Utility Bills in Poland Explained: Electricity, Gas, Water & More

What Czynsz Typically Covers

The exact components vary by building, but czynsz usually includes some or all of the following:

• Central heating (ogrzewanie centralne): In buildings with district heating (cieplownia), the heating charge is often the largest component of czynsz. It is calculated based on your apartment's square footage, not actual usage.
• Hot water (ciepla woda): Often included based on estimated or metered consumption.
• Cold water and sewage (zimna woda i kanalizacja): Sometimes included in czynsz, sometimes billed separately.
• Garbage collection (wywoz smieci): Mandatory municipal waste charge, included in most czynsz payments.
• Building maintenance (fundusz remontowy): A reserve fund for building repairs, elevator maintenance, roof work, and common area upkeep.
• Common area cleaning and lighting: Stairwell cleaning, common area electricity, and sometimes gardening.
• Building insurance: Fire and structural insurance for the building (not your personal belongings -- see our renter's insurance guide for that).
• Building administration: The management company's or cooperative's administrative costs.

Typical Czynsz Costs by Apartment Size (2026)

Older buildings tend to have higher czynsz because they are less energy-efficient (higher heating costs) and require more maintenance. New builds have better insulation and modern heating systems, but may have higher administration costs if they include amenities like concierge service, underground parking, or shared facilities.

Major Electricity Providers

Electricity Costs (2026)

The average electricity tariff in 2026 is approximately 1.00-1.10 PLN per kWh for residential consumers, including distribution charges, transmission fees, and taxes. This rate may vary slightly by region and provider.

How to Read a Polish Electricity Bill

A typical Polish electricity bill (faktura za energie elektryczna) contains several key sections:

• Dane odbiorcy: Your name and address (the consumer).
• Numer licznika: Your meter number -- check this matches your actual meter.
• Odczyt licznika: Meter readings (previous and current). The difference is your consumption in kWh.
• Zuzycie (kWh): Your electricity consumption for the billing period.
• Oplata za energie czynna: The charge for the electricity itself (energy component).
• Oplata dystrybucyjna: The distribution charge (for using the grid).
• Oplata przesylowa: Transmission charge.
• Akcyza: Excise tax on electricity.
• Kwota do zaplaty: Total amount due.
• Termin platnosci: Payment deadline.

PGNiG and the Gas Market

PGNiG (Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo), now part of the Orlen Group, is Poland's dominant gas supplier. PSG (Polska Spolka Gazownictwa) operates the distribution network. While the gas market is technically deregulated, most residential consumers use PGNiG because switching providers offers minimal savings for household volumes.

Gas is metered in cubic meters (m3) and converted to kilowatt-hours (kWh) for billing purposes using a conversion factor that varies slightly by gas quality and pressure.

Gas Costs by Usage Type (2026)

The residential gas tariff in 2026 is approximately 0.25-0.30 PLN per kWh, subject to government price controls that have been extended through mid-2026. Gas prices are reviewed quarterly. If your apartment uses gas heating, expect your winter gas bills (November through March) to be 3 to 5 times higher than summer bills.

Water Costs (2026)

Average water consumption in Poland is approximately 3-5 cubic meters per person per month. In apartments with individual water meters, you pay for exactly what you use. In older buildings without individual meters, water costs may be estimated based on the number of registered occupants and included in the czynsz.

Hot water is a separate matter. If your building has centralized hot water (from the district heating system), the cost is usually included in the czynsz. If you have a gas boiler (piecyk or junkers), hot water costs are reflected in your gas bill. If you have an electric water heater (bojler), they appear in your electricity bill.

District Heating (Ciepło z Sieci / Ciepłownia)

District heating is the most common heating type in Polish cities, especially in apartment blocks built from the 1950s onward. Heat is generated centrally in a power plant (often combined heat and power) and distributed to buildings through a network of underground pipes.

Advantages: No maintenance required by the tenant, no carbon monoxide risk, generally reliable. Disadvantages: You cannot control exactly when heating starts and stops (it follows a municipal schedule, typically October through April), you pay based on apartment size rather than actual usage, and older buildings with poor insulation pay disproportionately more.

District heating costs are almost always included in the czynsz. They account for 40 to 60 percent of the total czynsz in winter months. Typical heating costs per square meter range from 4.50 to 7.50 PLN per month during the heating season.

Individual Gas Heating (Ogrzewanie Gazowe)

Some apartments, particularly in smaller buildings and houses, have individual gas boilers (kociol gazowy or piec gazowy) that provide both heating and hot water. You control the thermostat directly and pay through your gas bill.

Advantages: Full control over when and how much you heat, potentially cheaper for well-insulated apartments. Disadvantages: Requires annual maintenance (przeglad komina and service), carbon monoxide detector essential, winter gas bills can be very high in poorly insulated apartments.

Annual gas heating costs for a 50 sqm apartment typically range from 3,000 to 6,000 PLN, with most of the cost concentrated in the November-March period.

Electric Heating (Ogrzewanie Elektryczne)

Electric heating through radiators, convectors, or underfloor systems is the least common and most expensive option in Poland. It is found in some newer builds and renovated apartments where gas and district heating are not available.

Advantages: Precise temperature control, no combustion risks, low maintenance. Disadvantages: Extremely expensive to run. An electrically heated 50 sqm apartment can cost 800 to 1,500 PLN per month in electricity during winter.

Warning: If you are apartment hunting and see that heating is electric, factor in significantly higher winter energy costs. This can add 3,000-6,000 PLN to your annual utility bill compared to district or gas heating.

Heating Cost Comparison (50 sqm Apartment, Full Heating Season)

Internet Providers and Costs (2026)

For most people, a 300 Mbps fiber connection at 50-65 PLN per month is more than sufficient for streaming, video calls, and general use. Gamers and remote workers with large file transfers may want 600 Mbps or 1 Gbps plans.

Important for tenants: Check whether the apartment already has an internet contract before signing up with a new provider. Some apartments, especially in newer buildings, come with a bundled internet connection included in the czynsz or landlord's costs. Installing a new provider when one already exists can lead to double billing.

Television Options

Traditional TV subscriptions are declining in Poland but still common. Options include cable TV (from UPC/Vectra, 40-80 PLN/month), satellite (Polsat Box, Canal+, 40-100 PLN/month), and IPTV (bundled with internet). Most younger tenants rely on streaming services instead: Netflix (33-55 PLN/month), HBO Max (29.99 PLN/month), Disney+ (28.99-49.99 PLN/month), and Polish service Player.pl (20-30 PLN/month).

Note that Polish law requires payment of a TV/radio license fee (abonament RTV) if you own a TV or radio receiver. The fee is approximately 27.30 PLN per month for both TV and radio. Enforcement is inconsistent, but technically it is a legal obligation.

What the Landlord Usually Handles

• Czynsz administracyjny: The landlord pays this to the building administration. You reimburse the landlord as part of your monthly rent payment. No account transfer needed.
• Water: In most apartments, water is either included in the czynsz or billed through the building administration. The landlord typically manages this.
• Heating (district): Included in the czynsz. No separate account needed.

What You May Need to Set Up

• Electricity: In many apartments, the electricity contract is in the landlord's name. In others, you will need to transfer the account to your name. Contact the local electricity provider with your lease agreement, passport or PESEL, and the apartment's meter number. The process takes approximately 2-5 business days.
• Gas: Similar to electricity. If the gas contract needs to be in your name, contact PGNiG with your lease and meter number. Transfer takes 3-7 business days.
• Internet: You will need to sign a new contract or take over the existing one. Some landlords leave an active internet connection; others leave the infrastructure but no active service. Check before moving in so you are not without internet on your first days.

Meter Readings at Move-In

When you move in, record the meter readings for electricity, gas, and water (if individually metered). Take photographs. Share these with the landlord in writing. This ensures you are only billed for your own consumption and prevents disputes about usage from before your tenancy. This is especially important if the previous tenant left outstanding bills -- you do not want to inherit their charges.