The real estate market only appears stable and unchanged, as shown by the findings of the latest report from Metrohouse and Credipass.
Real estate market – math or emotion?
The standard 40 m² was scrutinised, the market benchmark for singles and couples from the 12 largest Polish agglomerations.
Also read: Bleak real estate data. Suddenly 50 k apartment sales contracts were cancelled
The data are literally ruthless for Warsaw residents’ wallets, where the average cost of renting such a space is 3,520 PLN per month, and that’s only the rent itself, excluding operating fees that can add a solid few hundred PLN to the monthly bill.
On the price podium, Kraków (2,800 PLN) and Gdańsk (2,680 PLN) also proudly stand. Opportunities are only visible in the east of the country, because only in Białystok does the average rental rate not exceed the 2,000 PLN barrier. But is lower rent truly real savings, or simply less efficient capital management in the long‑term perspective?
The entry threshold into the real estate industry is consistently the down payment. Credipass analysis clearly shows that even with a minimal 10 % contribution (interest 8.5 %) the narrative of “cheap rent” falls apart.
The difference between a loan payment and rent becomes almost marginal, resembling more the cost of a monthly VOD subscription than a serious budget burden.
The numbers say it all – in Warsaw the difference between renting and a loan payment is only 18 PLN. Yes, you read that right, because it’s less than the cost of a coffee at a popular chain café. In cities like Łódź, Katowice, or Szczecin, the winning side also tilts toward purchase.
For example, in Łódź, choosing a loan over rent leaves you with over 500 PLN per month in your pocket. Real savings that can be saved or invested. Only in Kraków does rent still hold up mathematically with a difference of 346 PLN in favor of the tenant.
However, this does not change the fact that with the current market dynamics, such a “rent dividend” can quickly evaporate.
Also read: Property tax returns! Flippers and the wealthiest owners of several apartments will pay for luxury
Table. Metrohouse and Credipass analysis of rental and purchase costs for a 40 m² apartment
Source: Credipass and Metrohouse press release.
See also: Brutal real estate data. 40 k apartment sales contracts were cancelled in a month
The magic of 20% and building real net worth
If an investor can save up to 20% of the down payment, the game rules change completely. Interest drops to 5,4%, and the buyer enters a profit‑maximising mode. In such a scenario, the loan payment in all analysed cities (and no exceptions) falls below the cost of rent. It’s the moment when renting starts to look like burning money in a fireplace.
In Bydgoszcz and Szczecin, the difference in favour of the owner reaches over 650‑700 PLN per month. Even in the most expensive Warsaw, the apartment owner will pay over 500 PLN less than the tenant.
As Marek Jackiewicz, Credipass financial expert, notes:
The decision to buy an apartment should not be based solely on a simple comparison of monthly costs. We increasingly see situations where the difference between rent and loan payment is symbolic, yet the client builds their own wealth instead of financing someone else’s property.
The current correlation between loan and rent costs suggests that the buying window has opened widely. Buying property is not only lower costs but also stability and freedom of arrangement that a tenant can only dream of.
See also: Brutal real estate data. Apartment sales suddenly dropped by almost 20%
