Rising housing prices, high costs of mortgage loans and continued high interest in renting result in this Poles are increasingly asking themselves the question: should I buy or rent an apartment? The analysis of the ratio of rental prices to purchase prices shows that the answer depends not only on the individual financial situation, but also on the city and the size of the premises. Data from the Morizon-Gratka Group indicate that In some of the largest Polish cities, renting turns out to be more profitable than purchasing real estate – at least in the next dozen or even more than 20 years..
The decision to buy an apartment a few years ago was an obvious choice for many people. Low interest rates and relatively easy access to loans meant that the loan installment was often comparable to the rent. Today the situation is completely different. High real estate prices, expensive financing and rising costs of living mean that more and more people are postponing the purchase of an apartment or consciously choosing to rent.
Analyzes by Gratka and Morizon websites show that in most cases, renting became cheaper than purchasing a similar premises. At the same time, rental profitability, i.e. the ratio of rental income to the purchase price of the apartment, is decreasing. This is an important change also for investors who, until recently, treated apartments for rent as one of the most attractive ways of investing capital.
Apartment prices versus rent
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Morizon-Gratka Group
Apartment prices versus rent
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Morizon-Gratka Group
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Apartment rental prices. Warsaw is the most expensive, Łódź is the cheapest
The highest rental rates traditionally remain in Warsaw. In March 2026, the average monthly net rent for a studio apartment in the capital was PLN 2,550. This is about PLN 300 more than in Kraków and Gdańsk and as much as PLN 850 more than in Łódź.
In practice, this means a very heavy burden on household budgets. With the average net salary in the enterprise sector amounting to approximately PLN 6,500 per month, the cost of renting a studio apartment included:
- about 26 percent income in Łódź,
- almost 40 percent income in Warsaw.
Even greater differences are visible in the case of two-room apartments. In Warsaw, the average rent was PLN 3,500 per month. In Kraków, Gdańsk and Wrocław it was approximately PLN 2,850.
Larger apartments become particularly problematic for many households. A three-room apartment in Warsaw cost on average PLN 4,800 per month. For a single person earning the average national income, this would mean the need to spend almost 70% of their income on housing. monthly income. Even for a couple it would be about 35%. shared earnings.
In other large cities the situation is slightly better. In Poznań, the average rent for a three-room apartment was approximately PLN 3,000, and in Łódź it was PLN 2,800.. As a result, a couple earning the average national income would spend approximately 23% on rent. and 20 percent your income.
They remain an even greater financial challenge four-room apartments. In Warsaw, the average rent for such a premises reached PLN 6,600 per month. At the same time, experts point out that the price range in this segment is huge – the difference between an apartment in a block of flats from the 1980s and a new apartment can be up to several thousand zlotys per month.
In other large cities rents for four-room apartments were as follows:
- Kraków – PLN 5,900,
- Gdańsk – PLN 5,500,
- Wrocław – PLN 4,500,
- Łódź – PLN 3,800,
- Poznań – PLN 3,700.
See also: New regulations on elevators 2026. What will change for residents of apartment blocks?
Buying an apartment or renting? The price relationship shows a clear trend
However, the most interesting conclusions come from comparing rental prices with apartment sales prices. It shows how many years after the sum of rents paid would be equal to the cost of purchasing a similar premises.
In Warsaw, the average price of a studio apartment on the secondary market is equivalent to 227 monthly rents. This means that the cost of renting such an apartment for almost 19 years would be similar to purchasing it.
The situation is even less favorable for buyers in Krakow. There, the price of a studio apartment corresponds to 246 months' rent, or almost 20 years of rent.
This shows that purchasing an apartment is no longer an obvious financial decision – especially for people who do not plan to stay in one place for many years or do not have a high own contribution. For some customers, renting today offers greater flexibility and a lower monthly burden than a mortgage loan.
However, experts point out that the rent-to-purchase price alone should not be the only decision criterion. Buying an apartment means building your own wealth and greater life stability. In turn, renting provides mobility and reduces the risk associated with changes in interest rates or property maintenance costs.
Renting or buying an apartment? Gdańsk and Łódź at two poles
The analysis of all surveyed market segments clearly shows that the profitability of purchase and rental depends very much on the location.
The most profitable option in relation to the rental costs turned out to be the purchase of a studio apartment in Łódź. The average price of such an apartment there corresponds to approximately 159 monthly rents. This means that the purchase cost would equal the rental costs after approximately 13 years.
He found himself at the other extreme Gdańsk. This is where purchasing a three-room apartment is the least profitable compared to the rental costs. The average price of such a premises corresponds to over 264 monthly rents, i.e. over 22 years of renting the apartment.
Such large differences show that The Polish housing market is becoming more and more regionalized. In some cities, real estate prices are rising faster than rents, which reduces the attractiveness of the purchase. In others, the relationship remains more favorable for people planning to buy a flat.
It is also becoming more and more visible a change in the approach of Poles themselves. Just a decade ago, renting was often treated as a temporary solution. Today, for many people it is becoming a conscious choice – especially in the largest cities, where purchasing an apartment means a long-term financial commitment and very high costs of entering the market.
As a result, the answer to the question “buy or rent?” is more complex today than ever before. And it turns out more and more often that, at least from a purely financial point of view, renting may be a more rational solution than purchasing an apartment on credit.
The material was created in cooperation with the Morizon-Gratka Group.
