😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,841 in Brno versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,601 in Brno versus $2,236 in Karlovy Vary.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,361 in Brno versus $3,112 in Karlovy Vary.
😐Living in Brno is roughly 35% more expensive than Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brno37% above, Karlovy Vary1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.42Kč 196
$8.51Kč 177
10.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.41Kč 926
$43.73Kč 912
1.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.47Kč 197
$8.91Kč 186
6.29%
Cappuccino
$3.27Kč 68.1
$2.90Kč 60.5
12.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96Kč 40.82
$1.96Kč 40.87
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18Kč 24.57
$1.23Kč 25.69
-4.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Kč 54.8
$2.05Kč 42.70
28.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58Kč 53.8
$2.02Kč 42.06
27.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15Kč 24.01
$1.15Kč 23.92
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.48Kč 30.92
$1.50Kč 31.32
-1.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08Kč 43.42
$2.10Kč 43.81
-0.95%
Eggs
$2.94Kč 61.3
$2.78Kč 58.0
5.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.91Kč 269
$12.50Kč 261
3.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.75Kč 203
$7.02Kč 146
38.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.76Kč 266
$12.68Kč 264
0.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67Kč 34.78
$1.73Kč 36.06
-3.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77Kč 36.87
$1.72Kč 35.95
2.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16Kč 45.02
$2.14Kč 44.56
0.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.83Kč 79.8
$3.41Kč 71.1
12.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Kč 27.58
$1.32Kč 27.58
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.30Kč 27.20
$1.15Kč 24.00
13.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54Kč 32.18
$1.18Kč 24.66
30.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Kč 15.31
$0.73Kč 15.14
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.02Kč 146
$6.98Kč 146
0.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.14Kč 149
$7.16Kč 149
-0.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88Kč 18.24
$0.92Kč 19.22
-4.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85Kč 38.67
$1.82Kč 37.94
1.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14Kč 23.75
$2.31Kč 48.26
-50.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.19Kč 546
$25.86Kč 539
1.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.78Kč 58.0
$2.88Kč 59.9
-3.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46Kč 30.36
$1.32Kč 27.52
10.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.24Kč 318
$15.29Kč 319
-0.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69Kč 35.34
$1.70Kč 35.51
-0.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KKč 591.0K
$28.4KKč 591.2K
-0.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KKč 608.3K
$23.8KKč 496.3K
22.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$310Kč 6,472
$258Kč 5,382
20.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.40Kč 529
$25.42Kč 530
-0.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.51Kč 428
$20.69Kč 431
-0.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7Kč 1,141
$57.7Kč 1,202
-5.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.20Kč 317
$21.88Kč 456
-30.53%
Cinema Ticket
$11.53Kč 240
$7.04Kč 147
63.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438Kč 9,127
$187Kč 3,892
134.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3KKč 298.1K
$2,833Kč 59.1K
404.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.9Kč 1,853
$85.0Kč 1,772
4.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.96Kč 854
$41.27Kč 860
-0.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9Kč 2,083
$98.7Kč 2,057
1.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Kč 2,358
$113Kč 2,347
0.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$958Kč 20.0K
$730Kč 15.2K
31.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$770Kč 16.1K
$388Kč 8,081
98.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,434Kč 29.9K
$1,420Kč 29.6K
0.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,144Kč 23.8K
$1,145Kč 23.9K
-0.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,675Kč 139.2K
$7,263Kč 151.4K
-8.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,503Kč 114.7K
$5,248Kč 109.4K
4.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,942Kč 40.5K
$1,469Kč 30.6K
32.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.56
5.56
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brno: June 1, 2026
Last update for Karlovy Vary: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $958 in Brno and $730 in Karlovy Vary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brno pays 32% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Brno vs $44.00 in Karlovy Vary. Groceries flip the comparison at $263 vs $244, with Karlovy Vary cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Brno vs Karlovy Vary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlovy Vary cheaper than Brno?
Karlovy Vary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Brno or Karlovy Vary?
Brno pays 32% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Brno and Karlovy Vary?
Rent for a central apartment: $958 in Brno versus $730 in Karlovy Vary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Brno or Karlovy Vary?
Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $44.00 in Brno. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Brno vs Karlovy Vary?
All in, you'll spend $1,841 per month in Brno versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Brno or Karlovy Vary?
At $1,359 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,841 in Brno, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Karlovy Vary but tight or insufficient in Brno. The gap between the two cities makes Karlovy Vary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Brno or Karlovy Vary more family-friendly?
For families, Karlovy Vary is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brno, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Brno or Karlovy Vary?
Safety-wise, Brno and Karlovy Vary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Karlovy Vary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Brno. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.