Poland is in the very center of Europe. It borders Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia. It has access to the Baltic Sea from the north and the Carpathian Mountains from the south. Is it a dreamland, or a place to stay away from? Let’s explore the pros and cons of living in Poland.
Pros Of Living In Poland
Pros -Affordable Accommodation In Poland
Accommodation in Poland is cheaper than in most Western European countries. There is an extensive variety of available flats, from small studios called “kawalerka” to exclusive high-end apartments. Even after the recent price increase, rentals are affordable, especially in smaller towns.
The real estate market is well established, with online platform listing offers from all regions. And the realtors are professionals with foreign language skills.
Pros -Low Cost of Living
The cost of living in Poland is low. Grocery, clothing, furniture, and transport are often less than half the value compared to other countries in the region. To top this advantage, most of the food and products are of very good quality. So, a family with an average earning can live off a good standard.
Pros – Good Job Opportunities
The employment opportunity in Poland ranks really well, especially in fields requiring high specialization. Here the salary is not much lower than in other developed countries, but considering the low cost of living, one with a such job can live on very high standards.
Here are the segments offering highly paid jobs:
- IT
- Finance and banking
- Architecture
- Engineering
Pros – Poland Has Got The Most Beautiful Places To See
And this really is not an overestimation. The countryside with its views is breathtaking in all parts of the country. The National Parks, forests, lakes, and mountains give you something to do and are close to nature, regardless of the time of the year.
Also, polish cities are must-see places. Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk, and Zakopane are world-famous tourist destinations. So many places that have seen the greatest world battles, castles where kings lived, and many proofs that wars did not spare this country, The same goes for smaller towns and villages hidden among the overflowing greenery.
Pros – Climate In Poland
Poland is in the temperate climate zone, and thanks to that we have all 4 seasons. In Poland, you will enjoy the snowy winters, beautiful green and blossoming springs, hot and full of warmth summer, and finally -all fall with its all-beautiful colors. Golden fall -Złota Jesnień, this is what Poles call the season of leaves falling, changing colors.
Pros – Delicious Cuisine
With all the traditional dishes, Polish food is one of the best in the world. Coming to Poland, whether it is for a visit or to relocate, you will not get bored of polish flavors. And although it might seem a bit heavy at first, you will easily get used to delicious flavors.
The most famous are:
Transportation In Poland
I would actually place this as both pros and cons of living in Poland. Do you want to know why?
Pros
Poland is a country where you don’t need a car if leaving the city. Public transportation is organized and affordable. Children, pensioners, and people with needs hold special discounts on tickets. City buses get really crowdy during rush hours, but this is something that big cities deal with all over the world.
The railway is of good standard. It is not best with sticking to the timetable, but the quality of Railway stations and wagons is good.
Also, the aviation infrastructure is high. There are 14 international airports across the country, and you can travel from Poland to nearly any place in the world.
Cons
At the same time, roads in Poland are underdeveloped, especially in the eastern part. A lot has been done to meet Western Europe standards. However, there has been a big improvement since joining the EU community, and new highways were built, so there is progress in this sector but is too slow to keep up with the expectations and needs.
So if you only move around the city or between them by public transfer it is definitely easy and straightforward. But if you are planning to move around in by car, you might find it difficult. This is why I see transport as the pros and cons of living in Poland.
Helpful People
When visiting Poland, you might experience that people on the street are serious most of the time, minding their own business, in rush and they don’t pay attention to what is going on around them. But this is just the surface. Ask anyone on the street for directions, and you will always be guided and advised on the best way to get to wherever you need.
If your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, there will always be someone who will stop and ask if everything is ok. And maybe you notice, Poles always say “goodbye” and “thank you” when getting off the bus or leaving the store. Poles are always among the first to offer help when a catastrophe happens in another country. If you would like to learn more about Polish humanitarian help, visit Polska Akcja Humanitarna, or WOŚP.
Rich Culture And History
The culture in Poland is very rich and diverse. There is always an event worth going to, and everyone can find something interesting, from theatres, concerts, live music, exhibitions, and festivals. Some of the events are free, but even with tickets you still get world-class performances for a fraction of the price in comparison to other countries.
Studying In Poland
Polish Universities are open to foreign students, and the tuition fees are very affordable among other EU countries. Student grants and loans are also available.
Cons Of Living In Poland
Cons – Small Flats And A Hard Time Buying A Property In Poland
Flats in Poland are generally small, and it might be surprising that a whole family can live in it, however, Poles are used to it.
Another downside of accommodation in Poland is that getting a housing loan here is very difficult, to the extent that government permission needs to be obtained (with some exceptions).
Cons -Low Average Salary
This is one of the big downsides of Poland. After the difficult history and bad politics that tore the country apart more than once, Poland is still building its wealth rather than taking advantage of it. Therefore, the salaries will not impress someone from more developed countries. But considering that the cost of living is very cheap, it is not still that hard to live a good life.
Cons -Bureaucracy
Inefficient customer service and bureaucracy is the worst part of dealing with governmental issues, however, there has been a lot of improvement, especially with the young generation getting into the workforce. A load of paperwork, forms, and ques can put a foreigner off when trying to register a Company or buy a property.
Con- Poles Like To Complain A Lot!
Poles will always have a good reason to complain about. And most of the time it is the weather. It is never good. Too hot, too cold, too windy, too cloudy, too sunny. We also complain about prices, politics, kids, work, holidays, neighbors, and basically anything.
Cons – Language Barrier
Although more and more people in Poland speak English, it might be challenging to communicate in places like shops, petrol stations, and post offices. It would be best for an ex-pat planning to live in Poland to learn at least the basics of polish, it will make life much easier.
So, like all the countries there are pros and cons of living in Poland. Poland offers some things, culture, and landscapes that are hard to find anywhere else. But at the same time, there are difficulties that people must deal with on a daily basis, like bureaucracy, and difficult weather.
