Finding and renting an apartment is one of the first practical questions anyone moving to Poland has to solve. We use Warsaw as an example, but most of the advice below applies to any Polish city.

Getting around Warsaw

Like in most of Europe, Warsaw’s public transport runs on a fixed schedule and most buses and trams are air-conditioned. There are no shared minibuses (“marshrutkas”) here: everything is run by the city.

The ZTM website has up-to-date timetables and service changes, and JakDojade.pl is the go-to route planner: just type in a stop, street, or point on the map.

Which district of Warsaw to choose

The capital is divided into 18 districts (dzielnica), home to around 1.9 million people. Rent prices vary a lot by district. For most tenants, the two biggest factors are safety and good transport links.

If your budget allows, the more sought-after southern and central districts include:

  • Mokotów;
  • Wilanów;
  • Ochota;
  • Ursynów;
  • Żoliborz.

Slightly cheaper options are usually found in:

  • Bielany;
  • Rembertów;
  • Białołęka;
  • Ursus;
  • Włochy.

Among the relatively calm and still affordable options, Wilanów (especially its newer part) and the southern part of Ursynów-Kabaty, are often recommended. Districts with a reputation for being livelier/rougher at night include northern Praga (Praga Północ) and the older part of Wola, though overall Warsaw remains a fairly safe city by European standards.

Rental prices in Warsaw in 2026

Prices have risen noticeably compared to previous years. Rough benchmarks for 2026 (excluding the priciest new-build flats in the centre and the cheapest outlying offers):

  • studio apartment (kawalerka): from PLN 2,600 to 3,500/month;
  • 2-room apartment: from PLN 3,300 to 4,500/month;
  • 3-room apartment: from PLN 4,500 to 6,000/month;
  • a single room: from PLN 1,200 to 1,800/month.

Leases shorter than 6 months are usually treated as short-term, which typically means a higher monthly rate. Listings written in English sometimes come with a markup for foreign tenants.

Tip: before moving, try posting a short “looking for” ad in local Facebook groups. Sometimes that’s faster and cheaper than going through a portal.

Most rental deals in Poland today go through a handful of major portals:

  • otodom.pl, the largest real estate listing portal;
  • olx.pl, a popular classifieds site (including many private, no-agency offers);
  • gratka.pl (part of the Morizon-Gratka group), another large property portal;
  • nieruchomosci-online.pl and domiporta.pl, worth checking to widen your search.

2026 update: the old gumtree.pl has largely faded from Poland’s rental market: you’ll rarely find current listings there anymore. Stick to otodom.pl, olx.pl, and gratka.pl instead.

Real estate agencies

If you’d rather not handle the search and paperwork yourself, a real estate agent can help. Commission is typically 50% to 100% of one month’s rent plus 23% VAT. As a rule, the fee is charged once you already have a guaranteed apartment, for example when the lease with the landlord is signed.

Some agencies charge a fee just for the right to view a specific apartment, without guaranteeing you’ll actually get a signed lease. Be careful: don’t pay before you’ve seen an actual rental agreement.

Also keep in mind the deposit (kaucja): usually equal to 1-2 months’ rent, refunded at the end of the lease (or used to cover the last month).

Registering your address (meldunek)

Many newcomers worry that a rented flat won’t allow them to register their address (meldunek). That’s not true: meldunek has no bearing on getting a temporary residence permit or permanent residency; those can be issued without a registered address at all.

If you do need to register (for example, to register a car), the process is straightforward: you’ll need a signed lease as proof that you’re entitled to live there, and the landlord’s consent is a hard requirement: without it, you cannot be registered. The rules haven’t changed in 2026: you apply in person at the local gmina office, through a representative, or, where the municipality has rolled it out, partly online.

FAQ

Do I need to sign a lease agreement?
Yes, always. It’s the only document that protects you in a dispute with the landlord, and you’ll also need it for address registration or to invite relatives to visit.

Can I rent without an agent?
Yes, many listings on olx.pl and in Facebook groups are posted directly by owners (bezpośrednio / bez pośrednictwa), with no agency fee.

What about setting up internet at the flat?
Ask the landlord whether internet is already connected and whose name the contract is under: provider contracts in Poland are usually long-term, and cancelling early can involve a penalty.

Need help finding an apartment or sorting out your legal stay in Warsaw? Book a free consultation and we’ll help you figure out where to start.

Author: MojaFirma team. Last reviewed: July 27, 2026.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rental prices are approximate and depend on the district, condition of the flat, and season.