In these cities, housing prices have skyrocketed. The expert explains the reasons

The beginning of 2026 brought clear changes on the primary market. Average prices per square meter of new apartments increased in Warsaw, Kraków, Tricity and the cities of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis. In turn, in Wrocław, Łódź and Poznań, January was marked by stabilization – according to preliminary data from BIG DATA RynekPierwotny.pl.

– The increase in average prices per square meter of new apartments does not always mean real increases. This situation also occurs when a large pool of very expensive premises are for sale – explains Marek Wielgo, an expert at the RynekPierwotny.pl portal.

Warsaw and Tricity up, Poznań and Łódź stable

In January, apartments were offered in the capital with an average price of approximately PLN 20,700. PLN per square meter. As a result, the percentage of premises more expensive than PLN 20,000. PLN increased from 24 percent to 26 percent, and the average price of all apartments offered by developers increased by 1 percent, exceeding the level of PLN 18.6 thousand. zloty.

A similar increase – also by 1%. – recorded in the Tricity (up to over PLN 17.7 thousand), Kraków (up to over PLN 16.9 thousand) and in the cities of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis (nearly PLN 11.4 thousand). In Wrocław, the average price of apartments remained at PLN 15,200. PLN, unchanged for the fourth month in a row compared to December.

– Although relatively expensive – considering local conditions – apartments were also put on the market in Poznań and Łódź, there were so few of them that for the first time in three months this did not translate into an increase in the average price per square meter of all the premises on offer. In January it amounted to approximately 14 thousand. PLN in Poznań and approximately PLN 11.5 thousand PLN in Łódź – notes Marek Wielgo.

Year-over-year increases

Compared to January 2025, prices have increased in most metropolises. In Kraków and the cities of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, the average price per square meter increased by 2 percent, in Poznań and Wrocław by 4 percent, in Warsaw by 5 percent, and in the Tricity by as much as 11 percent.

Marek Wielgo points out that the share of very expensive apartments in the Tricity is growing – in the last 12 months, from 24%. up to 34 percent For comparison, in Warsaw the share of such premises increased from 22%. to 26 percent, and in Krakow from 11 percent. up to 13 percent

– This shows that in the Tricity the average price per square meter is increasingly being inflated by very expensive apartments located in the best locations – adds the expert.

Availability of apartments

The expert notes that apartment sales picked up in January, which influenced the availability of premises at affordable prices.

– In the case of Warsaw and Tricity, this meant a deterioration in the availability of premises in the range of 12-15 thousand. PLN per square meter – explains Wielgo.

According to BIG DATA RynekPierwotny.pl data, the offer of such apartments in Warsaw decreased by 3 percent, and in the Tricity – by over 5 percent. In Krakow, the number of apartments ranges from 12,000 to 15,000. PLN per square meter increased by over 6%, although premises priced up to PLN 10,000 almost disappeared. zloty. Despite this, in the Tricity and Warsaw you can still find apartments in this cheapest range.