How many square metres of a new apartment can an average monthly salary buy? We compared average salaries from Statistics Poland (GUS) with the median asking price of new apartments, calculated from the price lists developers publish on the dane.gov.pl portal. The result shows large differences between cities – and explains why Kraków remains one of the most resilient housing markets in Poland.
Methodology
- Salaries: average monthly gross salary in the enterprise sector (companies employing more than 9 people) in August 2026. Source: Statistics Poland (GUS), "City statistics. Monthly signal information".
- Prices: median asking price per m² of apartments in developers' active price lists published on dane.gov.pl (October 2026 reading).
- Indicator: the number of square metres of a new apartment that one average gross salary can "buy".
The indicator is comparative – it does not take into account taxes, mortgage costs or differences in the mix of units on offer.
Results
| City | Salary (Aug 2026), PLN | Median asking price, PLN/m² | m² per average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rzeszów | 9,183 | 10,441 | 0.88 |
| Zielona Góra | 8,827 | 10,250 | 0.86 |
| Gorzów Wlkp. | 8,031 | 9,300 | 0.86 |
| Katowice | 9,963 | 12,152 | 0.82 |
| Szczecin | 9,600 | 11,865 | 0.81 |
| Bydgoszcz | 8,582 | 10,695 | 0.80 |
| Opole | 8,841 | 11,000 | 0.80 |
| Łódź | 8,796 | 11,079 | 0.79 |
| Poznań | 10,604 | 13,386 | 0.79 |
| Toruń | 8,684 | 11,500 | 0.76 |
| Olsztyn | 8,396 | 11,100 | 0.76 |
| Lublin | 8,773 | 11,800 | 0.74 |
| Kraków | 11,547 | 15,750 | 0.73 |
| Kielce | 7,804 | 11,050 | 0.71 |
| Białystok | 7,984 | 12,000 | 0.67 |
| Warsaw | 11,239 | 17,230 | 0.65 |
| Wrocław | 9,984 | 15,444 | 0.65 |
| Gdańsk | 10,645 | 16,605 | 0.64 |
Key findings
The highest purchasing power is in smaller cities. In Rzeszów, Zielona Góra and Gorzów Wielkopolski, an average salary buys 0.86–0.88 m² of a new apartment. This is the result of relatively low prices combined with salaries close to the national average.
The lowest is in Gdańsk, Wrocław and Warsaw. There, an average salary buys 0.64–0.65 m². High prices reflect strong demand, including from investors and tourism (Gdańsk), and a limited supply of land.
Kraków: the highest salaries in the country. In August 2026, the average salary in the enterprise sector in Kraków was PLN 11,547 – more than in Warsaw. Despite high prices (median PLN 15,750/m²), housing affordability in Kraków is better than in Warsaw, Wrocław and Gdańsk. Developers have approx. 8.9 thousand apartments on offer here, i.e. 10.8 per 1,000 residents.
What it means for the land market in Kraków
The ratio of salaries to prices is one of the factors developers consider when assessing the potential of a local market – and, as a consequence, the value of land. The Kraków market combines a high and rising level of salaries with a large number of cash buyers and investors. This is a foundation of demand that does not depend on government subsidy programmes.
At the same time, the supply of new land for multifamily housing in Kraków is more limited today than ever. Since 1 September 2026, the land-use study has no longer applied, the general plan has not been adopted, and new zoning decisions (WZ) are not being issued. The combination of strong demand and a limited supply of land with an established designation means that plots with a local zoning plan allowing multifamily housing, or with a final WZ, are particularly sought after in Kraków.
More data on the housing market and demographics of the 18 regional capitals can be found in the Reaxis report "Housing & Demographics – October 2026", available free of charge in the Reports section.
Frequently asked questions
How many square metres of a new apartment in Kraków does an average salary buy?
According to data from August–October 2026 – approx. 0.73 m². The average salary in the enterprise sector was PLN 11,547, and the median asking price of new apartments was PLN 15,750/m².
In which regional capital are apartments most affordable?
In Rzeszów – an average salary buys approx. 0.88 m² of a new apartment there. The least affordable is Gdańsk (0.64 m²).
Where does the apartment price data come from?
From the price lists that developers must publish on the dane.gov.pl portal under Poland's housing price transparency rules. The median refers to asking prices of apartments in active price lists.