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Moving to Zakopane


KLK  
11 Dec 2006 /  #1
Could anyone advice me on the cost of utility bills, myself and my husband (yes I married a lovley Polish man) are near completion of a 3 bedroom house building project in the tatras (Goral House).

We have the well dug so water is sorted, we will have a wood burning boiler and we will have a 30 kw wood burning fire (either can run the central heating and heat the water).

There is no gas to the land but there is electricity so all my cooking will be done on electric appliances.
I have tried to search the internet for a guide to the cost of electric, wood, telephone line rental, health insurance, car insurance (the everyday things we need to concider in order to get an idea of our monthly budget, can anyone help me with this one.?
hello 22 | 890  
11 Dec 2006 /  #2
For sure you'll have to spend some money for electricity or wood since in Zakopane it's cold 8 months a year. Make sure the well is deep enough as I've heard people had some problems there (meaning - you may have a really deep well, but your neighbour can dig even deeper one - even though it's not with the law - and you will lack water then). You can buy gus on most gas stations to heat the house. Talk to the village guys and they will point you to someone who can "arrange" cheap wood. The most expensive will be car insurance I think. Health insurance is not very popular in Poland so you can get good price. I would not do shopping in Zakopane - go to the village or to Nowy Targ as you will get better prices there (Zakopane has higher prices overall for there are so namy tourists).

Also, talk to the farmers from the Zakopane area - you can get great food (meat, milk, eggs, cheese, etc) from them for good price. Don't count that you'll have your own vegetables in the garden as the soil in the area and the rough climate is not good for growing anything but grass.
OP KLK  
11 Dec 2006 /  #3
Thank you very much for your advice, we are starting to build a network of goral friends so hopefuly when we move they will be able to help us, with regard to the well, its depth is 75 meteres - how does that sound ? Once again thanks
Kowalski 7 | 621  
11 Dec 2006 /  #4
To give you some idea: my electric bill ( single guy, 1 bedroom, fridge, TVset, computer, stereo ) is about 10 Euro/month and I pay about the same for gas (heat, cooking); telephone monthly is about 10 Euro/month flat rate, internet 12, cable tv 10, health insurance paid by your employee would run about 200 Euro/month, don't know about car insurance, doctor or dentist private visit would cost about 15 Euros, don't know about wood but for a small house heating in winter my friends spend - they say- about 125 Euros/month.
hello 22 | 890  
11 Dec 2006 /  #5
But you don't live in the Tatra Mountains, Kowalski, do you? In the Zakopane area you have up to 3 months warm so you basically have to heat your home 7-9 months a year there..

Plus, I don't think you can fix your tooth for 15 Euro (maybe in a community hospital, but not in a private doctor).. I think it would cost more like 30-35 Euros.
Kowalski 7 | 621  
11 Dec 2006 /  #6
I'm up north, by the sea and I heat my place november-march, that is my landlord does. The rent doesn't change though in winter and I pay for heating 50 Euros each month, summer or winter. No dentist takes more then 60 PLN for filling your tooth, I don't know root canal or some extra procedures but I have never paid more then that. It's cheaper when you use insurance (about 25-35 PLN) I think.
OP KLK  
11 Dec 2006 /  #7
I thank you "Kowalski & Hello" for your comments, its the first time someone has given us a basic idea of costs, I know things will never be accurate but for the moment we are trying to get a rough idea.

You have both been very helpfull.... Thankyou for your time.
telefonitika  
11 Dec 2006 /  #8
Im so envious that you live in Zakopane :)
Nah enjoy the life there i love it me and i at the minute only visit when i am able :)
Babylon 16 | 192  
11 Dec 2006 /  #9
Well, It is the most great place in Poland, fresh air is what you need, And don't bother that it is cold, in UK the weather is not much better or even worst (if you are form UK) so good luck with Poland
krysia 23 | 3,058  
11 Dec 2006 /  #10
No tramways.....
hello 22 | 890  
11 Dec 2006 /  #11
It seems to me 75 meters for a deep wheel is very good - you shouldn't have problems with water.
davidpeake 14 | 451  
12 Dec 2006 /  #12
Hi KLK have you thought of putting a gas tank on your property for heating and cooking, the outlay at the start is a bit more expensive, but long term i would think it would pay for itself and be better than trying to find wood.
OP KLK  
12 Dec 2006 /  #13
thanks to everyone for your comments, davidpeake - we thought about gas but the house at the moment has no proper road to it and its way off the beaten track, it is something that we will think about once we have sorted out a road to the house.
Matyjasz 2 | 1,544  
12 Dec 2006 /  #14
What about those 11 kg gas bottles?
davidpeake 14 | 451  
12 Dec 2006 /  #15
Good idea Matyjasz,

didnt think of that, would be alot easier and cheaper i would think
Matyjasz 2 | 1,544  
12 Dec 2006 /  #16
My friend lives in an new area in the outskirts of my little town, and he still doesn't have the access to the gas network, so he uses those 11 kg gas bottles.
Magda_Asser  
2 Jan 2007 /  #17
hi, just saw ur mesaage, dont know if u still respond here. I'm from Poland, but 3 years now in London. I'm getting married next year with english man and we have a plans to move Poland as well. I'm not so lucky as you are- we will live in nice and small polish village. But we love Zakopane- this year we were there twice. if you have money maybe you should buy a flat to rent for tourists or something? people are going there every time of the year. I hope you will find out lovely living in Poland, especially there.
amirek  
5 Jan 2007 /  #18
I would be interested in finding out how much it cost you. I have a partner with land in Pl, and thinking about moving there to build something. how about a materials/labor split and what you got for it (size, materials types, &c.)?

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