The housing crisis in our country is deepening. One example is the student community. Kraków students cannot afford to study. Education at public universities is free, but young residents struggle to afford living in the city. The cost of apartments is exorbitant. This isn't new information, as rental prices are absurdly high in all major cities in Poland. This is related to rampant inflation, but not only - landlords and developers are also exploiting the situation to raise prices.
Along with rising rent and housing costs, prices of everyday groceries and loan payments are also increasing. Many people find it increasingly difficult to balance their household budgets, not to mention young people who are just starting their studies or careers. Reporter Angelika Pitoń from "Wyborcza" spoke with several members of Generation Z who are struggling to make ends meet.
"Free Education is a Myth". Students Barely Make Ends Meet
In 2023, there was much talk about a student from Kraków's Academy of Fine Arts, Patryk, who lived in a car park due to financial difficulties. TVN's "Uwaga!" program highlighted the young man's problem, and the 20-year-old eventually found a room to rent. However, not everyone from his generation is as fortunate. Some are forced to drop out of college because the cost of living in the city is too high.
A "Wyborcza" reporter in Kraków spoke with a student from Jagiellonian University. Anna mentioned that "free education is a myth". - We have to live somewhere, buy food, pay for internet and utilities. Not everyone has parents or an aunt in Kraków where they can stay. Not everyone enters adulthood with a full bank account - said the young woman. She added that despite her parents doing everything they can to help, "the cost of living in Kraków is rising so much" that she can't manage.
- Five years ago, I paid 700 PLN for a room in Kraków. A dormitory cost 600 PLN, and that was 11 kilometers from the faculty, city center, and student life, so it didn't seem attractive. Today, I pay 1500 PLN for the same room. Friends say it's a bargain. And the dormitory still costs 600 PLN - the student explained.
"When I Turned on the Heater, the Power Would Go Out in the Entire Apartment"
A "Wyborcza" interviewee named Agnieszka recalled that she paid 2200 PLN per month for a 17-square-meter studio. She found a room in the city center, in an old tenement. At first, everything seemed fine. Until it got cold.
- When I turned on the heater, the power would go out in the entire apartment. I wore several sweaters, went to bed as if I were camping, dressed in layers, and wore warm socks. I paid a thousand PLN, and my room was basically the hallway. Other tenants walked through it: to their rooms, the kitchen, the bathroom - she recalled. Another student from Kraków said: "I don't know anyone renting apartments for less than 1500 PLN".
"Gazeta Wyborcza" also cited findings from a study by the Warsaw Institute of Banking and the Polish Banks Association. These institutions examined what a "Student's Wallet" looks like in Poland. It turned out that before the start of the 2023 academic year, the average student paid 1350 PLN for a room or other accommodation. To cover living expenses - such as food, public transport, bills, and utilities - they needed about 3800 PLN per month.
