Warsaw, Poland

What do I need to know before moving to Warsaw?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Warsaw, they said:

"It depends where are you going to work. If you choose a district with a bad commute you can travel 2 hours to your work-place. I suggest close to the metro stations - Ursynow district is cheap, Zoliborz and Srodmiescie are quite expensive. Zoliborz is one of the locations with most parks in Warsaw," added another expat in Warsaw.

What is a typical expat home or apartment like in Warsaw?

"Appartment of 80 m2 top floor. Zoliborz distrcit, close to the park. Mostly Expats live in the center of the city," remarked another expat living in Warsaw, Poland.

What is the average cost of housing in Warsaw?

If you are thinking about moving to Warsaw, cost of living in probably a key consideration. Expats commented about the cost of housing:

"Average cost - 400 USD to 1500 USD a month depending on the standard and location," explained one expat living in Warsaw, Poland.

What should I bring when moving to Warsaw?

People living in Warsaw were asked what three things they wish they had brought and three they wish they had left behind. They wrote:

"More sun and warmer weather. Better roads. Italian food, especially fresh sea-food. I wish all present Polish politician to go to another country," added another expat who made the move to Warsaw.

What are the schools in Warsaw like?

"The International European School was a great school till 2009, an excellent value for money. From that date, the management of the school has been a true disaster. Most of the international teachers and the best Polish teachers have been fired or invited to resign and they have not been replaced with equally qualified teachers. The academic level has gone down every year, mainly in Primary and Middle Years, while the fees have gone up. The most extraordinary decisions are taken by the Board of Directors without any consultation to parents or pupils, so the environment is often tense. Nevertheless, it is the cheapest international school in English (apart from the Canadian School) in Warsaw, and the fees include transportation and lunch. Only advisable if price is the main factor for taking a decision," remarked another parent with kids at International European School in Warsaw.

"If you want your child to be fluent in 2-3 languages, make Polish, English and international friends- and have a highest probability in the country to enter world renown universities... this is the place," explained one expat living in Warsaw, Poland.

"The Elementary School is really very good and the kids and teachers very obviously enjoy their time there. The Middle School is awful - the adminstration is arbitrary and scattershot. The make discussions and change policy without informing the parents or the students. Even something as minor as the grade average needed to reach the Prinicpal's List was changed after the Trimester ended and without informing any student or parent of the change. Surprise! In general you will find people in the community telling you "well it's not really an academic school but my child enjoys himself" and that's the truth. They do not seek to retain teachers with high academic standards and although they have set curriculum standards (for example) one 5th grade teacher will pile on homework, the next will give none. This is a once great school that has suffered over the past few years from poor leadership at the top and a general dumbing down of their standards," said another parent with children at American School of Warsaw in Warsaw.