Is Poland a poor country?

No Fuzzy. You don't understand. Not all of us spend/spent our days in Poland walking around in the rain, trudging from one dull lesson to another dull lesson with lifeless corporate drones while not having any resemblance of a career. I know you cannot comprehend the idea of someone actually having friends, and the idea of actually having the money to go out several times a week is totally alien to you - but still.

I'm more and more convinced that you had such a dreadful, lonely time in Poland that you've convinced yourself that everyone lives like that, just because it's better than the alternative of admitting that you miserably failed here.

Why all the personal attacks, stick to topic and stop acting like a *****,

back to that again?! duuuuuude......

next time I disagree with you, do your very best to lay off the same ole' personal attack you insist on bringing up EVERY SINGLE TIME.

holy crap, just more evidence as to how boring you must be at social gatherings.

"did you know that the number of doctors going to the UK for work has declined 34% over the last 3 years? yeah, yeah, and Finland has seen a 17% increase in pumpkin production as well.....probably due to the new farming regulations the state has imposed upon them but that's ok because they've seen a steady influx of migrant workers there over the past 6 years, up 14% from last year....."

you must have to read this crap for a living, it's just far too boring to read up on for pleasure.

No, but it apparently makes some difference for people who live in these countries. One who's paid $1000 in Nigeria is better off than one who's paid $1500 in Poland (if we set aside political/cultural things).

I'm just trying to show you that money is far not the only reason to leave a country.

What does failure amount to though, people keep saying this. what is failure? Would you say the 2,000,000 plus Poles that left Poland are all failures? If they couldnt make it what chance does a foreigner have?

well said WB ^^

and I'm saying it is,so lets agree to disagree.,

I have a friend who lives in Nigeria (he's a UK customs and immigration officer who pre-screens travelers). Food is diabolically expensive, 3-4 times more than the UK.

"If you ain't first,you last"-Reese Bobby
This is how we roll.Complaing and whinning doesn't cost a penny and even if Poland was the richest country in the whole Universe I would still be whinning and ******** if there was something I wouldn't like about Poland.

when you're right Grubas, you're right.
This is how we roll (most of us at least)

Here's what the World Bank has to say about Poland's poverty percentage...
web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPOVERTY/EXTPA/0,,contentMDK:20205276~menuPK:435735~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:430367~isCURL:Y,00.html
US percentage of population in poverty Link
news.yahoo/revised-govt-formula-shows-poverty-high-49-1m-135427317.html

"The poverty line is defined under the official measure as $11,139 for an individual, or $22,314 for a family of four." Poverty at 16% currently under these definitions.

Define what your own definition of poverty is, please.


Wooooooow, that was racist!! Or, rather, prejudiced and misinformed since the Brits, Poles and other EU nationalities are all.... WHITE. *doh*

The income level against the COST of living in that country is the usual definition.

Another is the income level against the average income within a country (which is obviously stupid as by definition there must be someone above and below average).

OK, that one makes actual sense.

But, at the same time, I had an economics teacher once point out that no matter what earnings are in any country, the cost of living in that country will balance out to coming out to about that level.

If the population only has x amount of money on rent on average, then that is what makes sense to charge. Then, there are those business minds who find poorer neighborhoods and charge lower rent there, of course offering lower services and quality of lodging.

Numbeo's numbers come out to (USA):

Rent 3 bedroom not in centre $1231
(Fun little note, in some cities and counties in the USA, if you have kids, you are required to have a seperate bedroom for them, and if they are a boy and a girl, must have seperate bedrooms as well, some cities even require that after a certain age same sex siblings cannot share bedrooms)

Utilities $200
Food $800
(According to USDA per week In June 2010, the thrifty plan for a family of 4 per week was $134.50. Low-cost = $175.10 Moderate cost = $219.10 Liberal cost = $265.90)

Often, if you rent you by law must carry renters insurance $10/mo

Add in car payment $300
Car insurance $100
Gas $500
(I'm ballparking based on what some others I know pay, I don't pay this amount myself)

Telephone and internet could be $100

Clothes $100 (family of 3-4)

Total per month $3331, per year $39972

It's just a educated guesstimate. But, basically, the poverty rate in the USA is pathetically low compared to cost of living in the USA. I believe the median cost of living is $51,914 quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html

So, can someone break down using those same above catagories the cost of living in Poland? We could compare that to the poverty level vs average income level in Poland to get an idea.

Then Polish Minimum wage would be one definition of poverty level. 1500pln/month.

There is more information here:

The number of poor in Poland has fallen by eight million since the country joined the European Union, new figures reveal.

peterweg, minimum wage in the US works out to poverty level as well. It's sad, really. But, could anyone break down cost of living in Poland by the same catagories as I wrote for the USA? That would then be able to be a side by side comparison for the sake of the argument. How much that total works out, how far it's off from the minimum wage, how much of the populace earns at least the amount needed in the comparison total above. Then, I'd say there would only be one conclusion in the end and poof. ;)

I don't know, but those numbers are way way more than Poland. Unlimited Internet access is about $25 here for instance. Gas $500?? I can't imagine Poles would spend 10% of that..

America's broadband infrastructure is still woefully inadequate. The differentiation in pricing depending upon where you live in the U.S. is way too much.

So then would it be quite cheap for an american to live in Poland for the summer?

A single one-day ticket to Disneyworld in Florida costs $85 for adults, and $79 for children. You could stay for a week at an okey-dokey hotel (i.e. Etap) for $115, in Poland.

Really but how nice would that hotel be? a 4 star at least? I dont want to stay in a really crappy hotel

No way dude.At least 90-100 PLN a night and that makes a bit over $200.


2 stars.

The kind with signs on the door like "keep your room locked" and "dont trust anybody".

I'm my experience the more expensive the hotel the better the thieves are.

You can find weekly rates for most western style hotels. "2 stars" sounds about right, but these aren't actual Michelin-rated accommodations.

You need a gun law in that country just to keep your self safe. Three times ive been subjected to crime in that country. Once in Vegas and twice in Florida.

Out of curiosity what's "eastern style hotel" and how it differs from "western style hotel"???

Do you really need to stay in a 4 star hotel? You don't get much more than an increase of boredom. A one or two stars will be clean and have everything you need and you won't have to stay in big cities, there is much more choice.

I find 4/5 star hotels impersonal and bland, they all feel the same, you could be anywhere.

No, it only looks so.

How much would a 4 star hotel cost in Poland for a week?

You've heard of "the Google", right?

Yes and have looked at some of them but am really not sure about how Polands star rating coincides with the U.S's star rating. Is a 4 in Poland the same as a 4 star in the us?

Plus I like to get second thoughts through here from people that live in Poland and know the place well.