Retire in Poland on $1141 per month

Today, I will share our estimated monthly costs to retire in Poland including rent, groceries, utilities, internet, cell phone, restaurants, drinking water, laundry, and transportation if the two of us retire here on a tight budget.

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I first came to Poland 11 years ago in the summer of 2013 and fell in love with the place. I toured around and visited 4 cities in Poland and my favorite was Gdansk on the Baltic Sea right across from Sweden.

At that time, Gdansk was the most beautiful restored medieval city I had personally seen in all of Eastern Europe, and remains so still today. I will show you the video we took of Gdansk while I discuss retirement costs and feasibility here.

Google Map

I move forward through the world one country at a time without buying round-trip tickets. I have no empty bed anywhere in the world waiting for me. I gather data with my feet on the ground instead of from 10k miles away, like the other guys.

I left the United States 17 years ago and Qiang has traveled the world with me for almost 7 of those years.

I will also share my overall retirement desirability score for Gdansk after discussing the costs of living here because retirees also care about medical care, food, real estate, things to do, social considerations, visas, walkability, weather, Internet speeds, and expat considerations

Estimated Costs to Retire in Gdansk Poland

Rents: Today, I found this furnished studio apartment with a long-term lease at 1300 PLN (350 USD) per month in Gdansk. If you ride the 154 Bus to Old Town you would be there in about 12 minutes. If you rent for a short term on Airbnb it would be much more expensive.

A larger apartment or closer to the old town could easily cost twice as much per month. So for the middle range expenses, I estimate USD 700 per month or more depending upon area and size.

Here is the process we use to find great apartments. So, we will show you a table of all expenses in a moment. We will use 350 USD per month for our lower rent estimate and $700 per month for the middle cost of living estimate for expats who want more space.

In case these rents are too high for you, smaller towns in Poland can have 30% cheaper rents and even lower in some rural areas.

Utilities: For a place this size, the year-round average for our utilities we estimate would be about USD 160 per month. The utilities would cost more for the larger space, starting at around $240 USD per month.

Groceries: We would shop in the farmers market for fresh fruits and vegetables, and purchase nonperishable foods and other things like shampoo and detergents in the grocery stores. We estimate about $320 USD per month for groceries. Other expats are likely to spend more on imported groceries they miss from home spending $430 USD per month or more on groceries.

Restaurants: We would eat out twice per week mostly in more local-style restaurants averaging about $8 to $10 USD per meal per person and one or two splurges per month of $10 to $15 USD per meal per person. If you add all that up, we would spend around $220 per month for the two of us. We may have a beer here and there, but that is covered below in alcohol.

Other expats are likely to eat more Western-style foods in expensive expat-style restaurants and less in local-style restaurants, so they would likely spend more like $360 per month for 2 people in restaurants. It is lifestyle-dependent.

Cell Phone Data: We paid about $8 USD for a prepaid Orange SIM card for 30 days. My Android phone will act as a hotspot so we can both be on the internet when we are out of the house together.

Other (retired) expat couples are likely to buy two prepaid SIM cards so they would need about $16 USD per month.

Laundry: The apartments all seemed to have clothes washing machines. The above grocery estimate includes laundry detergent.

Drinking Water: We read online that the water is clean here and many people drink water from the tap but we would be more careful. We didn’t see reverse osmosis delivery in 20-liter jugs here so we would probably get a Brita water filter. The filter refills would be about $5 USD per month.

Internet: ATT Test said our Airbnb wifi router had 38 Mbps down and 26 Mbps upload speeds. We read online that these speeds cost about $18 USD per month for in-home wifi.

Public Transportation: Public transportation tickets cost about $1.30 USD per person each way. We would probably average 2 rides per week or 8 per month, which is 16 rides per month for the 2 of us, or about $20 USD per month. We would probably take another 4 Bolt Taxi App rides per month averaging about $10 USD each, or $40 USD per month. So total transportation would be about $60 per month for the two of us.

Other expats might spend more on taxis and less on public transportation, so I estimate $140 per month for them.

Alcohol (Optional): Domestic beers in the LIDL grocery store in Gdansk start at 1.99 PLN, $0.51 USD for a 0.33 ML size which is the standard size for beer cans in the USA. In bars and restaurants, half-liter draft domestic draft beers run from about $3 to 6 USD. We estimate about $100 per month on alcohol for the two of us.

Many other expats would spend a higher amount for imported foreign or craft beers in expat bars, so about $200 USD per month for 2 people assuming they are not into imported whiskey or wine.

Entertainment (Optional): We would budget about $200 per month for entertainment for the two of us. We enjoy doing more do-it-yourself kinds of entertainment so expats would spend a little more, maybe $300 per month, for 2 of them?

Estimated Costs to Retire in Gdansk

Gdansk	Lower (USD)	Middle (USD)
Rent	350	700
Utilities	160	240
Groceries	320	430
Restaurants	220	360
Cell Data	8	16
Laundry	0	0
Drinking Water	5	5
Internet	18	18
Transportation	60	140
Total	$1141	$1909

Alcohol	120	220
Optional Total	$1261	$2129

Entertainment	200	300
Optional Total	$1461	$2429

Our above lower cost estimates would be for the two of us living on a tight budget. The middle estimate is just an example of what other expats might spend for these expenses if they moved here.

To understand what it would cost you to live here, you must put your feet on the ground, see what you would choose to rent, eat, drink, and entertain yourself, and add it all up. It doesn’t matter what anyone else spends because we are all different.

Next, I will cover my retirement desirability factors of Poland. But remember to grab my free eBook when this video ends, How I Fired My Boss and Traveled the World for 17 Years, at VagabondBuddha.com.

Poland Retirement Desirability Factors

Before you move anywhere outside your home country, create a list of things that you must have for your happy retirement. Here are my retirement desirability factors and I will rank each as high, medium, or low before assigning an overall retirement desirability score to Gdansk Poland.

Walkability: High. As usual, we walked everywhere in Gdansk. We found all of our daily needs within a 5 to 20-minute walk of our apartment. So we would not need a car if we lived in Gdansk.

Internet: High. The wifi in our Airbnb had 38 Mbps down and 26 Mbps upload speeds. That is good enough for us to do Zoom calls, upload YouTube videos, and watch Netflix.

Food: High. There was a Farmers market just about a 15-minute walk from our apartment (link below) and the LIDL grocery store was just about 5 minutes away. For fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, we would shop in the Farmers Market. Links to everything we discuss today are at our webpage, VagabondBuddha.com.

There are local restaurants with delicious lunch specials including soup and main courses and side dishes starting around $10 USD in the old town but a buck or two cheaper once you are out of the tourist area. There is also a large selection of foreign restaurants running from $12 to $16 USD per meal.

Weather: Medium. Average daytime highs in Gdansk are 36F (2C) in January but increase to 72F (22C) in July. Average daytime lows in Gdansk are 27F (-3C) in January but increase to 61F (16C) in July. The best weather runs from May through September. The rainy season is September through January. It typically snows in December, January, and February. It starts warming up in March.

Things to Do: High. Gdasnk has one of the most beautiful medieval old towns in E. Europe which I cover in my walking tour at the first link in the notes below this video. There are also a bunch of unique events that happen each year in Gdansk, such as the Amber Jewelry Fair, Sea Shanty Singing Festival, Saint ‌Dominic’s Fair, Gdansk Music ‌Festival, Baltic Sea Bubble⁢ Parade, Night ‍of⁣ 100‌ Papercuts, Open’er Festival, ‍Gdansk Dance Festival, Hevelka Craft Beer Festival, Gdansk Rockowizna, and the Shakesphere rooftop festival, plus live music concerts of jazz, rock, and electronic, a great nightlife, coffee shops, shopping malls, cultural tours, and river tours. There are also nearby beaches and assorted water sports on the Baltic Sea.

Social Considerations: High. While Polish is the official language of Poland, English is spoken and understood in major cities, especially among younger people. 30% of Poles speak English as a foreign language, which makes English the most common second language in Poland. The sex distribution in Poland is 51.7 percent women and 48 percent men and one of the first countries in Europe to allow women the right to vote.

Safety Considerations: High. When I last checked, the US State Department webpage for Poland published the lowest level 1 risk for Poland–”Exercise normal precaution.” Numbeo surveys report that life feels safer in Gdansk Poland than in Honolulu Hawaii. You can also review my report, How to Travel the World Safely, which is how I have remained safe traveling the world for 17 years. We went out walking after midnight in Gdansk and never felt a hint of trouble.

Expat Community: High. Poland has been a member of the EU since 2004 but is still using Polish Currency instead of the Euro which might be why it is slightly cheaper to live here than in other parts of Eastern Europe. Prices seem higher when countries adopt the Euro. Here are a few Facebook pages that cater to English-speaking expats living in Poland: 1, 2, 3. These online expat communities are great for learning all about things that expats want to learn when they first move overseas. Make sure to search for previous questions answered recently before posting any questions to these groups.

Medical: High. This healthcare international comparison index ranks Poland 49th in the world, 19 spots better than the United States which ranks 69th. There are different ways healthcare is rated, but this one seems to be considering quality of care in relation to what patients are charged.

If you decide to move here, make sure to ask around for referrals and establish relationships with doctors based on the feedback you have gotten from others who have used their services. The above Expats Facebook pages may be a good source for that information.

Tourist Visa: High. Poland is a member of the Schengen Visa countries. Citizens of many countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, USA, and many many others, are given 90 days in any 180-day period for time spent in any of the Schengen member countries. Before attempting to enter any Schengen member country, check to see if the electronic visa waiver program is in effect yet.

Poland also has a bilateral agreement with the USA that allows Americans to do visa runs to get consecutive 90-day visa waivers in Poland after the 90-day Schengen period, so long as they leave Poland before the expiration of the first 90-day visa waiver period and stay out for more than 24 hours before returning to Poland from any other country whether Schengen or non-Schengen country. Last I read you could do these consecutively, one after another meaning Americans can stay in Poland all year by doing a visa run every 90 days. I recommend confirming this additional visa waiver program for Americans before relying on it. Some Americans may choose to do these visa runs instead of applying for a Polish Residency Permit, which I talk about next.

Polish Residence Permits: Medium. In general, non-EU citizens must apply for a residence permit in order to stay longer than the 90-day Schengen period. There is presently no retirement visa in Poland. However, I read online that some visa agents can help foreigners obtain residency permits by showing bank statements proving sufficient funds to sustain living in Poland, health insurance, and a valid passport along with the standard application forms and a letter stating that you will be studying Polish for 1.5 years. This study residency is extendable after 1.5 years to study longer. The other option is to form a single-entity corporation in Poland and obtain a residence work permit for your newly formed corporation. You can also get residence is you have Polish ancestry. A visa agent discusses these residence options in this YouTube video.

Rather than promoting any one visa agency, I would recommend that you request a referral to an agent on one of the Facebook pages I shared above. Ask the expats there for an agent (or better yet, an immigration lawyer) who they have already successfully used to get residence permits.

Real Estate: High. When I read about it today, foreigners are allowed to purchase an apartment in Poland but not land with a house on it without advance permission from the government. Today, I saw small apartments for sale in Gdansk starting for about $70k USD. However, I do not recommend buying real estate in a foreign country until you have lived there for an extended period of time making sure you love it. If you decide to buy real estate, you should also get your own lawyer who has no conflict of interest with you. For example, do not use a lawyer recommended by your real estate broker or your local lover.

Gdansk Retirement Desirability Score: Medium. The winters are a little too cold for me. I like warmer year-round weather. But if I had the resources to fly source for the winter months then I would rate Gdansk as High desirability.

What would it cost you to live in Gdansk Poland?

To get a better understanding of things you should add to our estimated cost of living watch this video: 9 Reasons You Can’t Retire on $1000 Month Overseas.

Most people will likely be unable to retire for the lower range estimate above. I give example reasons why in this report. Plus, this other report explains how to avoid coming home early with your tail between your legs.

Also, if you are going to try to retire cheap offshore, make sure to read my report, the Two Biggest Risks of Retiring Early for Cheap Offshore, which explains why you should have emergency funds available for unexpectedly large expenses.

You should also add anything to the above table that you spend money on in your home country that is not listed in the above table. Presumably, you find those things necessary in life. To do that, visit the Numbeo Gdansk and add anything not mentioned in the above table.

Never move anywhere until you have visited first personally to verify the living costs for your lifestyle and needs. I am not guaranteeing these prices. These are just my notes and estimates from the time of my visit and this post. Your costs will likely be drastically different depending on your lifestyle and the time since this post.

Many of the expats we meet living overseas are self-insured for medical care. That means that not everyone buys health insurance when they move overseas. That probably sounds crazy to many of you.

I didn’t carry medical insurance for most of my first 17 years living overseas. But last year I bought medical insurance. If you are wondering what it costs and what it covers, watch my medical insurance video at this link. This is not an affiliate link.

More typical expat living costs in Gdansk range from about $1800 to $3000 USD per month. But people spending that much often have higher savings, incomes, or pensions. They often report spending more on accommodations, entertainment, eating out more, traveling, and alcohol. Many also have more expensive cars, houses, or apartments.

Gdansk Old Town Walking Tour

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Neptune’s Fountain: This most famous symbol of Gdansk Poland stands next to the town hall and was built in the 17th century. Neptune, the god of the seas was erected in front of the Royal Townhouses where Kings and Queens of other nations stayed when visiting Gdansk Poland.

Artus Court: This is behind the Neptune Fountain and is where the sovereigns of other nations stayed when visiting Gdansk. It was also a meeting place for wealthy merchants over the centuries and the main formal location for balls and banquets. The court is named after King Arthur of England and was first built in the 14th Century and later reconstructed after a fire in 1552.

The Main Town Hall: Parts of the town hall were constructed in 1327, but it was updated most recently in 1556. It houses the History Museum of the City of Gdańsk. It is one of the finest examples of the Gothic-Renaissance historic buildings in the city and is located in the most popular part of the city.

Mannerist Great Armoury: The Great Armory was built in 1605 is the Dutch Renaissance Mannerist architecture. The back side formed part of the Great Wall protecting the city. It was used as an armory until the end of WWI. The interior was consumed by fire and rebuilt 10 years later in 1954 when it became the home of the Academy of Fine Arts.

Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Built in the 16th Century, it is still the largest church made of brick in Europe. It was originally a Catholic Church but was converted to Lutheran at the beginning of the 16th Century.

Mariacka Street: Mariacka is the home of Baltic Amber in Gdansk. As you walk down admiring the Amber, make sure to look up and marvel at the Gargoyles on the merchants’ homes that spew rainwater out of their mouths as they scare evil spirits away. In medieval times, gargoyles were thought to keep these homes safe from evil spirits.

Hala Targowa: This was the largest market in the city at the time it was built in the 19th Century.

Where we stayed in Gdansk

We stayed at this Airbnb for $47 USD per night with the weekly discount before adding Airbnb fees, cleaning fees, and taxes. It was a great location but we would move further out if we had time to stay for a month or longer. Everything we needed was within walking distance and I have listed all of that below under restaurants, shopping, and services.

How we got to Gdansk Poland from Vilnius Lithuania

From the Vilnius Bus Station, we took the bus to the Gdansk Bus Station. We bought our bus tickets online at Flixbus for $37 USD per person. The ride was about 10 hours including a bathroom break. We used the Bolt Taxi (APP) to get to and from both bus stations to our Airbnb apartments in both locations.