When I first came to Europe, I thought food would be very expensive. I was wrong. If you cook at home, food in Poland and Germany is actually affordable. Eating outside is what makes it expensive.
In this article I will tell you how much I really pay for food every month, based on my own life.
How I Pay for Food in Poland
I lived in Wroclaw, and I did most of my shopping in Biedronka and Lidl. These are the cheapest supermarkets.
For one week, I usually bought rice, pasta, chicken, eggs, bread, milk, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. This cost me around 120 to 150 PLN, which is about 28 to 35 euros.
That means for a full month, I paid around 500 to 600 PLN for food, about 120 to 140 euros. I cooked at home almost every day.
If I wanted to eat outside, a normal lunch in a cheap restaurant in Wroclaw was around 35 to 50 PLN. A kebab was around 25 to 30 PLN. That is why I only ate outside once or twice a week.
How I Pay for Food in Germany
In Leipzig, Germany, food is a little bit more expensive than in Poland, but not by a lot.
I shopped in Aldi, Lidl, and Netto. For one week, the same shopping cost me around 35 to 45 euros. For a full month, I paid around 150 to 180 euros.
Bread is very good in Germany and cheap. Milk, eggs, and vegetables are also affordable if you buy the store brand and not the famous brands.
Eating outside in Germany is more expensive. A normal Döner costs around 7 to 9 euros now. A lunch in a restaurant is around 12 to 16 euros. A coffee is around 3.50 euros.
What I Learned to Save Money
After some time, I learned a few simple things that saved me a lot of money.
First, I cook at home. This is the biggest saving. Second, I buy in Lidl, Aldi, and Biedronka, not in small shops. Third, I buy vegetables and fruits that are in season, because they are cheaper. Fourth, I check the offers every week. Supermarkets in Poland and Germany always have discounts.
I also stopped buying meat every day. I eat chicken two or three times a week, and other days I eat eggs, beans, or pasta with vegetables. It is cheaper and healthier.
My Final Opinion
If you cook at home, you can live well with 130 to 180 euros per month for food in Poland and Germany. If you eat outside every day, you will pay double or triple.
For me, Poland is a little cheaper, Germany is a little more organized and has more choices, but both are okay for a normal worker.
My advice is simple: cook at home, shop in discount supermarkets, and eat outside only on weekends. That way you will save a lot of money every month.