Safety Index
#13
of 124 cities
75.2/100
Current value
#40 of 124
Europe
Krakow
Poland
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Krakow compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Krakow is 30% worse off vs in San Francisco
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Krakow compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$50,240
-$122K (-71%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 22%
Community Insights
NewKrakow presents a compelling value proposition for software engineers: it offers a "Western" tech career trajectory with a significantly lower cost of living and lower taxes than its German or British counterparts. The city is a verified tech hub with a sophisticated market, not just an outsourcing backwater. However, the quality of life is strictly seasonal; while summers are vibrant and beautiful, the winters are harsh due to a combination of depressing darkness and notoriously bad air quality. Financially, it is a smart move; environmentally, it requires a tolerance for smog.
Resident Sentiment
Pragmatically Satisfied: Most expat engineers feel they made a "smart financial move" and enjoy the lifestyle (eating out, travel, safety). There is very little regret regarding the career or financial aspect.
Environmentally Frustrated: There is a persistent undercurrent of frustration regarding the smog; discussions often revolve around checking air quality sensors and escaping the city during the worst winter peaks. Long-term retention is sometimes threatened by this environmental factor rather than economic ones.
The Good
Rankings
Top 10%
Tax Rate
#18
of 124 cities
22%
Current value (lower is better)
Cost of Living
#37
of 124 cities
37/100
Current value (lower is better)
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Krakow compared to San Francisco?
Salary Converter
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Krakow to maintain the same standard of living.
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