Moving from
to

Complete relocation analysis: taxes, real prices, quality of life, and what salary to ask for.

The verdict

Poland is 21% cheaper to live in. Tax rate goes from 24.1% to 29.8%. Quality of life drops by 6 points.

Analyzing Poland against Spain highlights a stark contrast in climate and an overall higher quality of life in Spain. Spain leads in QoL with 68 points compared to Poland's 62, predominantly due to its significantly more favorable climate, scoring 74 against Poland's 47—a 27-point difference reflecting average temperatures of 15.5°C versus 9°C. Spain also offers better healthcare (66 vs. 51) and slightly superior internet connectivity (76 vs. 68). Poland does not compensate with a lower tax burden, as its taxation score of 35 is actually higher than Spain's 31, nor does its safety score of 86 significantly surpass Spain's 87. The cost of living is similar, with Poland at 53 and Spain at 78, meaning Spain offers more for roughly the same price level relative to its QoL score.

Spain emerges as the stronger contender, offering a substantially better climate and higher quality of life without a significant cost premium.

Moving to Poland? NLV varies by city.

Krakow59 Warsaw57

Tax Comparison

At $36,517 USD equivalent gross salary

🇪🇸 Spain

Gross€33,502

Income Tax-€5,951

Social-€2,127

Net€25,424

Effective Rate24.1%

🇵🇱 Poland

Grosszł146,068

Income Tax-zł10,328

Social-zł33,172

Netzł102,568

Effective Rate29.8%

Net difference: $2,070/year in Poland.Full calculator →

What Things Actually Cost

Price Index: Spain = 81, Poland = 64 (US = 100)

🍔

Big Mac

$5.10→$4.10

-20%

☕

Starbucks Tall Latte

$3.80→$3.80

🍺

Beer 500ml (bar)

$4.50→$3.50

-22%

📱

iPhone 16 128GB

$900.00→$900.00

🎬

Netflix Standard (monthly)

$12.99→$9.00

-31%

⛽

1L Gasoline (95)

$1.65→$1.50

-9%

🚇

Single Transit Ticket

$1.70→$1.00

-41%

🏠

Airbnb Studio (city center)

$80.00→$50.00

-37%

See all 30 products →

What Salary to Ask For

If you earn €33,502 gross in Spain ($36,517USD), here's what you need in Poland depending on your goal:

Same net income (tax only)

zł162,276

You keep the same $27,712/yr net in both countries. But Poland taxes 7.7% more.

Same purchasing power (recommended)

zł128,218

Accounts for the fact that Poland is 21% cheaper than Spain. This is the number to negotiate.

Net Life Value at $37K

🇪🇸 Spain

🇵🇱 Poland

NLV combines net income, cost of living, and quality of life into one score. Similar overall quality of life in both countries.

Calculate with your exact salary →

Quality of Life

Spain: 68/100 vs Poland: 62/100

Cost of Living

Climate

-27

Safety

-1

Healthcare

-15

Internet

-8

Taxation

Moving to Poland: Practicalities

Visa Openness

55/100

English Level

58/100

Expat Community

2.2%

Digital Nomad Visa

Frequently Asked Questions

How much tax do I save moving from Spain to Poland?▾

The effective tax rate changes from 24.1% in Spain to 29.8% in Poland. You keep about $2,069.69 less per year in Poland.

Is Poland cheaper to live in than Spain?▾

Yes. Poland is about 21% cheaper across 30 everyday products (Big Mac, iPhone, gasoline, Netflix, etc.). Your money goes further.

What salary do I need in Poland to match my lifestyle in Spain?▾

Use our salary calculator to find the exact amount. It accounts for income tax, social contributions, and cost of living differences between Spain and Poland. As a rule of thumb: you can accept a lower gross salary because Poland is significantly cheaper.

Is it worth moving from Spain to Poland?▾

It depends on your priorities. Higher taxes but lower cost of living in Poland. The cost savings may offset the tax increase.

Also Consider

🇪🇸 → 🇺🇸 United States 🇪🇸 → 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇪🇸 → 🇫🇷 France 🇪🇸 → 🇩🇪 Germany 🇪🇸 → 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇪🇸 → 🇮🇹 Italy

Moving from 🇪🇸 Spain to 🇵🇱 Poland