My experience so far has been that I'm getting about 2.65PLN to $1.00 using my credit card. Mrs. Prof. B brought a bunch of cash and has been getting about the same from the Kantors, provided she shops around a little. We looked this morning and found one selling dollars at 2.86PLN to the dollar. Inside the shop, however, his buying rate was only 2.36PLN to the dollar, about what you would get inside the Warsaw airport. 100 feet away, another Kantor was buying USD at 2.65.
My ATM from MSUFCU works fine here, but the rate varies a lot. I'm averaging about 2.55 PLN to $1.00 on withdrawals, which is ok. I end up using my credit card a lot.
In real terms, this means that a decent .5L beer (17oz - slightly larger than a pint) at a cafe or restaurant usually runs about 8PLN ($3), pierogi with meat run about 12-14PLN ($4.60 - $5.40), a large greek salad with feta etc. is abou 16PLN ($6.15), a large kebab plate or sandwich is 16 PLN ($6.15). Mrs. Prof. B and I have been eating out at nice restaurants for an average of about 65PLN for our big meal for the day. I typically have a .5L beer (when I'm traveling, I usually drink beer just to avoid stomach issues) and she has a uniquely Polish cocktail called a tatanka, appetizer, soup (for her), two entres and a desert - this runs about 65PLN or $25 for a nice dinner for two. In the US, these dinners would run us at least $50-$65 US for the quality of food and dining experience we're getting. Also remember that we're staying and eating in the heart of Krakow at the height of tourist season. It's not as good as 2 years ago when the exchange rate was 3.50PLN to $1, but prices are very reasonable.
At the grocery around the corner from my hotel, I'm buying a loaf of bread that lasts me three days for 2PLN, prepackaged lunchmeat and cheese sufficient for 5-6 sandwiches for 10PLN, and if I wanted beer at the grocery .5L of a good beer would cost 3-4PLN per individual can. Basically, I could eat reasonably well on about $10 / day or less.
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