Polish housing costs climb, from Krakow apartment bills to EU-wide affordability crisis

Monthly expenses for a flat in Kraków vary with size, building standard and heating type. Administrative fees start around 400‑500 zł for a small 40 m² unit and can exceed 1,000 zł in newer developments. Adding electricity, water, gas and heating brings total out‑of‑pocket costs to roughly 800‑1,400 zł per month for a 40 m² flat, with larger apartments costing up to 2,500 zł.

A European Union Fundamental Rights Agency report shows that housing prices across the EU rose 53 % between 2015 and 2024, while rents increased about 17 %. The surge has pushed home ownership out of reach for many, with an estimated 1.3 million people experiencing homelessness in 2025. Young and low‑income households are hit hardest; in Spain, buying a home now requires more than eight years of average earnings, and rent can consume almost an entire salary. The report urges member states to act to prevent homelessness and ensure access to affordable housing, a right recognised in EU treaties and national constitutions.