Job Discussion Forums

redsoxfan · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 178 Location: Dystopia

Are flats really so expensive to rent in Warsaw? I was browsing through warsaw.gumtree.pl (which is similar to Craigslist.com) and it seems like renting a two room flat (ie. living room and bedroom) will run you about 2000 PLN. Yikes! I had a four room flat (100 sq m) in Poznan for 2000 PLN.

Are TEFL wages in Warsaw really so much higher than in other cities? Because to make up for such prices, they'd have to be significantly higher. 45/zl for 45 min is pretty standard anywhere, so wouldn't you need to be making minimum 55 zl/45 min in Warsaw to maintain the same living standards that you'd have elsewhere?

Richfilth · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 225 Location: Warszawa

The rent vs wages argument has been long running, but basically yes; you're going to be paying top whack for an apartment within, say, 5km of the centre, or even more. Remember students buddy up and can fit three or four people into a two room apartment; young couples are happy with 35m2 to themselves, so if you're looking for 45-50 metres you're going to have to really pay for it to compete with them. 2000 might seem steep, but if you were here in person traipsing around you're not going to find a place ADVERTISED for less than 1500PLN/month. Of course, cheaper places through friends of friends can be had, but you won't see those on gumtree or oferty.net.

Wages-wise, the money is still there but you have to work for it. If you want to demand 55/45mins you have to provide something the rest of us aren't, or have good contacts within certain firms. Either that or *choke* teach teenagers; I've rather have the lower hourly rate myself. Top price classes are notoriously sketchy as the directors and diplomats who pay those prices regularly cancel, or are away on business trips, or have long holidays. Privates will mean an hour on the tram each way in the depth of the evening, killing the social life, and the power-groups of undermanagers will emotionally suck you dry as well as have you at work for 7:30am.

With all this in mind, I wonder why I stay...

Harry from NWE · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 283

cezarek · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 149

lundjstuart · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 211 Location: Warsaw, Poland

get a flat by a metro line!! it will save you the time on a bus/tram but will cost you a bit more! I live 12kms from centrum and it takes 15mins on metro or 35 mins by car, 45 by bus!! the praga area has good deals but you live in a lower class neighborhood and the people can be very strange there also!!