The Polish currency is the New Polish złoty (PLN or zł). 1 złoty equals 100 groszy (gr). Exchange rates for the Polish złoty in April 2012 were as follows:

You may exchange currency in a bank or in a KANTOR, a Polish currency exchange office. Credit cards such as VISA, American Express, and Eurocard are accepted in hotels, banks, and larger shops in Polish cities. Moreover, there are also numerous cash point machines (BANKOMAT) available in the streets, (some of them are also located on Campus) which may be used with most of the major credit cards. The list of cash dispensers in Torun may be found on the following web site: www.karty.pl/bankomaty (link Torun)

Banking hours are 8 or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. If you would like to open a bank account in Poland, you need to present the following documents:

• passport
• residence permit
• statement of the length of your stay in Poland
• statement of your address in Poland
• student ID card

COST OF LIVING

Poland is still quite a cheap country for travelers, though this largely depends on what degree of comfort you need, what kind of food you eat, etc. Foreign students should remember that if they want to travel, make phone calls abroad, and lead an active social life they will spend more than a few hundred złoty per month (excluding the costs of accommodation). You should bring approximately a minimum of 1,600 zł with you when you arrive. This will cover your expenses for at least the first couple of weeks.

To give you an idea of the cost of living in Poland here are the approximate prices of some items in April 2012:

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