Renting or Buying an Apartment in Krakow 2026?

Rental rate: median 62 PLN/m² (4% m/m decrease). Purchase price: median 16,000 PLN/m² (stable) (dimdom, 2026).

Gross rental yield: approx. 4.6% annually — below the interest rate on new mortgage loans (5.97%), but above zero (own calculations based on dimdom and AMRON data, 2026).

Summary conclusion: renting wins for a horizon of up to 5–7 years and for those prioritizing mobility. Buying wins for horizons over 10 years, provided there is a down payment of over 30%.

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The Math: 50 m² in Krakow

approx. 49,200 PLN

Down payment 20% of 800,000 PLN

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160,000 PLN one-off

Listing numbers: dimdom, 2026. Interest rates: average for new loans in Q1 2026, AMRON-SARFiN (NBP, 2026). The mortgage installment exceeds the rent by approx. 1,000 PLN per month. However, after 30 years, the borrower owns the apartment, while the tenant has spent 30 years paying rent. In total, that is over 1.1 million PLN at today's rates, without indexation.

Profitability for Investors

An annual income of 37,200 PLN from an apartment worth 800,000 PLN represents a 4.65% gross yield (dimdom, 2026). After deducting vacancies, repairs, insurance, and taxes (8.5% flat rate on income up to 100,000 PLN), the net yield is realistically around 3.0–3.5%. This is lower than the cost of a mortgage (5.97%), so leveraged purchase for rental purposes does not add up at current interest rates without a significant down payment. A cash purchase provides modest but stable income. There is also potential for capital appreciation, though recent quarters have not guaranteed this (+1.4% y/y transactions in Krakow, NBP, 2026).

The Break-even Point for Buying

Buying begins to outperform renting when at least two of the following three conditions are met: a horizon of over 8–10 years (transaction costs like the 2% PCC tax, agent commissions, and renovation costs are spread over time), a down payment of 30%+ (the installment drops to near-rental levels), and life stability (no plans to move — selling before 5 years incurs a 19% capital gains tax).

Verdict

For example, a student, a single person on a contract, or a couple testing out the city: rent. A family with a down payment and a 10+ year horizon: buy. It is best to negotiate 3–5% below the median listing price, as the transaction gap confirms this (NBP, 2026; dimdom, 2026).

Listings: apartments for rent in Krakow, apartments for sale in Krakow and real estate price report.

Supply: Developers are completing more apartments

In the first half of 2026, 94,900 apartments were completed, 3.2% more than the previous year (GUS, 2026). The growing supply of new apartments is good news for buyers on the secondary market: the more new units available, the lower the demand pressure on used ones. Data: GUS: Housing construction.

Methodology

Rates and prices: active dimdom listings, September 2026, after excluding outliers (dimdom, 2026). Indicative installment; loan: AMRON-SARFiN Q1 2026 (NBP, 2026). Net profitability is an estimate with a range, not a guarantee.

Sources: NBP: Quarterly Information, AMRON-SARFiN 1/2026.