Warsaw is the Polish capital and the largest city in the country. It’s also the largest tech hub in Poland as a great number of IT companies are present here. Although the cost of living in Warsaw is higher than the national average, IT specialists can expect higher salaries there compared to other Polish cities.
IT salaries
The average IT salary in Warsaw is PLN 13,500 per month (PLN 162,000 per year). It’s much higher than the minimum threshold (PLN 7,800) required to qualify for an EU Blue Card (a residence permit for high-skilled professionals).
- Software developer: 8,170 – 18,000
- Front-end developer: 12,165 – 16,000
- DevOps engineer: 6,740 – 9,000
- Database administrator: 6,030 – 16,000
- System administrator: 8,240 – 9,000
- Project manager: 9,540 – 26,000
- QA engineer: 10,185 – 11,000
- Technical writer: 9,580 – 12,000
- Security analyst: 11,000 – 17,000
IT salaries in Warsaw depending on the experience:
- Junior: 4,900 – 8,000
- Middle: 8,000 – 14,000
- Senior: 14,900 – 20,000
Economy
Warsaw is a prosperous and booming city with the unemployment rate of just 1.3%, which is much lower than the national average of 5.5%. The local economy is dominated by commerce and services, and the city has a large number of international tech companies’ offices.
Warsaw is also the largest cluster of startups in Poland. Google for Startups Campus Warsaw has been operating in Warsaw since 2015, supporting Google programs and initiatives for technology startups in Poland and in Central and Eastern Europe.
Important economic sectors in Warsaw include:
- Electronics
- Finance
- Food processing
- Real estate
- Software development
- Tourism
- Trade
The largest technology companies present in Warsaw include:
- ABC Data
- CD Projekt Red
- Comp Safe Support
- Google
- IBM
- Intel
- Hewlett Packard
- Microsoft
- Oracle
- Qumak
- SAP
- Sygnity
- Tech Data
Cost of living
Although Warsaw may seem more affordable than other European capitals, it’s the most expensive city in Poland with the highest property prices in the country. There’s no need to worry, though: IT salaries in Warsaw often match high rents.
The average prices in Warsaw (PLN):
- Meal at McDonald’s: 15–25
- Meal at another inexpensive restaurant: 20–40
- Average food basket (milk, bread, eggs, cheese, chicken, apples, potatoes, water, beer): 71
- Monthly fee at a fitness club: 75–150
- Monthly pass: 100–180
- Monthly rent (1 bedroom): 1,500 – 4,000
- Monthly rent (3 bedrooms): 2,500 – 7,000
- Property prices per square meter: 7,000 – 19,000
- Utilities: 300 – 1,100 per month
Travel
Warsaw has two international airports: Warsaw Chopin Airport, located 10 km from the city center, and Warsaw-Modlin Airport, mainly used by low-cost carriers and located 35 km to the north.
Warsaw Chopin Airport is the largest airport in Poland. It handles more than one-third of the country's air passenger traffic and serves flights to many EU cities, as well as to Beijing, Los Angeles, Chicago, Ho Chi Minh, Kyiv, Minsk, Moscow, New Delhi, New York, Tokyo, Toronto, Zanzibar, and other destinations.
Entertainment
Until World War II, Warsaw was one of the most beautiful cities in Europe nicknamed “Paris of the North”. Although the city was almost completely destroyed during the war, its Old Town was rebuilt in the following years and now is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Other Warsaw sights of interest include the Palace of Culture and Science — a Soviet-style high-rise building, the Royal Castle, Wilanów Palace, and more.
Warsaw is fun. A large number of events and festivals are held there each year, including a pagan festival called Wianki, the Warsaw Film festival, other festivities, and various concerts.