Euro to Polish Zloty: Complete Guide for Expats

Poland is one of Europe’s most popular destinations for expats. With its vibrant cities, growing tech scene, and significantly lower cost of living compared to Western Europe, it’s no surprise that thousands of Europeans relocate here each year. But if you’re earning or receiving money in euros, you’ll need to master the EUR/PLN exchange to make the most of your finances.

Understanding the EUR/PLN Rate

As of February 2026, the ECB reference rate for EUR/PLN hovers around 4.215 — meaning 1 euro gets you about 4.22 Polish zloty. This rate fluctuates daily based on economic conditions, interest rate decisions, and market sentiment.

Over the past year, EUR/PLN has typically traded in the 4.10–4.35 range. Poland’s economy has been relatively strong, which has kept the zloty reasonably stable against the euro. However, political uncertainty and global economic shifts can cause sharper moves.

What This Means in Practice

If you earn €3,000 per month, at the current rate you’d receive approximately 12,645 PLN before any exchange fees. But the rate you actually get depends heavily on how you convert:

Method	Typical Rate	You Receive (for €3,000)
Bank transfer (Polish bank)	~4.12	~12,360 PLN
Good kantor	~4.19	~12,570 PLN
Wise/Revolut	~4.20	~12,600 PLN
Bad airport kantor	~3.95	~11,850 PLN

That’s a difference of 750 PLN per month between the best and worst option — nearly €180.

Cost of Living: What Does a Zloty Buy You?

Understanding the exchange rate is one thing; knowing what your money buys is another. Here’s a realistic breakdown of monthly costs in Warsaw (as of early 2026):

Housing

1-bedroom apartment (city center): 2,800–4,000 PLN (€665–950)
1-bedroom apartment (outside center): 2,000–3,000 PLN (€475–710)
Shared flat (room): 1,200–2,000 PLN (€285–475)

Food

Groceries (one person): 800–1,200 PLN (€190–285)
Lunch at a casual restaurant: 30–50 PLN (€7–12)
Dinner at a mid-range restaurant: 60–120 PLN (€14–28)

Transportation

Monthly public transport pass: 110 PLN (€26)
Taxi (per km): 3–4 PLN (€0.70–0.95)
Fuel (per liter): 6.5–7 PLN (€1.55–1.65)

Utilities

Electricity, heating, water (apartment): 400–700 PLN (€95–165)
Internet (fiber): 60–80 PLN (€14–19)
Mobile phone plan: 30–60 PLN (€7–14)

Overall

A comfortable single lifestyle in Warsaw typically costs 5,000–7,000 PLN (€1,185–1,660) per month. Compared to cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, or Paris, Warsaw offers roughly 40–50% lower cost of living with a comparable quality of life.

Salary Conversion: What’s a Good Salary?

If you’re negotiating a salary in Poland, here’s context:

Average gross salary in Warsaw: ~9,500 PLN/month (€2,250)
IT/Tech professionals: 15,000–25,000+ PLN (€3,560–5,930+)
Finance/Consulting: 10,000–18,000 PLN (€2,370–4,270)
Teaching (international school): 6,000–10,000 PLN (€1,425–2,370)

If your employer offers a salary in euros, multiply by the current rate to get the PLN equivalent. Remember that Polish income tax rates are:

12% on income up to 120,000 PLN/year
32% on income above that threshold
Plus 9% health insurance (mandatory)

Best Ways to Convert EUR to PLN

For Regular Monthly Conversions

If you receive a euro salary and need to convert monthly, here are the best options ranked:

Wise (formerly TransferWise): Offers near-mid-market rates with a small transparent fee (usually 0.4–0.6%). You can set up recurring transfers. Money arrives in 1–2 business days.
Revolut: If you have a Premium or Metal plan, you get interbank rates during market hours with no markup. Standard plan users pay a small fee after the free exchange allowance (€1,000/month).
Online kantors (Walutomat, Cinkciarz): These peer-to-peer platforms let you set your own exchange rate and wait for a match. Rates are excellent — often within 0.1–0.3% of mid-market. Requires a Polish bank account.
Your employer’s payroll provider: Some employers offer to split your salary between EUR and PLN accounts. This is convenient but check the rate they use — it’s often the bank’s standard (worse) rate.

For One-Time Large Amounts

Moving to Poland often involves a large initial transfer for deposits, furniture, etc. For amounts over €5,000:

Wise or OFX: Best combination of rate and reliability
Bank wire with negotiated rate: If you’re transferring €10,000+, call your bank and ask for a preferential rate. Most will offer one.
Do NOT use PayPal or Western Union: Fees and rates are typically terrible for large amounts

For Day-to-Day Spending

Use a multi-currency card (Revolut, Wise, N26) for card payments
Withdraw cash from ATMs in PLN (never accept conversion to EUR at the ATM)
Keep a small PLN cash reserve from a good kantor

Common Expat Mistakes

Converting everything at the airport — You’ll lose 5–8% immediately
Accepting Dynamic Currency Conversion — When an ATM or card terminal asks “charge in EUR or PLN?”, always choose PLN
Not checking the rate before exchanging — Use FX Europe to see the current ECB rate and know what’s fair
Keeping all savings in one currency — Consider keeping some in EUR and some in PLN to hedge against rate movements
Ignoring the tax implications — Currency conversion gains can technically be taxable in Poland. For large amounts, consult a tax advisor.

Timing Your Conversions

Should you try to time the market? For most expats, the answer is no. Predicting currency movements is extremely difficult, and trying to time the EUR/PLN rate will likely cause more stress than savings.

Instead, consider a dollar-cost averaging approach: convert a fixed amount at regular intervals (e.g., monthly). This smooths out the rate over time and removes the emotional element.

The exception: if the rate spikes significantly (e.g., EUR/PLN jumps above 4.35), it might be worth converting a larger amount. Tools like FX Europe can help you set rate alerts so you don’t miss favorable movements.

The Bottom Line

Living in Poland on a euro income is financially advantageous — the cost of living is significantly lower than most of Western Europe, and with smart currency conversion, you can maximize every euro. The key is choosing the right conversion method, avoiding tourist-trap rates, and staying informed about the current EUR/PLN rate.

Check the latest EUR/PLN rate on our dedicated rate page and explore more currency pairs on our rates overview.