Living in Poland 2025: The Truth No One Tells You

A complete review of life in Poland, covering 17 categories! Hidden pitfalls no one talks about. Should you move here, or is this country not for you?

✅ Legalize your stay in Poland stress-free!
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Timestamps:
0:00 Jobs in Poland, salaries, and business taxes
1:34 Cost of living: housing, groceries, transport
2:31 Climate and nature
3:53 Do you need to learn Polish? And is it hard?
4:29 Transportation: trains, public transit, cars, bikes
7:11 Poor air quality and waste sorting
8:43 3 stages of legalization — and how to go through them stress-free
11:04 Groceries and clothing in Poland
11:58 Pros and cons of housing in Poland + prices
13:25 Interesting and unique places to visit
14:10 Polish culture: hospitality vs. conservatism
16:00 How safe is Poland?
17:19 Healthcare in Poland
19:11 How much does higher education cost? What about quality?
19:50 Everything parents need to know about infrastructure for kids
21:13 Life in Poland with a pet
22:38 City life and expat communities

💛 I am Kate – Ukrainian girl, and you are on my cozy channel about life and travel in Poland. Here I show the atmosphere of beautiful and interesting places in Poland and share my experience of living in different parts of this country. My husband Andrew and I work remotely, and we don’t like to sit in one place, so every month or two we move to a new city. Subscribe to travel with us!

📸 My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate.trotsenko

🎥 You can support the channel here: https://send.monobank.ua/jar/8Ay7Rjf8dy

🤝 For questions of cooperation, write here: trocenkokata@gmail.com

Videos you might be interested in:

▪️ 1. We finally moved to WARSAW! After 5 cities in Poland…: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yypbroyLo8E

▪️ 2. The REAL Cost of Living in Poland 2025 Will SHOCK You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzK77BalglM&

▪️ 3. WARSAW – the best city to live in Europe? Honest review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB0gAVxGENs

#Poland #LivingInPoland #MovingToPoland #PolandLife #PolandTravel #ExpatLife #PolandGuide #LifeInPoland #CostOfLiving #LivingAbroad #ProsAndCons #Warsaw #EuropeLife #MoveToPoland

Three years ago, when I moved to Poland, I couldn’t even imagine what I was going to 
face here. After living in six different cities, I decided to make a full review with all the 
pros and cons. In this video, I’ll share my personal experience of living in Poland and also 
give you some objective facts in every category. Let’s start with job opportunities, 
which is important for most of you. And here Poland really has many advantages. 
First, the minimum salary in Poland in 2025 is 4,666 PLN gross per month (around 3,500 
net) and 30.50 PLN per hour. The average salary is almost 9,000 gross, and the median 
is about 7,000. Which means that in reality, half of people earn less than 
7,000, and half earn more. Second, the country still needs foreign 
specialists — from IT and finance to medicine, engineering, logistics, and construction. Third, the Polish economy stays among the leaders 
in the region: GDP growth is around 3–4%, unemployment is about 3% according to Eurostat, 
and around 5% officially registered by GUS. And finally, young people under 26 don’t 
pay income tax (up to a certain limit). The downside here is, of course, taxes 
for businesses, even though they are still competitive compared to the EU: 19% for 
most companies and 9% for small businesses with annual turnover under 2 million euros. Another 
minus is the language — but more on that later. When it comes to the cost of living in 
Poland, here’s what I’d highlight now: the biggest advantage is still relatively 
low prices for groceries and transport, especially compared to Germany. But housing 
— that’s more of a minus. Rent prices in the last few years went up a lot, and real 
estate prices are extremely high. Medical, utility, and other services can also 
be a heavy burden for a family budget. For example, the average rent for 
a two-room apartment in big Polish cities is now between 3,400 and 5,000 PLN. 
In smaller towns — 2,300 to 3,000 PLN, not including utilities and service fees. 
On average, groceries can cost 1,200–1,500 PLN per person, and transport — around 
110–150 PLN. I shared even more prices and a full breakdown of our expenses in 
another video, so check it out later! Many people would count the Polish 
climate as a minus… and in some ways, they’re right. There are a lot of grey days 
here — up to 200 per year, short days in winter, and generally cool weather. For example, 
it’s colder here than in Bulgaria, Spain, or Portugal, but warmer than in Norway, Sweden, 
and Finland. But there are also obvious pluses: the seasons are clearly different, winters aren’t 
extremely cold, summers are comfortable for walks and outdoor activities, and extreme 
weather events are rare. In three years, I experienced a few very windy and rainy days, 
one drought, and once there was flooding in southwest Poland because of a strong cyclone. 
Yes, it happens, but objectively — not often. Nature in Poland is honestly a huge advantage. 
First of all, because of its variety. There are mountains, the sea, and forests. And besides 
the sea, Poland has plenty of beautiful lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and old quarries. The country 
is also famous for its national parks — there are 23 of them, including the amazing Tatra National 
Park, which we already visited together. Poland also puts effort into protecting nature, 
so many areas remain clean and ecological. And parks here are everywhere, super clean 
and well-maintained, even in small towns. When it comes to the Polish language, 
for English speakers it’s usually quite difficult. Unlike Slavs, who find it easier 
because of the similarities (for example, as a Ukrainian I can understand many 
words even without a high level), English speakers have to learn 
almost everything from scratch. The main challenges are grammar with its 
cases, unusual pronunciation, and letters with diacritics that don’t exist in English. Of 
course, in big cities you can manage with English for a while. But for work, documents, and normal 
everyday life, sooner or later you’ll need Polish. Now let’s move on to transport. And here the 
situation is mixed as well. On the one hand, Poland’s railway network is really well developed. 
Trains are a convenient way to travel both within cities and between them. There are even high-speed 
trains, and the seats are very comfortable. But at the same time, it’s important to 
remember that train delays are quite common. Public transport is also well-developed. It 
usually runs on schedule, you can buy tickets easily through apps (we use Jakdojade), 
monthly passes help you save money, there are discounts, most vehicles 
have air conditioning or heating, there are night buses, and construction work is 
actively improving the system. But of course, there’s always a “but.” Rush hours are terrible. 
Personally, I hate buses in these moments and always prefer the metro or trams, because I 
also get motion sickness. Add crowds and slow traffic on top of that — it’s just awful. 
That’s why I’m so happy to work remotely. Roads are often wide, in great condition, 
and what’s important — there are comfortable sidewalks almost everywhere, unlike in 
Bulgaria where we lived before. For drivers, there are fast highways, lots of gas stations 
and services, and plenty of parking in public places. But gas is expensive (around 6 PLN 
per liter), main highways are toll roads, traffic rules are strict, fines are high, 
and of course — there are traffic jams. Parking in city centers is also difficult and 
pricey, usually between 4 and 7 PLN per hour. What’s also great is that you can easily travel 
between cities by buses like FlixBus, there are many international airports, and there are no 
border checks between Schengen countries, which makes traveling much easier. But one downside — 
taxis are quite expensive, especially in Warsaw. And I can’t skip my admiration for Poland’s 
bike infrastructure! Across the country, there are over 500 cycling routes of different 
levels and lengths. Many of them are incredibly scenic, for example, in the mountain 
regions. When we lived in Nowy Targ, we rented bikes at Decathlon and cycled through 
the most beautiful villages and nature spots. But it was quite pricey — around 60 PLN per day. 
Rentals through Veturilo and other city bike services can even be free if you switch bikes 
every 20 minutes or whatever the app states. The process is super easy, and I personally 
often use it to get around the city or ride in the forest. There are also plenty of bike 
parking spots and stations with tools for repairs. What’s especially sad about Poland is 
the air quality. According to 2023 data, among European countries Poland is still one of 
the most polluted, especially in winter. The main reason is coal, which is still used to heat 
homes. Other factors are industry, transport, agriculture, and even geography. On IQAir you’ll 
usually see a yellow rating and PM2.5 particles several times above the safe level. That basically 
means you can lose up to 1.5 years of life because of higher risks of respiratory and cardiovascular 
diseases — unless you follow safety rules. Write “+” in the comments if you’d like me 
to make a separate video about this topic with all the details and recommendations. For 
example, last winter we bought an air purifier, special masks, and in the cold season 
we check air quality every single day. The good thing is that Poland is actively 
working on this issue: replacing coal with cleaner technologies and creating low-emission 
zones for cars. But of course, it takes time. Since we’re on the topic, I also want to mention 
that Poland has a well-developed waste sorting system. There are five main categories: paper, 
plastic and metal, glass, bio, and mixed waste. From time to time they also collect bulky items, 
and there are special points for electronic waste and batteries. The question is how consciously 
people actually sort their trash and what happens to it afterwards. But improvements are happening, 
and Poland is moving forward in this area. Now that you’ve got a closer look 
at the quality of life in Poland, it’s time to talk about legalization. In 
general, the process has three main steps. The first step is Karta pobytu, or temporary 
residence permit. This is the basic document that allows you to live and work legally in 
Poland. You can apply for it on the basis of work, studies, or family. The application 
process usually takes 6 to 15 months, depending on the voivodeship (region). 
During this time it’s very important to follow the rules: you can’t change jobs 
without permission, and there are often travel restrictions. Any mistake in the 
documents can delay the process a lot. The second step is Karta stałego 
pobytu, or permanent residence card. You can apply for it after several 
years of living with a temporary card, or through other grounds. It 
gives you a more stable status, but the process is also not easy and requires 
careful attention to documents and deadlines. The third step is citizenship. Here 
the timelines are very different: for some people the process takes 4–5 years, 
while for others it can stretch out to 10 or more. The whole legalization process in Poland can 
feel like a nightmare — months of waiting, endless paperwork, and one small 
mistake can set you back for months. I’ve heard so many stressful stories about it. That’s why I want to share KartaPobytu.pl. It’s 
the first online platform in Poland that helps foreigners step by step with residence cards 
and the whole legalization process. Everything is online, super simple, and always at 
your fingertips — even on your phone. And the best part? Behind the app there’s a 
real team of lawyers and specialists checking your documents, so you save time, avoid 
queues, and don’t risk costly mistakes. Even the basic package — just a few 
hundred PLN — covers consultations, checklists, and prep for your office 
visit. And with the full service, you even get a positive decision guarantee — 
they work until you succeed or refund your money. With my code KATE10, you’ll get 10% off 
all packages. So if you want to handle your legalization without stress, check out 
KartaPobytu.pl — link is in the description. By the way, my husband and I live in Poland 
under temporary protection, which many Ukrainians received after the war started. But in the 
future, we plan to fully legalize our stay here. When it comes to food in Poland, everything is 
really good. As I already mentioned, prices are quite low, everything is fresh, and the variety 
is big — at least in the popular supermarkets. The only thing is that on most Sundays and holidays 
almost nothing is open except Żabka stores, and that’s important to remember. I still recall 
how we moved to Gdańsk on Christmas (!) into an empty apartment with no food, and had to shop 
at Żabka. Don’t repeat our mistake. Also, in summer you can buy vegetables and fruits 
at local markets, but you need at least basic Polish and should calculate the total in 
advance, otherwise you might end up overpaying. There are also lots of shopping 
malls, a wide choice of clothing, affordable prices for mass-market brands, 
and if you order something online, it’s super convenient to pick up parcels 
through a paczkomat (locker delivery). Housing in Poland has both pros and cons. 
On the plus side, there are many offers and rental prices are still lower compared to Western 
Europe. Back in Bulgaria we paid similar amounts, but with worse renovations and cockroaches. 
We usually rent short-term through Airbnb, so I can’t speak much about local agencies. But 
for us there haven’t been any issues. Long-term renting is more difficult — landlords 
often require a najem okazjonalny, a document that allows them to 
evict you quickly if you don’t pay. Just one of those bureaucratic details. Not 
to mention other details and hidden pitfalls. I already mentioned two-room apartments, but when 
it comes to small one-room studios (kawalerka), in big cities the rent is around 
2,800–3,600 PLN, while in smaller towns it’s usually 2,000–2,500 PLN (though 
in some places you can find cheaper options). The price per square meter in Warsaw, the most 
expensive city, is now between 18,000 and 23,000 PLN. In smaller towns, it’s about 9,000–13,000. 
So even with a higher-than-average salary, let’s say around 10,000 PLN gross, saving 
up for an apartment takes a long time. And if you take a mortgage, the final cost 
of the property will be almost double. What I especially love about Poland is that you 
can travel endlessly without even leaving the country. And basically all my videos are proof 
of that. Poland has 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. We’ve already visited the Wieliczka 
Salt Mine, the Teutonic Castle in Malbork, the Old Towns of Kraków and Warsaw, and the 
Centennial Hall in Wrocław. The country is full of castles and palaces, nature reserves, old 
towns, unusual museums, ethnographic villages, and unique places. For example, did you know 
that Poland has a real desert, a primeval forest, and a region with 2,000 lakes? Honestly, the list 
of interesting spots here could go on forever. Poland in general has a very rich 
history and cultural heritage, which you can see in its 
architecture, art, and traditions. The most important holidays for Poles 
are Christmas, Easter, All Saints’ Day, and Independence Day. Among the more unusual 
traditions are Tłusty Czwartek — when everyone eats as many donuts as possible — and the 
drowning of Marzanna to welcome spring. Polish food is honestly amazing and is in my 
personal top. The dishes are hearty, flavorful, and feel very homemade. My favorites are 
żurek and pierogi. In any situation when I don’t know what to order, I go for them. And 
yes, restaurants here (especially the service, quality, and taste of the food) are 
definitely a big plus in my opinion. Overall, Polish people are very friendly and open. 
For me it was unusual that neighbors always greet each other — in Poland it’s completely 
normal. In three years of living here, I haven’t had a single conflict with 
Poles. Of course, like in any country, there are people who aren’t happy about 
immigrants, but in my experience that was mostly online or just in a couple 
of minor situations in real life. Poland is a very patriotic country, 
and you can feel it in conversations about politics and history, especially 
when it comes to Germany and Russia. Ukraine is also a topic, but to a lesser 
extent. And it’s important to say: Poles gave huge support to Ukrainians, 
as well as to many other foreigners. At the same time, Poles are quite 
conservative, especially in matters of family, religion, and social rights. 
For example, abortion is banned here, attitudes toward the LGBT community are 
mixed, and the Church has a big influence. Around 80% of people identify as religious. 
And yes, exorcism is still practiced here. So how about safety in Poland? The good news is 
that crime rates are among the lowest in the EU, serious crimes are rare, and at least in big 
cities you can feel safe. Police presence is strong, and the risk of terrorism is lower 
compared to many other European countries. But pickpocketing and online scams are common. 
Personally, I’ve never been affected, though I often get fake messages about loans and constant 
calls from call centers. To make it easier, I set up my phone so that any calls marked 
as “spam” get blocked. In public places, you just need to stay alert — but it’s nothing like 
Spain, where tourists get robbed all the time. This sense of safety also shows in 
migration policy. Unlike Germany, which accepts refugees from many parts of 
the world, Poland takes a more cautious approach. The main support and solidarity 
are directed toward neighbors — first of all Ukrainians. But apart from that, there 
are also many migrants from Belarus, Georgia, India, Nepal, and other Asian countries — 
mostly people who come to work or study. And yes, fines — there are a lot of them, and 
it’s important to know about that. In general, in Poland all official matters are solved 
strictly by law, and any attempt to give a bribe is considered a serious crime.
My favorite topic — healthcare. In Poland, healthcare is divided into public and private. 
The public system is based on the NFZ (National Health Fund) and is fully or partly free for 
certain categories of people. But the waiting lists under NFZ can last for months or even 
years. And before you can see any specialist, you always need to go through a general 
practitioner first. That’s exactly why we always choose private care. It’s obviously not cheap, 
but it offers more options, much shorter waiting times (sometimes you can get an appointment the 
very next day), and you don’t need a referral. What’s convenient is that Poland has 
its own medical portal — ZnanyLekarz. It makes it really easy to find the right 
doctor. You enter your city, specialty, and language, then choose the best-rated 
specialist based on reviews and experience. Booking takes just a couple of clicks, and 
you usually pay at the clinic. And the nice part is that many doctors speak not only 
Polish. As for the results of treatment, I’ve had different experiences, but mostly 
positive — especially with dentistry in Wrocław. The cost of private medical services 
is quite affordable compared to the quality. A consultation usually costs between 
150 and 300 PLN, dental services and basic tests are cheaper than in Germany, France, 
or the UK. At the same time, private clinics are actively growing in Poland, and modern 
medical technologies are being introduced. And yes, most medicines here are only 
available with a doctor’s prescription — the exceptions are basic vitamins and the simplest 
over-the-counter drugs. Ambulances can be called only in emergencies, when there’s a real threat to 
life. Dentistry, however, can get very expensive: for example, a dental implant can cost around 
8,000 PLN. That’s from my personal experience. Another reason why many migrants come to Poland 
is higher education. Just like in healthcare, here you find a balance between affordable 
prices and good quality. On average, a year at a Polish university for foreigners costs 
between 2,000 and 5,000 euros. For comparison: in the UK it’s from 10,000 to 40,000 euros, and 
in the US — from 20,000 to 35,000 euros per year. Another plus is that many programs 
are available not only in Polish but also in English. And Polish diplomas 
are recognized in other EU countries, which opens up opportunities for 
work or further studies abroad. Infrastructure for children in 
Poland is also well organized, which is important for families. Education 
here is mandatory and includes everyone, even children of migrants. The system looks 
like this: a preparatory “zero” class, then 8 years of school, after that 4 years of 
high school (liceum) or 5 years of technical school (technikum), and then university 
— 3 to 5 years depending on the program. Schools use a 6-grade system, where 1 is the 
lowest and 2 is already a passing grade. Recently, homework was canceled for younger students, 
and for older ones it became optional — an approach very different from 
what many people are used to. Education is mainly in Polish, but 
for kids who don’t speak the language, schools provide extra classes to help them 
adapt. In big cities you can also find schools with English-language programs, which 
makes integration much easier for foreigners. Playgrounds in Poland are definitely a 
plus: they’re modern, safe, often fenced, and well-equipped. Kindergartens are a bit 
more complicated: they exist, of course, but in public ones there are often 
long waiting lists. At the same time, Poland is going through a demographic crisis 
— birth rates are falling, the population is shrinking, and this is already affecting the 
education system and infrastructure for kids. Now let’s talk about pets. In Poland, people 
treat animals with great care and responsibility. That’s why you’ll rarely see stray cats, and you 
basically won’t see stray dogs at all. Honestly, you’re more likely to meet a wild boar 🙂 
There are many animal shelters, and animal protection laws are very strict. Cruelty to 
animals can lead to up to 5 years in prison, and if you don’t clean up after 
your dog or walk it without a leash, you can be fined up to 500 PLN — not 
to mention more serious violations. Microchipping pets isn’t required 
but is strongly recommended, because if your pet gets lost, it’s 
much easier to find them with a chip. Dog registration is usually mandatory, while 
cats and other pets are often not. Another important detail: there’s an annual 
dog tax that can cost up to 170 PLN, depending on the municipality. Interestingly, in 
Warsaw, for example, there is no such tax at all. In general, pet infrastructure in Poland 
is well developed: there are many parks, special dog zones, I often see water bowls outside 
cafes, and veterinary services are high quality but reasonably priced — usually cheaper than in 
Germany. The downside is that finding pet-friendly housing can be tricky, and there are some 
restrictions on visiting public places with pets. Now for those who love an active lifestyle 
and networking — Poland has plenty of that. Every city has local communities on Instagram, 
Telegram, or Facebook, where you can easily find event listings: festivals, concerts, 
exhibitions, sports events, and more. There’s also a big expat community 
in Poland. Thanks to that, you can find events and meetups in many 
languages, including English. There are regular workshops, creative evenings, 
business events, and networking sessions. In many cities, you’ll find businesses run 
by foreigners: dental clinics, beauty salons, book clubs, and marketplaces 
aimed at expats. And overall, hearing English or finding English-speaking 
services in larger cities is very common. All of this makes integration much easier 
and life more comfortable for newcomers. If this video was helpful for you, let 
me know in the comments. And make sure to share what you see as the biggest pro 
and con of living in Poland. I’d love to read your thoughts. And if you want to see all 
the prices and our personal expenses in Poland, check out the video you see on the screen 
right now. See you very soon — bye!