Business Insider has updated its ranking of quality of life in Poland’s provincial capitals—Poznań and Rzeszów came out on top, while Wrocław and Kraków unexpectedly found themselves at the bottom of the list. Learn more about the best and worst cities in Poland to live

Business Insider has released an updated ranking of quality of life in provincial cities in Poland, which takes into account the economic situation, social conditions, safety, and the state of the environment. InPoland recently covered this story. The results were unexpected: two cities tied for first place, while some major economic hubs found themselves among the bottom-ranked cities.

We’ll tell you which cities topped the ranking, what criteria were used to assess quality of life, and why high salaries don’t always guarantee a comfortable life—especially for citizens of Israel and Romania.

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Poznań and Rzeszów — Leaders in Poland’s Quality of Life Ranking

According to the latest Business Insider study, Poznań and Rzeszów tied for first place in the ranking. Both cities demonstrated the best balance between economic opportunities and social conditions for residents. These provincial capitals proved to be the most balanced across a range of indicators, from the labor market to healthcare.

Katowice and Lublin took second place in the ranking. Next is the capital, Warsaw, which took third place. The middle of the ranking was formed by Olsztyn and Łódź (fourth place), as well as Gdańsk and Szczecin (fifth). Bydgoszcz took sixth place, followed by Białystok and Opole in seventh. The last positions went to Wrocław and Gorzów Wielkopolski (eighth place), Kraków (ninth), and Kielce (tenth).

By the way, we recently reported that Poland is raising minimum wages for foreign and local workers.

How the cities were evaluated: ranking criteria

The Business Insider ranking is based on a comprehensive approach. Journalists analyzed not only financial indicators—wage levels, unemployment, and real estate costs—but also the quality of healthcare services, environmental conditions, and crime rates in each of the sixteen provincial capitals.

It is precisely this multifactorial approach that explains why some cities with developed economies ended up at the bottom of the list. High salaries and low unemployment can be offset by long wait times for doctors, expensive housing, or high crime rates. The ranking provides an overall picture: how comfortable it is for a resident to live in the city on a daily basis, not just in terms of career prospects.

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Why did Wrocław and Kraków end up among the outsiders?

Wrocław is one of Poland’s most powerful economic centers.

The city is a hub for high-tech industries, logistics, and innovative research centers, and the unemployment rate as of December 2025 stood at just 2.3%. Salaries in the corporate sector exceeded 10,000 zlotys. At the same time, these indicators did not secure a high position in the ranking.

Wrocław’s main problem is access to healthcare. In February 2026, the average wait time for an appointment with a specialist was approximately 169 days. According to NFZ data, a consultation with a gastroenterologist required a wait of 456 days, a cardiologist—264 days, and an ophthalmologist—261 days. Waiting times are significantly shorter only for gynecologists (27 days) and allergists (26 days). The security situation also lowers the city’s ranking: in the first three quarters of 2025, over 14,000 criminal incidents were recorded in Wrocław, amounting to 21.27 offenses per thousand residents.

Another factor is housing affordability. The average price per square meter on Wrocław’s secondary housing market is 13,377 zlotys. With the average monthly salary, a city resident can afford only 0.75 square meters of real estate. The environmental situation remains relatively stable: the average annual concentration of PM10 particulate matter in 2025 reached 26.39 micrograms per cubic meter. This value falls within the WHO’s daily limit, though experts point to long-term health risks. Kraków, in turn, ranked second to last, while Kielce brought up the rear.

Detailed information regarding the EU Blue Map in Poland — is available here.

Full ranking of the best cities to live in Poland

Business Insider’s overall ranking of Polish provincial capitals by quality of life looks like this:

1. Poznań and Rzeszów;

2. Katowice and Lublin;

3. Warsaw;

4. Olsztyn and Łódź;

5. Gdańsk and Szczecin;

6. Bydgoszcz;

7. Białystok and Opole;

8. Wrocław and Gożów Wielkopolski;

9. Kraków;

10. Kielce.

It is important to note that the ranking reflects average city-wide figures. An individual’s quality of life also depends on their specific neighborhood, field of employment, and personal needs.

For those planning to move to Poland, it is important to familiarize yourself with the legalization process in advance. To reside legally in the country, an expat must obtain a residence permit, which eventually grants the right to apply for citizenship. Poland has its own procedure for obtaining these documents and specific requirements for applicants.

You can find up-to-date information and learn about the procedure for obtaining a residence permit or citizenship in the immigration guide from Visit World. The guide contains step-by-step instructions for applying for temporary and permanent residence permits, a complete list of required documents, processing costs, application review times, and useful tips for moving.

All the necessary information will be sent to your email address in PDF format in just a few minutes.

Order the immigration guide from Visit World and prepare for your move in advance!

Reminder! Krakow has been named the best city in Europe for digital nomads thanks to affordable prices, high safety standards, and fast internet. A new study covered dozens of popular destinations and revealed a clear trend favoring Central and Eastern Europe.

Photo: Freepik

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Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Poland;

Legal consultation on immigration to Poland;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Poland;

Medical insurance worldwide.

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