If they want to own a flat, many Poles consider a mortgage loan. In many cases, this is the only way to live on your own, but also a tempting alternative to renting and paying others for accommodation.
The decision to take advantage of a mortgage loan affects not only the household budget, but also lifestyle, mobility and financial security.
Mortgage loan or rent – which is more profitable in 2026?
According to “Fakt”, a report by Rankomat.pl and Rentier.io published in February. indicates that in many cities in Poland it is more profitable to pay off your own loan than to rent an apartment.
According to analysts' calculations quoted by “Fakt”, in 14 of the 17 largest cities the loan installment (with a 30-year period, 20% own contribution and an interest rate of 5.55%) is lower than the rent for a 50-meter apartment.
See also: Increases on the secondary market. This is how much you have to pay extra per meter in the largest cities
The exceptions to this are Kraków, Gdańsk and Katowice. The biggest differences can be seen in cheaper cities – such as Szczecin, Radom or Sosnowiec – where the purchase is particularly profitable for people buying their first apartment. This is the result of falling interest rates and rising rental prices.
Living on credit or paying rent? An important change on the market
Analysts point out that until recently the advantage was on the rental side. The cycle of reductions in 2025 has changed the situation, and now the so-called intersection point. This means that the monthly mortgage payment has fallen below the market value of rent for rented apartments.
As “Fakt” notes, in January 2026 the number of offers increased by as much as 30 percent, but there are fewer apartments for rent than a year ago. Leases were cheaper only in five cities, the highest in Częstochowa and Rzeszów. In Sosnowiec and Białystok, prices have gone up sharply.
Housing prices will go up again in 2026.
As we reported at the beginning of April, apartment prices on the secondary market are rising again. The latest data show that average rates went up in the largest cities in March, although Warsaw stands out for its exceptional stability, and the highest increases can be seen, among others, in: in Gdańsk and Olsztyn.
Average offer prices of apartments on the secondary market in the largest Polish cities increased by 0.5% in March. compared to February and by 3.6 percent per year – according to the latest analysis of the Morizon-Gratka Group.
See also: Record demand for mortgage loans. The cheapest apartments are disappearing from the market
Market analysis shows that After a period of stagnation and cosmetic changes, prices of second-hand apartments began to increase again. Monthly changes are still small and within fractions of a percent (except for Olsztyn), but on an annual basis in some cities the increases exceed the level of a symbolic correction.
In Poznań, Olsztyn, Bydgoszcz and Gdańsk, average asking prices have increased by 4.9% over the last 12 months. up to 6.5 percentwhich translates into an increase in the price per square meter by over PLN 500.
