Moving to Poland from Pennsylvania

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Pennsylvania to Poland — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Pennsylvania to Poland, you would find that Poland is 41.8% cheaper than Pennsylvania. A $75,000 salary in Pennsylvania would need to be roughly PLN172,000 in Poland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Polish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Warsaw averages 55°F vs 65°F in Philadelphia, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Poland cheaper than Pennsylvania?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 32.4% less

Groceries

pay 50.1% less

Transportation

pay 13.7% less

Housing

pay 48.2% less

Childcare

pay 78.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 38.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.95 PLN (November 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Poland?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → PLN172,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Poland

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Poland cost about 29% less than cities in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania

Lancaster 65%
Bethlehem 62%
Allentown 60%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Pennsylvania to Poland, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
18,035 ↑ 34% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Poland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Poland?

Top countries of origin for Poland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Pennsylvania and Poland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

PA
34.4%
PL
21.8%

Poland performs significantly better than Pennsylvania across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

PA
88.8%
PL
88.6%

Pennsylvania performs better than Poland across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

PA
3.7%
PL
3.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$61,506
PL
$28,420

Pennsylvania generally does better on employment & economy, though Poland leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

PA
76.8 yrs
PL
78.4 yrs

Poland performs significantly better than Pennsylvania across all family life metrics.

Weather in Poland vs Pennsylvania

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Philadelphia Rain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
65° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Warsaw Rain: 20.9 in/yr (532 mm)
55° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Philadelphia Warsaw
Jan–Mar 46°/29°F (8°/-2°C) 38°/26°F (3°/-3°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/54°F (23°/12°C) 66°/46°F (19°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 72°/53°F (22°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 56°/39°F (13°/4°C) 44°/33°F (7°/1°C)
View all months
Month Philadelphia Warsaw
Jan 40°/26°F (4.6°/-3.6°C) 33°/24°F (0.7°/-4.4°C)
Feb 44°/28°F (6.6°/-2.4°C) 36°/25°F (2.1°/-3.9°C)
Mar 53°/34°F (11.5°/1.3°C) 44°/30°F (6.9°/-0.9°C)
Apr 64°/44°F (17.7°/6.7°C) 57°/38°F (13.9°/3.6°C)
May 74°/54°F (23.2°/12.2°C) 68°/47°F (19.8°/8.6°C)
Jun 83°/64°F (28.2°/17.7°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jul 87°/69°F (30.6°/20.7°C) 76°/57°F (24.6°/13.7°C)
Aug 85°/68°F (29.6°/19.9°C) 75°/55°F (23.9°/13.0°C)
Sep 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.7°C) 65°/48°F (18.4°/9.0°C)
Oct 67°/48°F (19.2°/9.1°C) 55°/40°F (12.8°/4.7°C)
Nov 56°/39°F (13.3°/4.0°C) 43°/33°F (5.9°/0.5°C)
Dec 45°/30°F (7.1°/-1.1°C) 35°/26°F (1.6°/-3.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Institute of Meteorology and Water Management

Can you move from Pennsylvania to Poland?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Poland. To live, work, or study long-term in Poland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Poland's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Poland

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Poland without a visa.
Poland passport

Poland passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Poland passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Poland than Pennsylvania?

Generally yes: Poland runs about 42% cheaper than Pennsylvania on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Poland?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around PLN43,000 in Poland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Poland?

Working remotely from Poland's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Pennsylvania and Poland.

How is healthcare in Poland compared to Pennsylvania?

Poland performs significantly better than Pennsylvania across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Poland compared to Pennsylvania?

The average high temperature in Warsaw is 55°F, compared to 65°F in Philadelphia. Warsaw receives around 20.9 in of rainfall per year, while Philadelphia gets 41.5 in.

What language do they speak in Poland?

The official language in Poland is Polish. In Pennsylvania, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

PL
Population 13,059,432 36,435,861
Currency United States Dollar ($) Polish Zloty (PLN)
Languages English Polish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +48
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112