Work / Is salary of 3000 Euros gross enough to live decently in Lodz, Poland? [53]


Got the point. Now what does it have to do with the average?

Work / Is salary of 3000 Euros gross enough to live decently in Lodz, Poland? [53]


Remember that salaries are quoted gross, unless otherwise noted. If you are 3,200 net, you may or may not be above the average net, depending of your form of employment: pensje.net/kalkulator/3834netto


I have not analysed the source data for other countries; however, the data for Poland is straight from its official source, the Central Statistics Office: stat.gov.pl/gus/5840_1786_ENG_HTML.htm


???

Work / Is salary of 3000 Euros gross enough to live decently in Lodz, Poland? [53]

What do you mean?

Work / Is salary of 3000 Euros gross enough to live decently in Lodz, Poland? [53]

abc-podatki.pl/srednie-wynagrodzenie-krajowe/

According to the above, latest national average salary (4th quarter of 2013) is: 3,834 zł, so 18,000 zł is only about 4.7x the national average...'Survivng' on that much should not be one of your worries ;-)

Here's a comparison for Europe:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_in_Europe_by_monthly_average_wage

Life / How safe is the city of Bydgoszcz? [9]

Posted a reply on your other thread ;-)
Parts of Szwederowo and Fordon are not too nice. But other than that, it really all depends on what you are looking for: peace & convenience with schools, etc (if with a family) or more 'urban action' (if single and looking to socialise)... Overall, Bydgoszcz is a nice, liveable city for its size, with lots of green spaces, Myślęcinek, Old Town, entertainment, student population, etc. The closer to city centre, the more action. You need not be obsessed with the 'unsafe' as long as you do not do anything silly (same goes for any other city/country) - once you're on ground there, I'm sure you will be able to find an area that best fits your needs.... since you are not familiar with the city, personally I would initially look for something closer to work...

Real Estate / Zones to live in Bydgoszcz [12]

Also conveniently located Wyżyny used to be quite pleasant, not sure if that has changed...

Life / How safe is the city of Bydgoszcz? [9]

It's not any more 'unsafe' than any other city of similar size in PL. And like any other city in the world, it has it's 'nice' and 'not so nice' areas... As you do not mention where you will be moving from, it's impossible to give a comparison...

Polonia / WHAT DO PEOPLE OF POLAND THINK OF LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE? [4]

Before WWII there were fairly large numbers of Poles immigrating to the South American countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, and this would probably be the part of Latin America that Poles would be most familiar with (novelist Witold Gomrowicz lived in Argentina for over 20 years). During the PRL years there were close ties with Cuba for obvious reasons; some Cuban university students went to PL to study. Over the last decade, some TV travel programmes, most notably Boso przez Swiat with Wojciech Cejrowski (although it focuses in large part on the the indigenous peoples of the Amazonia) I thought did a lot to expose Poles to this part of the world. Cejrowski also had an great radio Latin music radio programme - not sure if it still airs?

tvp.pl/styl-zycia/podroze/boso-przez-swiat/wideo
cejrowski.com/radio/index.php?p=podzwrotnikowa

Work / Monthly expenditure for living in Warsaw, excluding apartment? [11]

Here's a quick comparison with a breakdown; from your nickname, I assumed you're in Quebec (?), so for a Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal v Warsaw:

<<You would need around 8,400zł (3,050C$) in Warsaw to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 4,100C$ in Montreal (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.

Consumer Prices in Warsaw are 28.60% lower than in Montreal
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Warsaw are 25.70% lower than in Montreal
Rent Prices in Warsaw are 17.11% lower than in Montreal
Restaurant Prices in Warsaw are 31.23% lower than in Montreal
Groceries Prices in Warsaw are 45.95% lower than in Montreal
Local Purchasing Power in Warsaw is 34.88% lower than in Montreal >>

Hope that helps some.

Work / Job prospects for working in Poland - U.S. & Polish/EU Citizen [6]

Language skills alone will not take you places, I am afraid... Competition is very stiff in PL. What you need to have to make it is a meaningful degree from a solid university, some years of (again) meaningful experience, and marketable skills (plus don't forget the luck factor). I'm not sure how much good a bare bones business degree will do you (and to be honest, probably not much). At the moment the IT sector is where all of the action is...

Good luck!

Work / Job prospects for working in Poland - U.S. & Polish/EU Citizen [6]

That's great - what qualifications/experience/education level do you hold?

Work / Monthly expenditure for living in Warsaw, excluding apartment? [11]

I would say a rough estimate would be PLN2,000/head/mo, but may vary greatly depending on your lifestyles...

Life / I'm English, but I really like some Polish names. Can I use them for my baby girl? [25]

Personally, I like that. But it may lead to a bit of confusion if someone assumes that since your given name is X you must hail form Y... Similarly, there has been a trend for English sounding names in Poland, or 'neutral' sounding names for Polish children born in the English speaking world (Wiktoria, Julia, Damian, Dawid), but in Poland its now back to the more 'traditional' Polish names like Zofia, Antoni, Jan, Jędrzej, etc...

I was once at a playground in the UK, and overheard a parent calling out: "Radek! Radek!". We later had a chat, and it turned out that the parents were both British, had no Polish ancestors, but had lived in Poland and really liked the name. I thought that was neat...

Good luck with choosing... ;-)

Work / Cost of Living, Average Salaries and Job sites in Poland [263]


And you base that on...? I hear the wages have gone up considerably over past few years, and certainly once you they've specialised, there is good earning potential if they happen to be in the sought after speciality and are on a contract... There is a lack of specialists already, and that will only increase with the ageing population, the salaries and opportunities should only continue to increase given that PL now spends about the least % of its GDP on healthcare out of the EU, so certainly this is one profession that does not need to stress about their prospects...


Future earnings and financial security most likely; quality of life/satisfaction - that I would say is really up to the individual to determine based on what their priorities are, especially if bringing up young children is involved... The US in general is great for certain careers and making $, especially if you are single and career driven, but it's such a different lifestyle - not everyone from Europe necessarily enjoys the 'overall package' of living in the States, which, like everywhere, has it's ups and downs (the general feeling is that it's certainly not what it used to be even 20 years ago).

Law / How to register for doctor in Poland (by area) [16]


Yes, all practicing docs and dentists must be registered and can be found here: rejestr.nil.org.pl/xml/nil/rejlek/hurtd

In the 2nd & 3rd fields input the given name and surname, respectively (you'll need to use the correct Polish letters, if applicable - otherwise it might not find your person).


It's the Medical Uni of Warsaw wum.edu.pl/en

Law / Bringing a brand new car from UK to Poland [22]


I was wondering if one could also do that with used cars... Assuming one buys a car that has valid both road tax and the MOT (usually the case), can one just drive away and not need to worry about ever coming back for the MOT and just continue renewing the insurance policy? Are their rates reasonable (compared to the Polish premiums)? And will there be anything else to take care of if one continues to live abroad for a number of years - is there no time limit or other?

Life / Jack Strong ( Film about Colonel Ryszard Kuklinski ) [48]

I think he is referring to the detention camp in the Bereza Kartuska prison created for the political opponents of the Mościcki government.

When talking about the II RP and democracy, remember Józef Piłsudski's 1926 coup d'état (the May Coup - 215 soldiers and 164 civilians had been killed)? Moreover, it is astounding how few Poles themselves remember that the first ever democratically elected president of Poland (Gabriel Narutowicz - BTW what a remarkable person when you read his biography) had been assassinated thanks to the right extremists only five days after taking office in 1922! That too often forgotten fact alone speaks volumes about the state of 'democracy' in II RP...

Life / Jack Strong ( Film about Colonel Ryszard Kuklinski ) [48]


I have yet to see the film, but I beg to differ. At the end of the day he was spying for a foreign power, and he was not doing it for free mind you, so his motives were not purely patriotic...

Travel / Is it possible to hire a car in Poland when under the age of 21? [11]

Harry, yes, I've missed that; still, there seem to exist companies which do allow <21s as per your previous post...

Travel / Is it possible to hire a car in Poland when under the age of 21? [11]


Terrible advice in my opinion - unless you plan to travel for several weeks AND know someone in PL who can help you with the whole buying/registering/insuring hassle. So this will not be a good move for everyone, especially those who will be staying for a relatively short period. First of all, you have to find something reliable within your budget; then there is insurance & registration to think of, all of which will eat up your valuable time you could have used for sightseeing and exploring. And buying a junk is always a gamble, you never know when something will give, which can mean your travel plans will be jeopardised. When you rent, you will almost always have a newer, more reliable & comfortable, safer, and more fuel efficient vehicle at your disposal.

I had a quick look here: rentacarpoland.com, the rates start from 55PLN/day for a new Ford Ka.

Travel / I would like to take my two sons to Poland for a holiday - Any ideas? [9]

For the northern half of the country, if you are into nature, I would highly recommend the Białowieża Forest (Europe's last primeval forest):

en.eholiday/accommodation-bialowieza-1471-agrotourism.html

or the Suwałki & Augustów regions for lakes and forests as a an alternative to the overcrowded/overpriced Mazury in July/August.
en.eholiday/search-suwalszczyzna---633-1-.html

Both of these are a bit of a trek from Warsaw, but note you can fly into Kaunas, and beat the crowds (1.5hr drive to Suwałki).

There are also very nice lakes/forests in the Kaszuby region near Gdansk and Pojezierze Drawskie near Szczecin, great forests in the Bory Tucholskie.
en.eholiday/search-kaszuby---622-1-.html
en.eholiday/search-pojezierze_drawskie---397-1-.html

News / Poland's economic future? [294]


The correct term would be 'freeway' in AE and 'motorway' in BE (you are referring to a specific class of highway).


In common usage they can mean the same: a high speed controlled-access road, the former being an AE and the latter a BE term.


It is hardly a secret that a comprehensive network of high speed roads is the backbone of business activity and is often used as an overall indicator of a country's development. So while it does not guarantee economic growth, it vastly increases its potential and thus can make the country that much more attractive.

News / Poland's economic future? [294]


Not any longer - PL now ranks "only" 3rd worst. See latest data for 2012:
europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-236_en.htm

There is obviously still a long way to go, but at least the trend looks promising: a 15% reduction in 2011-12 v. 9% for all of EU.

And just to keep things in perspective, as bad as it is, not many people realise that those numbers are still below US levels:
oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/factbook-2013-en/06/02/03/rddeath_g1.html?contentType=&itemId=/content/chapter/factbook-2013-50-en&containerItemId=/content/serial/18147364&accessItemIds=&mimeType=text/html

USA, Canada / Moving back to Poland after 7 years in Canada [22]

Hi and welcome to the forum. This is a very tough decision, especially so as you have a family.


Not everyone is willing to sacrifice their ties with family and friends. The reality is such that not everyone is cut out for immigration (irrespective of the country). Such a simple fact, yet some struggle to accept it. Immigration seems to come more natural for some than others. I constantly run into Poles who have left 10, 20, 30+ yrs ago and have either assimilated quite well are would never consider returning, and those who have not and would rather go back. Most of the latter choose not to go back as their source of income would be uncertain and so choose the stability of US/Canadian life. Unfortunately, many of them do not take it well, they get depressed, escape into drinking, etc. and become bitter and resentful. They like the financial security and everything else that comes with it on one hand, but unfortunately, not being able to fully accept the new reality does come at a hefty price. Definitely something to consider - which category do you think you fit in?


I think you are not alone on this. However, the reality is that not everyone will have the same professional opportunity in Poland, otherwise you wouldn't have such huge numbers of people seeking better life abroad. There are exceptions, however, and this is where you may find your chance.

Finding work while abroad through recruiters is very tough, unless you happen to be an extremely sought after expert in a well paid profession. The fact is that local workforce is more competitive, often better educated, and more qualified for the job at hand.


I would not count on it. For a start, Poland could simply not afford it.

You may find the following forum dedicated to returning immigrants/migrants useful:
powrotnik.eu/index.php/poradnik-dla-powracajacych/

Good luck. Remember that these are opinions of others. Nothing more, nothing less. Trust in your instincts and remember that each case is different. At the end it is your decision and you and only you are the best qualified person to make it. And live with its consequences.

Life / Eating out in Poland, is it expensive? [28]


I know this is off topic, but that is the beauty and the curse of such exotic places. Great to tour and to experience, but to live there permanently is "another pair of galoshes" and will require a sustained effort and an attitude to put up with the unwanted attention and "special treatment". Certainly not for everyone. Thus Poland may not be a bad idea for you. But you may be disappointed as the vast majority of Poles still value home cooked meals and tend to dine out much less frequently than say, the average Yank.

Life / Eating out in Poland, is it expensive? [28]

If cheap is all you are after, then closer to home you'll also find Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia...

Law / Is there much demand in Poland for real ale? [38]

Never had a chance to try any of the Pinta brews - are they relatively easy to find?

Law / Is there much demand in Poland for real ale? [38]


I agree that it is very hard to beat English ales. If the demand for ale is on the rise in PL, perhaps setting up an import business from the UK could be an option? Or starting up your own micro ale brewery?

Wesołych Świąt!

News / Poland has the most dangerous roads in Europe [34]

I imagine the main complaint would be that the emphasis is not placed where it should be, and that there are too many overly complicated rules (or exceptions)... Regarding the road safety, the main problem is the law, or rather it's execution - it is clearly too lax to make a dent in the statistics, as is the lack of social stigmatization of the violators... Add to that the fact that very little is done to raise people's awareness of the magnitude of the problem...

News / Poland has the most dangerous roads in Europe [34]

Apologies, here it is: europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-236_en.htm