Cost of living in Warsaw with two kids

Hello,

I have been offered a job in Warsaw and it pays 3500€/month gross.

I would have to relocate with my kids and place them in private nursery and public or private school respectively. I am worried it's not enough to rent a two bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood plus all the other expenses.

I am interested in how much does a family with two kids spend each month.
Thank you.

Remind that the taxes in Poland are pretty high. 3500 Euros gross probably will be around 2800 Euros.

Your life will not be bad, but will be tight on budget. Apartments in a reasonable neighborhood like Ochota will be around 750 Euros per month or more.

That'll be about PLN 10,500 a month in hand.


It's not enough if you want the kids to go to an English-language school. The lower-end international schools (IAS Warsaw etc) start at about 3,000zl per student per month. A two-bedroom apartment in a decent neighbourhood will start at about 3,000zl per month.

thank you both for the info

Although Poles of course have their family and social network thanks to which they can manage, don't forget that only 10% of Poles earn 6,000 ZL and more per month and 70% of Poles makes less than 2,700 ZL/month so please don't tell people that they won't make it on 10,000zl. I happen to live in Ochota (I own my apartment but I know what rents are around here and they are not more expensive than elsewhere in Warsaw).

Usually those talking about the cost of living and living conditions DO not work/live in the place so not very smart to take whatever they say for granted. Considering tuition in English-speaking schools (I would definitely advize against IAS), it won't be a luxury life but it should be liveable... For sure, better money should be expected in the West...

I would only want an English maybe Montessori type nursery and I can choose public school for my 2nd grader though I don't know how long it would take her to pick up Polish (we aren't relocating for a long period). I would also have other income from renting an apartment back home so I don't think it's impossible to have a decent life there, is it?

Any information about the food costs (we eat lots of fruit, veggies and diary) or electricity/water expenses?

what are the best neighborhood to live in?
I mean within walking distance to parks, subway, supermarket?

thanks again

Actually, I've lived and worked here in Warsaw since 1997.


Yes, after paying rent and school fees, the OP will be left with 1,500zl a month for everything, what a great life that family will have!


Allow 2,500zl per month for that.


At that age, it'll probably take three years, at least, given the language will be spoken at school only, before the kid is close to the level of his/her peers. Polish state schools provide language help only for a year. Choosing a Polish language school will set your child's education back at least one year, more probably two years.


Electricity and water together wouldn't be more than 200zl a month. But water is usually included in rent anyway.


Families seem to like Urszynow, or Mokotow.

@Jocelyn: The things that make this an unattractive offer for you are 1) that you are bringing two minor children along who need to be schooled and babysat at considerable expense and inconvenience to you and them; and 2) that you will be able to save up very little indeed at the end of the month in absolute dollars.

The high costs and low savings potential, plus the inconvenience done to your children, basically exclude this job from serious consideration. Like Gość said, better offers exist in richer countries, not only in terms of raw wages, but also in terms of savings potential in absolute dollars. Like Harry said, public school is not a viable option for your second grader.

Dominic, your obsession with "absolute dollars" completely fails to take into account that these jobs simply don't exist elsewhere, or have already been taken up by very well qualified Europeans. There's a reason why we're seeing so many queries on PF, because these companies are willing to hire foreigners from non-European countries to try and fill the positions. It's also quite likely that the OP is considering it because it offers a considerable upgrade on their current living conditions.

Having said that, it would be perfectly possible to place the youngest child in a bilingual nursery and homeschool the other child for the time being, or even place the child into a democratic school.

odpowiedzialnaszkola.pl is one such school, and the child won't be under traditional pressures there. They're also far more likely to learn Polish if they can actually have fun at school, too, as play transcends language.

Absolute dollars are meaningless if you don't have the means of obtaining them.

You're beginning to sound like the wrong sort of person from an HR department in the wrong sort of company. And not one here in Europe. The job may well be fine and the OP is obviously very seriously considering it. It will take careful planning re. education and child care, however it may be one of the better possibilities that the OP has and could also open a lot of doors.

Indeed, Jon.

A friend went from a job paying 3000zl net in Poland to one paying 4000 Euro/net in Germany without much effort. She's now firmly in the senior ranks and earning a shade over 6.5k a month in Germany, but she would never have got there if it wasn't for being able to get the job in Poland in the first place.

Dominic has clearly spent too much time around SSC workers to have much, if any of a clue about the job market.

This is not a discussion about posters/members

Thank you all for your opinions, you really helped me get a better idea of the two realities if I can say so, I will make a decision in the following days and I am very much inclined against accepting the offer.

If I was interested in living in Poland for long term maybe it would be worth taking a first step but my intention really is to get a job in Germany or Luxembourg and I don't just want to go 6 months here or there, it is too disruptive and unnecessary for my kids.

Merged: Is 2000 $ net will be sufficient for an Indian IT engineer in Warsaw

I got on offer from Warsaw they offered 2000$ monthly will that be sufficient. In India i am earning 52000 net salary. It will be good if you can also give the break up of spending like 1 BHK rent + wifi , food site seeing and max saving i can do.

Merged: Relocating to Warsaw with one kid family

Hello,
i have been offered a job in warsaw with 10000pln net per month. if i accept, iwill move with my husband and my son (almost 3 years old). assuming that my husband will not be able to find a job since the beginning, we wonder if my salary would be enough for a normal life and for a bit of savings. can you give some advice on the expenses?