Renovation of a 45 sq m apartment in 2026. Costs are rising, the kitchen is the most expensive
After winter, Poles traditionally start renovations. Rankomat.pl experts, based on the cost estimate of the Kb.pl portal, calculated how much should you spend on a thorough modernization of a 45 sq m apartment? The division into rooms and the costs of materials and specialists' work were taken into account separately.
Conclusions? It is more expensive than last year, but the increase is not dramatic – the entire renovation costs approximately PLN 2,000. PLN more than a year earlier. The total budget is PLN 67,000. PLN, of which 65 percent are materials and equipment, and 35 percent labor. In practice, this means that the work of specialists is time-consuming almost 24 thousand zloty. Carrying out some of the work yourself can reduce your bill by up to one third.
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However, you must remember that this is average values. Professional rates vary by region — others will be in large cities, others in smaller towns. Material prices may also change depending on promotions, end of series or seasonal sales. The calculation does not take into account the costs of transport, shipments or debris removal. So experts recommend securing an additional 10-15 percent budget for unforeseen expenses.
Kitchen renovation: 40 percent budget and 26 thousand PLN costs
The biggest burden on the wallet is the kitchen. Renovation of a room with an area of 10 square meters will cost PLN 26,000. PLN 736, i.e. as much as 40 percent. the entire budget.
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The materials alone cost PLN 19,000. PLN 80. The most expensive item is custom-made furniture (4 meters) with household appliances – over PLN 15,000. zloty. A cheaper alternative are ready-made furniture modules, but they cannot always be adapted to the layout of the room. Wall and floor tiles cost another approx. 2,000. zloty.
The labor in the kitchen exceeds PLN 7.5 thousand. zloty. Laying tiles on walls and floors costs the most – over PLN 4,000. zloty. Replacing the water and sewage system costs PLN 1.8 thousand. zloty. In practice, the kitchen generates high costs not only due to its size, but primarily due to the complexity of the work and the need to install the installation.
Renovation: what does the specialist say?
— You have to be careful with the cheapest solutions. Their quality may leave much to be desired, says Mr. Robert, who has been dealing with interior finishing and renovations for 14 years. — Of course, you can reduce certain expenses by choosing cheaper materials or looking for them in outlets or sales. But such searches can be very time-consuming, adds the expert.
As he emphasizes, in practice a lot depends on the investor's determination and time. — I have carried out “budget” renovations many times. It's definitely doable, he says. In his opinion the key is to spread the expenses wisely and not make apparent savings, which may mean the need for another renovation after a few years.
Bathroom renovation: labor is more expensive than materials
Although the bathroom is only 6 square meters, its renovation is one of the most expensive items per square meter. In total, you need to spend over PLN 18,000. PLN, of which as much as PLN 10,000. PLN 992 is the remuneration of professionals. The materials cost PLN 7,036.
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This is one of the few cases where the cost of labor exceeds the price of materials. They are the most expensive equipment sanitation — shower cabin with a shower tray, faucets, compact toilet, washbasin and washbasin cabinet. That's all PLN 3,738 in the budget variant.
It costs the most among assembly works replacement of hydraulics – PLN 3,591. Laying tiles on the walls costs PLN 3,372 and on the floor – PLN 1,582. Installing sanitary facilities costs another PLN 1,711. The bathroom is expensive because it requires precise installation and finishing work, which is difficult to undertake on your own without experience.
Renovation of the living room and bedroom: equipment eats up the budget
A living room with an area of 15 square meters is relatively cheap to renovate. In 2026, refreshing it will cost less than PLN 13,000. zloty. Of this amount, PLN 10,000 PLN 186 is materials and equipment, and PLN 2,670 is labor.
Living room renovation
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The biggest expense is furniture. The sofa, armchair, coffee table, TV furniture and shelf cost a total of almost PLN 7,500. PLN in the economic version. Compared to a kitchen or bathroom, the scope of work is less complicated, which translates into lower labor costs. The most expensive service is the installation of floor panels on 15 square meters.
A bedroom with an area of 10 square meters can be renovated for just over PLN 7,000. zloty. The materials will cost PLN 5.5 thousand. PLN, and labor approx. PLN 1.5 thousand. zloty. The most expensive equipment is: a bed for two people, a mattress, bedside tables and a free-standing wardrobe cost over PLN 3.7 thousand. zloty. Floor panels and doors with frames cost another PLN 1.4 thousand. zloty.
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The cheapest in the whole ranking is a corridor with an area of 4 square meters. With a budget approach, you can fit in 2,000 square meters. zloty. The materials cost PLN 1,281, and the specialist will charge approximately PLN 800 for his services.
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Insurance for a renovated apartment: policy update
Renovation is not only an expense, but also… increase in property value. If an apartment with an area of 45 square meters was worth PLN 500,000. PLN, after an investment of PLN 67,000. PLN, its value may increase to approximately PLN 570,000. zloty. That means the need to update the insurance sum.
The cheapest insurance policy covering equipment against theft costs from PLN 230 per year. After increasing the value of the property, the premium will increase slightly – up to approx. PLN 260 per year with the same scope of protection. Experts remind to keep all receipts and invoices. This will make it easier to estimate losses and speed up the possible payment of compensation.
Methodology: the analysis is based on the investment cost estimate of the kb.pl website from 2026 and assumes the renovation of an apartment consisting of a living room (15 sq m), a bedroom (10 sq m), a kitchen (10 sq m), a bathroom (6 sq m) and a corridor (4 sq m). The rates given are indicative and may vary depending on the region and finishing standard.
