EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-16
Poland vs Sweden: taxes, salary and cost of living
Poland and Sweden present two different cost profiles: the first question is whether the salary gap compensates for housing and daily expenses.
Poland vs Sweden at a glance
| Indicator | Poland | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 23% | 25% |
| Income tax | 12-32% | 29-55% |
| Social contributions | ~35% | 38.42% |
| Tax burden | ~35% | 42.6% |
| Average monthly salary | ~2,000 € | €3,750 |
| Studio rent | €650 | €900 |
| Monthly food estimate | €280 | €360 |
| Gasoline | 1.47 €/L | 1.55 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.12 €/kWh | 0.22 €/kWh |
How far does the local salary go?
The salary records for Poland and Sweden are not directly numeric in both cases. A responsible comparison therefore avoids inventing a salary gap and treats the displayed labels as source notes to verify.
What recurring living costs reveal
Poland has the lower listed studio rent by €250, a 27.8% difference relative to the higher rent. Poland sits 16 of 37 and Sweden 27 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Poland also has the lower food estimate, so the housing result is reinforced by groceries.
A simplified salary-minus-rent-and-food remainder cannot be calculated reliably for both Poland and Sweden because at least one component is non-numeric. The interactive calculator should be used only after verifying those inputs.
Tax profile for employees
Tax-burden values include a range or text note for at least one country. The standard VAT comparison—23% in Poland and 25% in Sweden—is more directly comparable, although reduced rates differ by product.
Fuel-price impact
Poland has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.08 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €4 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
The answer depends on your profile
For Poland and Sweden, short stays are influenced heavily by rent and restaurant prices; permanent relocation adds payroll, healthcare and administrative costs. These figures work best as a shortlist, not a final decision model.
Final view: Poland or Sweden?
Poland leads Sweden on more of the comparable numeric indicators used in this Poland–Sweden summary. This is a directional result, not a personal financial recommendation.
Sources and data references
- PwC standard VAT rates
- PwC personal income tax rates
- PwC corporate income tax rates
- EuroCosts data scope and generation process
Explore Poland comparisons · Explore Sweden comparisons