Living in Zakopane
In Zakopane, unemployment is 7.3% (2025).
Annual PM2.5 was 14 µg/m³ at the end of 2024. The unemployment rate was 7.3% at the end of 2025.
Higher unemployment than 86% of Polish cities that publish it, less recorded crime than 77% of Polish cities that publish it and cleaner air than 80% of Polish cities that publish it.
Which Poland-wide rules apply when you move to Zakopane?
National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.
Housing and cost
No city-level rent figure is published for Zakopane. The available city-level cost figures remain below.
Is Zakopane 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.
Work and income
What is the unemployment rate in Zakopane?
The unemployment rate is 7.3 % (2025). Source: Local Data Bank — Share of registered unemployed persons in the working-age population by sex, total, 202513
Zakopane 7.3%
Unemployment rate (%)
Public employment service
No exact public employment office is currently linked to Zakopane. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.
Public Employment Services Poland — Public employment service
Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Zakopane. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.
Safety
How safe is Zakopane?
Police recorded 2,147 incidents per 100,000 (2024). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: Crime ascertained by the Police, total per 1,000 population (P2290)2
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents | 2,147 incidents per 100,000 | 31 Dec 2024 | Crime ascertained by the Police, total per 1,000 population (P2290)2Official · county |
Mobility and administration
Language courses and integration
No exact city-level course record is currently published for Zakopane. These verified national programmes may still apply; use the official programme page to check local availability.
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 −3.3°C in January and 15.8°C in July. Monthly precipitation was 46.6 mm in January and 191.6 mm in July.
Is the air quality good in Zakopane?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 14 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 station data3
Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.
Night-time low to daytime high
mm
hours
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.
Zakopane 14.0
Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO₂ — annual mean | 17 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA air quality statistics — PL NO2 annual mean 2024 (station Zakopane, ul. Sienkiewicza)4Official · nearest-station reading |
| PM10 — annual mean | 20 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA air quality statistics — PL PM10 annual mean 2024 (station Zakopane, ul. Sienkiewicza)5Official · nearest-station reading |
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 14 µg/m³country median 16.0 | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — Poland 2024 PM2.5 station data3Official |
| Average daytime high by month | Jan 1.1 · Feb 2 · Mar 5.4 · Apr 11.3 · May 16 · Jun 19.5 · Jul 21.2 · Aug 21.3 · Sep 16.3 · Oct 11.8 · Nov 6.6 · Dec 1.8 °C | 31 Dec 2020 | IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly maximum air temperature, ZAKOPANE, 1991-20209Official |
| Average night-time low by month | Jan -7 · Feb -6.3 · Mar -3.5 · Apr 1.2 · May 5.7 · Jun 9.3 · Jul 10.8 · Aug 10.5 · Sep 6.5 · Oct 2.3 · Nov -1.5 · Dec -5.8 °C | 31 Dec 2020 | IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly minimum air temperature, ZAKOPANE, 1991-202010Official |
| Average temperature by month | Jan -3.3 · Feb -2.4 · Mar 0.6 · Apr 6 · May 10.7 · Jun 14.2 · Jul 15.8 · Aug 15.6 · Sep 10.9 · Oct 6.5 · Nov 2.1 · Dec -2.3 °C | 31 Dec 2020 | IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly air temperature, ZAKOPANE, 1991-20208Official |
| Average precipitation by month | Jan 46.6 · Feb 51.3 · Mar 61.4 · Apr 81.2 · May 141.5 · Jun 149.4 · Jul 191.6 · Aug 125.3 · Sep 111 · Oct 80.8 · Nov 59.7 · Dec 45.1 mm | 31 Dec 2020 | IMGW-PIB climate normal — monthly total precipitation, ZAKOPANE, 1991-202012Official |
| Average sunshine by month | Jan 69.1 · Feb 81.2 · Mar 118.2 · Apr 162.5 · May 179.6 · Jun 178.3 · Jul 197.1 · Aug 193.4 · Sep 128.4 · Oct 113.8 · Nov 75.6 · Dec 55.6 hours | 31 Dec 2020 | IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly sunshine duration, ZAKOPANE, 1991-202011Official |
Population and city profile
The city covered 84 km² in 2024. Population density was 298 people per km² in 2024.
How many people live in Zakopane?
The published population was 25,770 people in March 2021. Source: Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2021 — miejscowości, ludność ogółem (P4182)14
By nationality
National passport99.7%
Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City area | 84 km² | 31 Dec 2024 | GUS BDL / GUGiK area variable 20186Official |
| Foreign residents | 66 people | 31 Mar 2021 | GUS BDL / NSP 2021 non-Polish citizenship variable 16533677Official |
| Population density | 298 people/km² | 31 Dec 2024 | Reproducible gmina density for Zakopane: population total 2024 / official area_2024, rounded to the metric contract precision 0.19Official |
| Population | 25,770 people | 31 Mar 2021 | Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2021 — miejscowości, ludność ogółem (P4182)14Official |
Alternatives for people set on Zakopane
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.
Pruszków as a Zakopane alternative in the same country
Better on 4 of 5 metrics measured the same way, worse on 0.
- Unemployment: 2.3% Pruszków vs 7.3% Zakopane−68%
- Median gross pay, region: €2,036 Pruszków vs €1,479 Zakopane+38%
- Nearest airport: 11.0 km Pruszków vs 87.0 km Zakopane−87%
- Recorded crime, per 100k: 1,778 Pruszków vs 2,147 Zakopane−17%
- Annual PM2.5: 14.0 µg/m³ Pruszków vs 14.0 µg/m³ Zakopanesame level
Budapest as a Zakopane alternative in another country
Better on 2 of 2 metrics measured the same way, worse on 0. Median gross pay, region and recorded crime, per 100k cannot be compared like for like.
- Nearest airport: 18.0 km Budapest vs 87.0 km Zakopane−79%
- Median gross pay, region: €2,534 Budapest vs €1,479 Zakopaneno percentage
- Recorded crime, per 100k: 2,396 (2025) Budapest vs 2,147 (2024) Zakopaneno percentage
- Annual PM2.5: 13.0 µg/m³ Budapest vs 14.0 µg/m³ Zakopane−7%
Alternative cities in Poland
Other cities in Poland to compare with Zakopane, nearest in population first.
How does Zakopane compare?
Pick a city. The answer appears here and the address bar keeps it, so the comparison can be shared; the page stays Zakopane's.
Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Zakopane 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 guideSchool 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; Zakopane's school authority applies it locally.
Sources: eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu · 2025–2026.
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
How many people live in Zakopane?
The published population was 25,770 people in March 2021. Source: Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2021 — miejscowości, ludność ogółem (P4182).
Is the air quality good in Zakopane?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 14 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 station data.
How safe is Zakopane?
Police recorded 2,147 incidents per 100,000 (2024). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: Crime ascertained by the Police, total per 1,000 population (P2290).
What is the unemployment rate in Zakopane?
The unemployment rate is 7.3 % (2025). Source: Local Data Bank — Share of registered unemployed persons in the working-age population by sex, total, 2025.
What is the typical salary around Zakopane?
The median gross salary is 1,479 EUR/month. Source: bdl.stat.gov.pl.
How many foreign residents live in Zakopane?
66 residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: GUS BDL / NSP 2021 non-Polish citizenship variable 1653367.
Is Zakopane a good place to live?
Zakopane 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, October 16). Zakopane, Poland: population, salary, cost of living, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; version d1d1c6466e97e43f7c4b76dfe28c1604]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/pl/zakopane/ Retrieved 2026-10-16. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_zakopane-poland-population-salary-cost-of-living-jobs_7c3e88f6e836,
author = {ImmigrationDB},
title = {Zakopane, Poland: population, salary, cost of living, jobs},
publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-16},
version = {d1d1c6466e97e43f7c4b76dfe28c1604},
url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/pl/zakopane/},
note = {Retrieved 2026-10-16. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}Markdown citation
[Zakopane, Poland: population, salary, cost of living, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/pl/zakopane/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version d1d1c6466e97e43f7c4b76dfe28c1604; retrieved 2026-10-16; built 2026-10-16.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
- bdl.stat.gov.pl bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2026-08-27
- Crime ascertained by the Police, total per 1,000 population (P2290) bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2026-09-25
- EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — Poland 2024 PM2.5 station data EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-29
- EEA air quality statistics — PL NO2 annual mean 2024 (station Zakopane, ul. Sienkiewicza) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- EEA air quality statistics — PL PM10 annual mean 2024 (station Zakopane, ul. Sienkiewicza) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- GUS BDL / GUGiK area variable 2018 bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2024-12-31
- 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, ZAKOPANE, 1991-2020 IMGW-PIB climate normal · klimat.imgw.pl · checked 2026-07-27
- IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly maximum air temperature, ZAKOPANE, 1991-2020 IMGW-PIB climate normal · klimat.imgw.pl · checked 2026-07-27
- IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly minimum air temperature, ZAKOPANE, 1991-2020 IMGW-PIB climate normal · klimat.imgw.pl · checked 2026-07-27
Show 9 more sources
- IMGW-PIB climate normal — mean monthly sunshine duration, ZAKOPANE, 1991-2020 IMGW-PIB climate normal · klimat.imgw.pl · checked 2026-07-27
- IMGW-PIB climate normal — monthly total precipitation, ZAKOPANE, 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
- Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2021 — miejscowości, ludność ogółem (P4182) Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2021 · bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2026-10-07
- Netia 600 Mbps fixed internet netia.pl · checked 2026-09-15
- OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
- Orange Poland mobile plan orange.pl · checked 2026-09-15
- OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
- Reproducible gmina density for Zakopane: population total 2024 / official area_2024, rounded to the metric contract precision 0. bdl.stat.gov.pl · checked 2024-12-31
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.