Electric kettle vs gas: which saves you money?

7 July 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Compare the cost of boiling water on gas, induction, electric hobs and kettles. electric kettle vs gas explained for expats.

Electric kettle vs gas remains a common question in Polish kitchens. Consequently, our third instalment in the “what costs less” series checks real bills and real habits.

Table of Contents

How Poles actually cook and what it costs

Statistics show that 56.9 percent of Polish households own a gas-and-electric range. Moreover, 51.9 percent use piped natural gas for cooking. In addition, 33.8 percent rely on LPG cylinders. Therefore, many kitchens already favour gas. However, induction sales lead new purchases. Consequently, induction now accounts for about 20 to 35 percent of new stove sales.

Actual energy, efficiency, and price math

We used the same unit prices as in previous articles. Electricity costs 0.80 zł per kWh. Gas costs about 0.40 zł per kWh in energy terms. An electric kettle uses about 0.11 kWh to boil one litre. Induction with a pot or kettle needs 0.13 kWh. A ceramic or old cast-iron electric hob uses 0.16 kWh. Meanwhile, a gas burner equates to 0.18 kWh per litre, because open flames waste heat.

Consequently, the cheapest cost per litre comes from gas at 0.072 zł. Moreover, the electric kettle costs 0.088 zł per litre. Induction costs 0.104 zł per litre. Furthermore, the old electric hob costs 0.128 zł per litre. Therefore, gas wins on price despite lower efficiency. The reason is simple. Gas energy costs half the price of electricity per kWh. Thus, even with heat losses gas can still be cheapest on the meter.

Annual picture and real-life choices

If you boil three litres daily, annual costs differ. Gas totals about 79 zł a year. An electric kettle costs around 97 zł yearly. Induction costs 114 zł. A ceramic or cast-iron hob reaches 141 zł. The gap between cheapest and most expensive equals 62 zł per year. However, this amount is small in most household budgets. Nevertheless, other factors can matter more than the bill. For example, induction heats faster and has safety features. In addition, many people prefer the convenience of an electric kettle.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you are new to Poland, note that many flats use piped gas or LPG bottles. Your landlord will state who pays for utilities in the rental contract. You will get monthly or quarterly bills from the supplier. Consequently, you may need a PESEL to sign long-term gas or electricity contracts. (PESEL is your national ID number; ZUS and NFZ are other Polish institutions you might meet when you live here.) In addition, descaling kettles is important because Polish tap water is often hard. Therefore, remove limescale monthly to avoid 10-15 percent longer boiling times.

Finally, the cheapest method depends on what you already own. If you own a gas hob and an electric kettle, both options cost almost the same. However, if you choose safety and speed, induction or a kettle wins. Moreover, boiling only the water you need saves the most money without new purchases.

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