Hello everyone!

My partner and I are seriously considering moving to either Katowice or Wrocław. We're from UE. We’re mainly interested in cities in the south-western part of Poland, but we’re open to other recommendations if there are areas that offer a better balance for our lifestyle. What matters most to us is finding a place with good access to nature and strong job opportunities.

We visited both cities last September and really liked the architecture, the mix of old and new, and the overall “developing” vibe. 

We’d really appreciate advice from locals and expats on a few topics:

  • Would we manage daily life using only English (shops, doctors, public offices, paperwork, neighbors)?
  • He works in IT/programming, and I work in education / marketing. How realistic is it to find jobs in or around Katowice with English only?
  • We are planning to buy an apartment (not rent). Our budget is up to 120,000 EUR (excluding notary fees and taxes):
    • Which neighborhoods or nearby areas would you recommend (safe, well-connected, not too noisy, some access to green spaces)?
    • Are there any areas you would personally avoid?
  • How is public transport and commuting within Katowice / Wrocław and the wider Silesian area?
  • What’s the situation with nature and green spaces around both cities? Where do locals usually go for walks, lakes, hiking, or outdoor relaxation?
  • What kind of weekend activities are popular (both outdoor and indoor: spa, sauna, pools, culture, events, etc.)?
  • How is the open-minded community in Katowice / Wrocław and the Silesian region?
  • How is the air quality throughout the year? We’ve read mixed opinions and would love a local perspective.
  • Any general tips for foreigners buying property in Poland (common pitfalls, paperwork, things to check)?

Any personal experiences or advice would mean a lot to us.

Thank you very much! 🌿



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No-Egg8643

10 comments

  1. 120k euro won’t get you more than 40sq m outside the city centre in any of those cities. Are you aware of that? and the rental market is wild west. There’s basically no regulation around that.

  2. Wrocław is much bigger city (although Katowice is part of big metro area, but there’s not one “central” city there). There will be more corporate jobs, more immigrants etc. there.

    Katowice area used to be industrial backbone of country – with lots of mines, steelworks and other heavy industry. It is changing quickly but its industrial past is still clearly visible.

    Air will be better in Wrocław.

    Biggest drawback of Wrocław here will be prices – especially of properties. Your 120k eur will leave you very little choice there. Katowice are quite cheaper, but still I wouldn’t expect much.

    Also I would recommend against buying flat in foreign country, foreign city without living there first. You might not get what you were hoping for. And money will be gone.

  3. Kraków and Warszawa are the biggest markets for IT in Poland. 

    I was studying in Wrocław around 11 years ago and I sometimes visit it. City is beatufiul but I feel that it’s in stagnation state. Not top much green areas in the city, communication within the city is medium. Outside of the city there is Ślęża mountian for example. Katowice is closer to the mountians, which are interesting green area.

    Probably Wrocław is more “open minded” because a lot of people from abroad live there – mostly students.

    In Katowice flats are cheaper.

    I am not living there right now.

    I consider moving to Warsaw or Katowice.

  4. Wrocław is better overall IMO. Katowice has been doing well lately, but it’s still a post-industrial city, and not very walkable in many places. Wrocław is beautiful, vibrant, full of students, very relaxed, and has a strong technological sector. On top of that, it has a beautiful river and many scenic areas around it. Katowice doesn’t have that. But I recommend paying a visit as tourists to see for yourself before making a decision.

  5. „He works in IT/programming, and I work in education / marketing…”

    My colleague, a programmer with 20 years of experience working for a bank with C1 Polish and English, has been looking for a job across Poland for six months. The offers only started coming in, when he lowered salary expectations. The job market for programmers across Europe is terrible. It’s a mistake to assume that migration will help. Marketing and education are, after all, equally problematic industries. You have big plans, but I think you should research this topic first, simply by checking how you deal with Polish job market. 

  6. Katowice and Wrocław aren’t in the same voivodeship that you marked on the map. Katowice is Upper Silesia and Wrocław is Lower Silesia, which you marked on the map.

  8. The air quality is terrible. It’s worse in Wrocław, but I don’t think it’s much better in Katowice. I know people who moved from Kraków (same air quality problem) to Gdańsk because of their children’s health issues. Until this problem is solved in Poland, I would only choose Gdańsk, even though I come from the region you are writing about.

  10. Do you need a residence permit in Poland? If yes then both Silesias are a terrible choice. Urząd Wojewódzki, Wydział Spraw Cudzoziemców in Wrocław is notoriously famous for crazy residence permit waiting time. Up to several YEARS!

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