Spending by Polish students remains close to last year’s levels. Housing—whether renting an apartment, a dormitory, or a room—continues to be the biggest financial burden. Fortunately, other expenses have stayed roughly the same as a year ago. Despite the rising cost of living, as many as 41% of young Poles rate their financial situation better than last year, according to the 10th anniversary edition of the “Student Wallet” report prepared by the Warsaw Institute of Banking (WIB) and the Polish Bank Association.
The Cost of Studying
Studying remains expensive. According to WIB’s annual simulation, monthly student expenses amount to PLN 3,979.22—slightly higher than last year’s PLN 3,951.56. A significant portion of this, PLN 560, goes to tuition fees. For full-time students exempt from tuition, living costs total PLN 3,419.22. As in previous years, the biggest expenses are rent, food, and education-related fees. Accommodation typically costs between PLN 1,200 and PLN 1,500 per month, though 18% of surveyed students pay more.
Improved Financial Self-Assessments
“Over the past six years, total student spending has risen by over PLN 2,000, but growth in the last two editions has clearly slowed. Increasingly, young Poles report that employment helps stabilize their budgets. Currently, 41% of students assess their financial situation as better than a year ago, while 24% say it has worsened. Fewer students consider dropping out for financial reasons—only 17% now, down one point year-on-year,” said Dr. Przemysław Barbrich, Director of Communications and PR at the Polish Bank Association.
At the same time, fewer students save nothing at all—just 12% (down two points year-on-year). More are saving regularly and in larger amounts, showing greater financial maturity. Experiences from recent years—including inflation and rising living costs—have made budgeting a practical skill.
“We are pleased to see a positive change in students’ approach to saving. More young people are setting aside money and building financial cushions. Awareness is growing that even small, regular savings bring results over time. Now only one in ten students do not save at all. We hope WIB’s financial education projects will help reduce that number further,” emphasized Michał Polak, Vice President of the Warsaw Institute of Banking.
Housing and Labor Market Challenges
Housing remains a pressing issue. The most common solution is living with family or friends (46%), followed by renting (30%). Only 12% live in dormitories, largely due to a shortage of places—Poland lacks around 400,000 dorm beds, with a deficit of about 60,000 in Warsaw alone. Barriers include both the standard of public dormitories and the high cost of private ones, reaching up to PLN 4,000 per month in the capital.
The labor market is another major challenge. As many as 57% of students negatively assess job availability, working conditions, and pay levels, while only 12% rate them positively. Meanwhile, the share of students not working at all has risen to 41% (up six points year-on-year). Those who do work are increasingly opting for full-time jobs, which allow them to finance their studies and living costs but make it harder to balance academic and professional responsibilities.
Financial Education as a Long-Term Investment
This year’s report highlights the importance of financial literacy. Findings from the “Financial Knowledge of Poles 2025” survey, commissioned by WIB and the Warsaw Stock Exchange Foundation, show that only one in three Poles positively evaluates their economic knowledge. Among 18–24-year-olds, the average self-assessment was just 2.6 on a five-point scale. The report indicates that young Poles still feel a lack of financial knowledge—a signal that, despite growing awareness, more educational efforts are needed to prepare students for informed money management.
More insights and data on Poland’s student housing rental market can be found in this year’s “Students in the Real Estate Market. Report 2025”, prepared by the AMRON Center.
Source: CEO.com.pl
