each month | € |
|---|---|
| Take-home payOECD Taxing Wages 2025, single, no children. Includes central and local income tax and employee social contributions; euro amounts at the ECB average for 2026-08. | €2,009 |
| Rent, 60 m²€16.50/m² · market price · Otodom · 2026-08-04 | − €990 |
| Public transport pass€30 · market price · Numbeo · 2026-08-03 | − €30 |
| Utilities, 85 m²€293 · market price · Numbeo · 2026-08-03 | − €293 |
| Internet€17 · market price · Numbeo · 2026-08-03 | − €17 |
| Mobile plan€8 · market price · Numbeo · 2026-08-03 | − €8 |
| Left overbefore the bills this city does not publish | €670 |
Public employment offices in Kraków
Grodzki Urząd Pracy w Krakowie lists 1 public employment office in Kraków (checked 2026-09-16). Use the official office finder for addresses and appointments; registration and job search are also available online through the national service below.
Public Employment Services Poland — Public employment service
The office count comes from the service's own directory. Individual addresses and opening hours are not listed here yet. Sources checked through 16 Sept 2026.
Family and education
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public language course providers | 2 count | 31 Dec 2026 | Rusza rekrutacja na kursy jezykowe z jezyka polskiego w Centrum Wielokulturowym - OTWARTY KRAKOW22Official |
School for children who move here. School is compulsory from age 7 to 18, and public school is free. Newly arrived pupils get support in the school language: oddział przygotowawczy (preparatory unit; min 3 h/week Polish as foreign language within 20-26 h/week). How to enrol a child (gov.pl).
A country-wide rule for Poland; Kraków's school authority applies it locally.
Sources: eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu · 2025–2026.
Healthcare
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | 8 count | 15 Sept 2026 | RPWDL 2.0 — Rejestr Podmiotów Wykonujących Działalność Leczniczą21Official |
| Pharmacies | 261 count | 15 Sept 2026 | Apteki — Rejestr Aptek1Official |
Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Kraków when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.
Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.
Open the official coverage guideSafety
How safe is Kraków?
Police recorded 2,546 incidents per 100,000 (2024). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: bdl.stat.gov.pl3
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents | 2,546 incidents per 100,000country median 2,452 | 31 Dec 2024 | bdl.stat.gov.pl3Official |
Mobility and administration
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destinations from nearest airport | 52 count | 3 Aug 2026 | OpenFlights16Official |
| Nearest airport | KRK | 3 Aug 2026 | OurAirports17Official |
| Distance to nearest airport | 11 km | 3 Aug 2026 | OurAirports17Official |
| Public transport monthly pass | 30.21 EUR/month | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo23Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
Language courses and integration in Kraków
Rusza rekrutacja na kursy jezykowe z jezyka polskiego w Centrum Wielokulturowym - OTWARTY KRAKOW lists 2 publicly funded course providers in Kraków (checked 2026-09-19). Their individual addresses are not listed here yet; the national programme below explains who can enrol and how.
Polish language classes for foreigners seeking international protection — State Language Course
Office for Foreigners of Poland
For foreigners seeking international protection and receiving social assistance, temporary-protection beneficiaries receiving support.
Polish-language and adaptation courses for repatriates and their families — Newcomer Adaptation
Centre for the Development of Polish Education Abroad (ORPEG)
For repatriates, repatriate family members.
Climate and air quality
Monthly mean temperatures were −1.6°C in January and 19.3°C in July. Monthly precipitation was 37.9 mm in January and 98.2 mm in July.
Is the air quality good in Kraków?
The annual PM2.5 mean is about 17.3 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³.
Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.
- PM2.5 — annual mean: 17.33 µg/m³ · EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — Poland 2024 PM2.5 city station means4
Night-time low to daytime high
mm
Within WHO 2021 guidelineAbove WHO, within EU limitAbove EU legal limitCity annual mean · µg/m³
City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.
Kraków 17.3
Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO₂ — annual mean | 45 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA air quality statistics — PL NO2 annual mean 2024 (station Kraków, Aleja Krasińskiego)5Official · nearest-station reading |
| PM10 — annual mean | 34 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA air quality statistics — PL PM10 annual mean 2024 (station Kraków, Aleja Krasińskiego)6Official · nearest-station reading |
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 17.33 µg/m³country median 16.0 | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — Poland 2024 PM2.5 city station means4Official |
| Average daytime high by month | Jan 1.6 · Feb 3.7 · Mar 8.4 · Apr 15.1 · May 19.8 · Jun 23.2 · Jul 25.3 · Aug 25 · Sep 19.5 · Oct 14 · Nov 7.6 · Dec 2.7 °C | 31 Dec 2020 | IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly maximum air temperature, KRAKÓW, 1991-202011Official |
| Average night-time low by month | Jan -4.7 · Feb -3.7 · Mar -0.8 · Apr 3.7 · May 8.5 · Jun 12.2 · Jul 13.8 · Aug 13.4 · Sep 9.2 · Oct 4.7 · Nov 0.6 · Dec -3.4 °C | 31 Dec 2020 | IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly minimum air temperature, KRAKÓW, 1991-202012Official |
| Average temperature by month | Jan -1.6 · Feb -0.2 · Mar 3.5 · Apr 9.3 · May 14 · Jun 17.6 · Jul 19.3 · Aug 18.9 · Sep 13.9 · Oct 8.8 · Nov 3.8 · Dec -0.5 °C | 31 Dec 2020 | IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly air temperature, KRAKÓW, 1991-202010Official |
| Average precipitation by month | Jan 37.9 · Feb 32.3 · Mar 38.1 · Apr 46.4 · May 79 · Jun 77 · Jul 98.2 · Aug 72.5 · Sep 65.8 · Oct 51.2 · Nov 41.4 · Dec 33.4 mm | 31 Dec 2020 | IMGW-PIB climate normal — monthly total precipitation, KRAKÓW, 1991-202013Official |
Population and city profile
The city covered 327 km² in 2025. Population density was 2,475 people per km² in 2024.
How many people live in Kraków?
The published population was 816,614 people in 2025. Source: PL official material for population_total19
Foreign residents and their share come from different publications that count different groups (for example citizens of another country, or people born abroad, or of foreign origin), so 5,881 is not 0.3% of the population. Each row names its source.
By nationality
National passport99.3%
Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City area | 327 km² | 31 Dec 2025 | PL official material for city_area_km218Official |
| Foreign-resident share | 0.3 % | 31 Dec 2011 | Eurostat7Official |
| Foreign residents | 5,881 people | 31 Mar 2021 | GUS BDL / NSP 2021 non-Polish citizenship variable 16533679Official |
| Population density | 2,475 people/km² | 31 Dec 2024 | Reproducible gmina density for Kraków: population_total_2024 / official area_2024, rounded to the metric contract precision 0.20Official |
| Population | 816,614 people | 31 Dec 2025 | PL official material for population_total19Official |
Population rose 7.6% between 2011 and 2025, from 759,137 to 816,614.
Alternatives for people set on Kraków
Three places for the three reasons people leave a city on the shortlist: stay in the region, stay in the country, or keep the budget and change the country. A percentage appears only where both cities publish that metric from the same source, period and grain. Distances are straight lines — travel times are not collected yet.
Poznań as a Kraków alternative in the same country
Better on 2 of 6 metrics measured the same way, worse on 3. Rent cannot be compared like for like.
- Unemployment: 1.5% Poznań vs 2.6% Kraków−42%
- Foreign residents: 0.1% Poznań vs 0.3% Kraków−67%
- Rent: €8.54/m² (2008) Poznań vs €16.50/m² (2026) Krakówno percentage
- Median gross pay, city: €2,426 Poznań vs €2,690 Kraków−10%
- Median gross pay, region: €1,899 Poznań vs €2,106 Kraków−10%
- Nearest airport: 7.0 km Poznań vs 11.0 km Kraków−36%
- Residents: 534,239 Poznań vs 816,614 Kraków−35%
Brno as a Kraków alternative in another country
Better on 4 of 4 metrics measured the same way, worse on 0. Rent and median gross pay, region cannot be compared like for like.
- Rent: €7.50/m² (2017) Brno vs €16.50/m² (2026) Krakówno percentage
- Median gross pay, region: €1,658 (2024) Brno vs €2,106 (2026) Krakówno percentage
- Annual PM2.5: 13.9 µg/m³ Brno vs 17.3 µg/m³ Kraków−20%
- A meal out: €8 Brno vs €11 Kraków−27%
- Transport pass: €23 Brno vs €30 Kraków−25%
- Basic utilities, 85 m²: €266 Brno vs €293 Kraków−9%
Alternatives with a better balance
Nearby is not always better: the greyed row leaves less than Kraków at the same fixed-cost basket. Every alternative publishes the same metric families, each with its own source and date.
Alternative cities in Poland
Other cities in Poland to compare with Kraków, nearest in population first.
How does Kraków compare?
Pick a city. The answer appears here and the address bar keeps it, so the comparison can be shared; the page stays Kraków's.
Kraków in rankings
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
Is Kraków expensive?
Fixed monthly costs for one person in an 85 m² flat — net rent, utilities, a transport pass, internet and mobile — came to about €1,751 against a median gross salary of €2,690 (figures), leaving about €939 before income tax. Sources: the rent, recurring-cost and salary series published on this page, each with its own source and date.
How many people live in Kraków?
The published population was 816,614 people in 2025. Source: PL official material for population_total.
How much does it cost to rent in Kraków?
Average net cold rent is 16.5 EUR/m² per month (2026), excluding heating and operating charges. For a 70 m² flat that is about 1,155 EUR a month before utilities. Source: Otodom.
Is the air quality good in Kraków?
The annual PM2.5 mean is about 17.3 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — Poland 2024 PM2.5 city station means.
How safe is Kraków?
Police recorded 2,546 incidents per 100,000 (2024). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: bdl.stat.gov.pl.
What is the typical salary in Kraków?
The median gross salary is about 2,690 EUR/month (2025). The regional series (home-region basis, 2026-01) is a separate labelled row in the table. Source: Local Data Bank (Bank Danych Lokalnych, GUS) variable 64428 — Average monthly gross wages and salaries, grand total, city with powiat status.
What is the unemployment rate in Kraków?
The unemployment rate is 2.6 % (2025). Source: Local Data Bank — Share of registered unemployed persons in the working-age population by sex, total, 2025.
Is Kraków a good place to live?
Kraków may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.
Cite this page
Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.
APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 24). Kraków, Poland: population, cost of living, rent, salary [ImmigrationDB compilation; version 0539579a7a2afbe1ce4baa98b50d3833]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/pl/krakow/ Retrieved 2026-09-24. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_krakow-poland-population-cost-of-living-rent-salary_901a06722b2c,
author = {ImmigrationDB},
title = {Kraków, Poland: population, cost of living, rent, salary},
publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-09-24},
version = {0539579a7a2afbe1ce4baa98b50d3833},
url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/pl/krakow/},
note = {Retrieved 2026-09-24. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}Markdown citation
[Kraków, Poland: population, cost of living, rent, salary](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/pl/krakow/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version 0539579a7a2afbe1ce4baa98b50d3833; retrieved 2026-09-24; built 2026-09-24.This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.
Sources
- Apteki — Rejestr Aptek Apteki · gov.pl · checked 2026-09-15
- bdl.stat.gov.pl bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2026-08-27
- bdl.stat.gov.pl bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2026-08-27
- EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — Poland 2024 PM2.5 city station means EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-29
- EEA air quality statistics — PL NO2 annual mean 2024 (station Kraków, Aleja Krasińskiego) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- EEA air quality statistics — PL PM10 annual mean 2024 (station Kraków, Aleja Krasińskiego) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-02
- Grodzki Urząd Pracy w Krakowie — official office page Grodzki Urząd Pracy w Krakowie · gupkrakow.praca.gov.pl · checked 2026-09-15
- GUS BDL / NSP 2021 non-Polish citizenship variable 1653367 bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2021-03-31
- IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly air temperature, KRAKÓW, 1991-2020 IMGW-PIB climate normal · klimat.imgw.pl · checked 2026-07-27
Show 14 more sources
- IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly maximum air temperature, KRAKÓW, 1991-2020 IMGW-PIB climate normal · klimat.imgw.pl · checked 2026-07-27
- IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly minimum air temperature, KRAKÓW, 1991-2020 IMGW-PIB climate normal · klimat.imgw.pl · checked 2026-07-27
- IMGW-PIB climate normal — monthly total precipitation, KRAKÓW, 1991-2020 IMGW-PIB climate normal · klimat.imgw.pl · checked 2026-07-27
- Local Data Bank — Share of registered unemployed persons in the working-age population by sex, total, 2025 Local Data Bank · bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2026-07-27
- Local Data Bank (Bank Danych Lokalnych, GUS) variable 64428 — Average monthly gross wages and salaries, grand total, city with powiat status Local Data Bank (Bank Danych Lokalnych, GUS) variable 64428 · bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2026-09-19
- OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
- OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
- PL official material for city_area_km2 bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2026-07-18
- PL official material for population_total bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2026-07-18
- Reproducible gmina density for Kraków: population_total_2024 / official area_2024, rounded to the metric contract precision 0. bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2024-12-31
- RPWDL 2.0 — Rejestr Podmiotów Wykonujących Działalność Leczniczą RPWDL 2.0 · gov.pl · checked 2026-09-15
- Rusza rekrutacja na kursy jezykowe z jezyka polskiego w Centrum Wielokulturowym - OTWARTY KRAKOW otwarty.krakow.pl · checked 2026-09-19
- Numbeo numbeo.com · checked 2026-08-03
- Otodom otodom.pl · checked 2026-08-04
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.