A little over $10,000 and wanting to move to Poland ... any tips??

Ok, so I'm a 23 year old college student that wants a break from school and move far away from my home town (San Diego, CA. USA). I did some schooling in India, Mexico, and here in the USA and I've also traveled to Brazil, Colombia, Japan, Canada.. and many other countries. I have not however, been to Europe. I will be going to Finland and Sweden this summer for school though.. it will be a short program though (4 weeks). Furthermore, I have decided to make a drastic change and pack some bags and move to Europe. First, I wanted to move to one of those super "tourist-popular" countries like France, Italy, or England. But I came to realize that it's crazy expensive in those places. I did some research on more economical countries in Europe ... they all point to the eastern European countries like Bulgaria, Poland, etc. I had an internal attraction to Poland before and have been somewhat interested in that country (and in Polish girls too :)). So I ask, what can I do or expect from this absurdity of mine to just leave my native land for a few months to get away from routine and learn and meet new people and culture ?? I actually plan on taking about $10,000 and if i need more I'll just work over the net (I have money in stocks). How long can I last though with 10 grand in Poland?? Moreover, how hard is it to find even a job as a waiter or bartender (I have experience in that) so I'm not to tight with money??? Please, me Polish friends, give me some advise... I'm flying solo on this one!!

you'll be surprised man, even Poland will be more expensive than the US. $10k in Poland is not really that much at all. It will pay your bills for about 3-6 months, that's all.

really??? Well i really just wanted to stay there for about 6-7 months. However, I did want to find a job part time ... at a restaurant or bar. So it's more expensive than I thought... ? :(

depends on what you want. you can buy in to the "lifestyles of the poor and starving", aka "student life", for about a year. no polish, no work permit, service industry...well, good luck. on the flipside, it's not impossible, just a bit more difficult here. you might have better luck in prague.

I also considered the Czech Republic and more specifically there in Prague. But isn't a bit more expensive there ???

Not really. I mean, don't let me dissuade you from moving to Poland...but, there is a much larger demand for English speakers in the service industry in Prague (tourism and the large expat community). Housing costs about the same as in most big Polish cities.

really? So by that I'm assuming that there's not too much tourism in the cities of Poland right? Well, at least not as much as Prague. So it a similar cost of living in both countries?

It's picking up in Krakow, and you've got business travelers in Warsaw...but it's still tiny compared to Prague. Cost of living is about the same although wages here tend to be lower.

Don't listen to guess who she has no clue.10k USD=28k PLN, 28k/12= 2333.34 PLN a month now it all depends on what kind of lifestyle do expect to live.If you are tight with money you can easily live of it 1 Year,even if you have to rent a small apt,but you can rent a room in a students apt and that will save you about half of housing expenses.

As an American in a Schengen zone country, you'll only be allowed to say for 90 days unless you have a job and get a work permit, etc. I really don't see how that will be possible for you, but enjoy your three months!

Indeed, and if you stay more than 3 months and get caught (easy enough, the police will always check your documents if stopped for some reason) without a residency permit, it's an instant 1 year ban.

Ukraine used to be an option, but now that they've introduced the 90/180 rule and raised the maximum fine up to 3500 hryvina for overstaying, it's no longer one.

Or enroll in a cheap language school and get a two year Schengen visa.

yes exactly how i had calculated... as a matter of fact, correct me if i'm wrong but i got this from a website on some cost of everyday living... is it even a bit accurate??

Typical costs include:
1 litre of milk 2.6 PLN
Loaf of bread 2 PLN
1.5 litres of mineral water 1.5 PLN
1 kg applies 3 PLN
0.5 kg pasta 4 PLN
1 litre petrol 4 PLN
Small bottle of beer 2.80 PLN
Cafe meal 10-20 PLN
Restaurant meal 25-50 PLN
Monthly rental 100 sq m apartment 1500 PLN

It is normal practice to leave a 10% tip in restaurants, and to give porters and taxi drivers a small tip.

@scottie1113: yes i was aware of this, but how is it that many colegues have pulled it off living year round in europe?? i mean, i could only imagine that it would be sort of like here in the States, that if you get caught, they just send you back no??

@delphiandomine: what do you mean a one year ban?? not being able to came back to poland for a year??

@convex: language school sounds like something of my interest to prolong my stay. by enrolling i will be learning a language of choice, or just Polish??

Well,the prices are more or less accurate.You won't get a 100 sq m place for a 1500/month but do you really need a 100 sq m for yourself?For a 1500 a month you will get say 40-50 sq m place.Gas prices are higher 5Pln/litre but on the other hand NG is like 2.20/litre.If I was you I would get a room in a student's apartament as a roommate,that will cut your housing expenses by half,say 750PLN/month.As a bonus you will instantly get some friends and some social life.Go for it brah you will be fine.


In PL you tip only for exceptional service.Of course if you tip people they are more helpfull than when don't but it's not a rule like in the US.

alma24.pl has prices, it's on the higher end of prices....but hey, they deliver...


Might be difficult (and costly) to get that going. A buddy of mine just recently got his two year by signing up for a Polish course. If you were to say sign up and decide it wasn't for you after the first month, that page in your passport doesn't disappear...


Stay legal, it's not that expensive, and brings peace of mind. If you're here illegally, they can detain you until they put you on a plane. Not the best way to leave the country.


I tip for good service, pretty healthy tips at that. It tends to turn good service into great service.

Of course this is exactly what I am saying.


Out of curiosity,what do you consider a "pretty healthy tip" for a cab driver on say $20 run?I used to drive a taxi:)

@grubas: is it even possible to get in a student apartment with roommates WITHOUT going to school ?

@convex: thats very true about enrolling in a Polish course then dropping it if i decide to in the future. so i'm assuming that there is a student visa available that is valid for up to a year correct? however, can i enroll in ANY kind of course in any college??

@grubas: funny, here in the US we over tip compared to any other European countries. its customarily to leave 15-20% depending on the service. I currently work as a bartender on the side, and I know how to provide great service ... but even when I do, foreign people only leave 10% even if the bill is over $100 or they'll just round up the number (ex. total= $106.08 -- after tip -- $110.00)

I am not talking about a room in dormitory.There is not enough of them for all students and some of them rent apartaments and then sub rent rooms.The idea is that you would pay less than for your own place and live with people aprox.your age.


Well, like I said I used to drive a taxi in a resort town in the US so I believe I can tell something bout tipping. Most Americans tip (I don't think there is something like a tip too big) few DON'T.From a cabby perspective I can say the worst scumbags when it comes to tipping are WESTERN europeans (I even started refusing rides with them,I was an independent so I could pick and choose, if for some reason I didn't like you you had to take another taxi) even poor Russian students were tipping me a buck or two because they knew this is a rule in the US but western europeans tip very seldom.


Well some Americans do that too (it was embarasing when they were counting %) or even don't tip at all (maybe because I was a foraigner,I don't know).Basically what I learned as a general rule, the richer customer the smaller tip.Also, young Americans tip better than the old ones.Bartenders and waitresses tip well.I don't think foraigners know that as a bartender you make what $3-4/h?The best tip I ever had (by %) was on $5 run,$100 bill and "keep the change".