The Polish currency is the: zloty (PLN). One zloty is divided into 100 grosz-es. Coins come in denominations of 1 grosz to 5 zloty (in turn: 1 gr, 2 gr, 5 gr, 10 gr, 20 gr, 50 gr, 1 zl, 2 zl, 5 zl). Bank notes are from 10 zloty to 200 zloty-s. The value of 1 PLN is:

1 EUR = 4.0 - 4.5 PLN

Do not exchange currency on the street! Instead, go to any place marked: Currency Exchange Office (kantor). These are the legal exchange agents. You may also exchange currency in some banks. As in most countries, do not change money at the airport: the rate is terrible there. Remember: it is illegal to remove money from Poland. You may be asked to declare how much you have upon entering, and if you leave with more than you came with, you may be required to surrender it.

Of course cost of living varies from student to student, but generally, daily necessities like food or clothing are relatively less expensive than the goods imported from the West. You should note that if you want to travel a lot, make international phone calls, buy fresh fruit and vegetables frequently, and lead an active social life, you will have to spend about 1 200 PLN per month, excluding accommodation costs. In order to give you a more specific idea of these costs, here is a list of some everyday costs:

• Bread 500 g - 2.00 PLN
• Butter - 3,80 PLN
• Sugar 1 kg - 2,90 PLN
• 10 eggs - 4,10 PLN
• Milk 1l - 2,60 PLN
• Coca-cola 1l - 3,50 PLN
• Coffee instant Nescafe Gold 200 g - 27,00 PLN
• Cigarettes Marlboro - 9,10 PLN
• Beer in a shop - 2,70 PLN
• Beer in a pub - 4,50-7,00 PLN

Monday - Friday the grocery stores (sklep) are usually opened from 8 am to 6 pm. Supermarkets and hypermarkets: from 8 am to 10 pm. On Saturdays shops are usually open from 9 am to 1 pm or longer. Hours on Sunday vary, but most of the shops are closed on this day.

The ticket prices vary in every city.
City buses (MZK) in Bielsko-Biala:

• Reduced-rate ticket (ulgowy): 1,30 PLN (only with Polish student ID card)
• Regular ticket (normalny): 2,60 PLN

Drivers sell tickets, but at a higher price (with that one you can change buses within 60 min.). Usually you should buy your tickets at kiosks on the street. There are no conductors on buses, but they enter buses from time to check tickets. If you do not have a ticket, there is a 130 PLN fine. Once you buy the ticket and board the bus, you should punch your ticket on a special perforator machine (yellow, red color). You can buy a monthly ticket at reduced-rate when you get your Polish student ID (Legitymacja studencka).

Long distance buses:
There is a wide network of connections between major cities in Poland. Timetable you can find on the web pages of each city. Follow timetable: Rozklad jazdy.

You can travel by slow (local connections), fast, express and inter-city trains, with the possibility to reserve your seat and to stay in a sleeping car. Prices will depend on type of train, class, distance. The ticket will be cheaper if you present Polish student ID. You can find connections and timetable on this page: rozklad-pkp.pl

The price of a taxi service (taximeter) between city center and the dormitories varies betwee: 20 - 25 PLN. Be aware that locations as train station, city center, hotels are always more expensive to catch a taxi. During nighttime prices are significantly higher. Negotiation for price is not recommendable.

You can open a bank account as soon as possible you arrive to Poland. It is possible to do this before you leave your home country via internet. Carefully check conditions of different banks (ING Bank Slaski, PKO Bank Polski, etc.), at some of them is very difficult and expensive to close bank account.
You have a few choices of standard bank accounts in Poland:

1. Current account: this account, which is what most people have, will provide you with a cheque book for obtaining cash at the bank and for making payments. At regular intervals you will receive a statement showing any transactions on your account. This is a useful way of keeping your money safe.
2. Deposit account: you can use this while already having a current account or independently. It is useful if you have other funds which you don't need to use immediately and which can therefore earn interest in the meantime.
3. Deposit account: you can use this while already having a current account or independently. It is useful if you have other funds which you don't need to use immediately and which can therefore earn interest in the meantime.

In Poland it is possible to pay with the credit cards (VISA, American Express, Euro Card etc.). They are accepted in hotels, tourist offices and in bigger shops. They are not as popular as in Western Europe, and people generally pay with, and ask for, cash. First ask if you could pay with a credit card in an exact shop. Generally maestro card is good enough for most of transfers.

Public telephones are accessible at many points: in hotels, banks, department stores, post offices, and railway stations, as well as at free-standing telephone booths throughout the city. Phone cards are required for some telephones, which can be bought at any kiosk. There are also some coin-operated phones, identified by their orange-colored telephone booths.
Mobile phone - easiest option for you would be to bring your own phone (which is already unlocked) or you buy some prepaid package. Buying SIM card is very easy. At any kiosk you can get it. It is cheap.

Emergency numbers are the same all over Poland.
Ambulance: 999
Fire Brigade: 998
Police: 997
Emergency breakdown service: 981
Emergency (Mobile phone only): 112

Post offices (poczta) can be found at many points in every city. Costs depend on size, weight, country of sending of the package or letter. Post boxes are red and they usually hang on the walls of the buildings.

Cosmetics and medicals are available at the Pharmacy (apteka). Some kinds of medicine are only available by a prescription (issued by a Polish doctor).
But, if you catch a cold and your nose is running, it's easy to buy aspirin or other helpful remedies in many shops.

Driving licenses issued by other EU member states are recognized by Poland and remain valid until the expiry date indicated in the document. While driving a vehicle on the territory of Poland, the driver is obliged to have it with him. Civil liability insurance is also needed. Seat belts must be used in both front and back seats, with children up to the age of 12 and up to 150 cm tall using special certified seats. Using mobile phone during driving a car is forbidden! Loud-speaking phone system is allowed.
Speed limits:
- town - 50 km/h
- outside towns - 90 km/h.
- motorways - 130 km/h.
Drivers have to use day lights during the whole day. The vehicle must be equipped with a reflector triangle and has to be marked with a sign indicating the country of its registration. Radar-warning systems are banned.

Be aware: winter conditions can be rough. That includes strong wind and snowy conditions. Average temperature for January is -3°C, but it can be even up to -20°C. Weather (pogoda) gets warmer after first three months of the year. Spring brings bigger amounts of rain. Umbrella would be very needed in this case.