Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brno and Karlovy Vary

For one person, living is cheaper in Karlovy Vary: $1,447 a month against $1,873 in Brno, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brno
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
$1,873
/mo nomad
Karlovy Vary
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
$1,447
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brno and in Karlovy Vary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brno and in Karlovy Vary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,873 in Brno versus $1,447 in Karlovy Vary.

  • Brno $1,873
  • Karlovy Vary $1,447

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,637 in Brno versus $2,407 in Karlovy Vary.

  • Brno $2,637
  • Karlovy Vary $2,407

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,401 in Brno versus $3,367 in Karlovy Vary.

  • Brno $3,401
  • Karlovy Vary $3,367

Living in Brno is roughly 29% more expensive than in Karlovy Vary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brno 39% above, Karlovy Vary 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.29 Kč 201
$9.12 Kč 197
1.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.42 Kč 982
$45.32 Kč 980
0.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.23 Kč 200
$8.63 Kč 187
6.95%
Cappuccino
$3.43 Kč 74.3
$2.92 Kč 63.1
17.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Kč 37.10
$1.64 Kč 35.40
4.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 Kč 28.24
$1.35 Kč 29.28
-2.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.68 Kč 58.0
$2.02 Kč 43.64
32.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Kč 59.7
$1.92 Kč 41.42
43.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Kč 24.36
$1.16 Kč 25.17
-2.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 Kč 31.42
$1.43 Kč 31.01
1.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 Kč 47.93
$2.31 Kč 49.89
-3.90%
Eggs
$3.77 Kč 81.5
$2.80 Kč 60.6
34.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.51 Kč 271
$12.32 Kč 266
1.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.13 Kč 198
$7.03 Kč 152
29.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.27 Kč 352
$16.70 Kč 361
-2.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Kč 39.51
$1.86 Kč 40.12
-1.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 Kč 38.41
$1.70 Kč 36.87
4.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 Kč 44.09
$2.14 Kč 46.31
-4.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.28 Kč 70.9
$3.24 Kč 70.1
1.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 Kč 21.90
$1.06 Kč 23.03
-4.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 Kč 22.86
$1.10 Kč 23.80
-3.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 Kč 35.02
$1.13 Kč 24.54
43.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 Kč 16.32
$0.76 Kč 16.42
-1.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.18 Kč 155
$7.45 Kč 161
-3.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.72 Kč 145
$6.89 Kč 149
-2.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 Kč 19.05
$0.88 Kč 19.04
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 Kč 35.25
$1.65 Kč 35.69
-1.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.13 Kč 24.41
$2.26 Kč 48.81
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.46 Kč 551
$25.53 Kč 552
-0.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 Kč 58.9
$2.71 Kč 58.6
0.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 Kč 40.26
$1.45 Kč 31.30
28.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.73 Kč 362
$16.71 Kč 361
0.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 Kč 40.41
$1.88 Kč 40.76
-0.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K Kč 662.6K
$27.5K Kč 594.6K
11.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K Kč 632.1K
$23.2K Kč 502.0K
25.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$301 Kč 6,516
$252 Kč 5,447
19.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.34 Kč 483
$22.47 Kč 486
-0.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.05 Kč 412
$18.84 Kč 407
1.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.6 Kč 1,180
$57.9 Kč 1,252
-5.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.81 Kč 277
$21.42 Kč 463
-40.20%
Cinema Ticket
$12.95 Kč 280
$6.93 Kč 150
86.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$748 Kč 16.2K
$182 Kč 3,941
310.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K Kč 250.3K
$2,794 Kč 60.4K
314.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.9 Kč 1,815
$83.4 Kč 1,804
0.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60 Kč 791
$36.53 Kč 790
0.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 Kč 2,169
$101 Kč 2,175
-0.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 Kč 2,652
$123 Kč 2,656
-0.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$981 Kč 21.2K
$692 Kč 15.0K
41.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$811 Kč 17.5K
$470 Kč 10.2K
72.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,534 Kč 33.2K
$1,642 Kč 35.5K
-6.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,224 Kč 26.5K
$1,305 Kč 28.2K
-6.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,440 Kč 139.3K
$6,820 Kč 147.5K
-5.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,298 Kč 114.6K
$5,127 Kč 110.9K
3.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brno
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,850 Kč 40.0K
$1,404 Kč 30.4K
31.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.67
4.67
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brno: October 13, 2026

Last update for Karlovy Vary: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brno
$811
Karlovy Vary
$470 42.1% $342
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brno
$343
Karlovy Vary
$293 14.4% $49
Groceries & Markets
Brno
$268
Karlovy Vary
$253 5.4% $14
Eating Out
Brno
$174
Karlovy Vary
$160 8.3% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Brno
$155
Karlovy Vary
$155 0% $0
Sport & Entertainment
Brno
$80
Karlovy Vary
$72 10.8% $8.7
Getting Around
Brno
$42
Karlovy Vary
$45 6% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $981 in Brno and $692 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: $45.00 in Brno vs $45.00 in Karlovy Vary. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $253, with Karlovy Vary cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇿 Brno
🇨🇿 Karlovy Vary
🕒 Local time
06:27 6:27 AM
06:27 6:27 AM
Same time as Brno
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
380,127
52,065
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CZK – Czech Koruna Converter

Czech Koruna exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 21.63 CZK (100 CZK = 4.62 USD). 1 EUR = 24.31 CZK (100 CZK = 4.11 EUR).

On the map
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  • Brno Karlovy Vary 290 km
From you
  • Brno
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, eating out, and clothing. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Brno or Karlovy Vary?
Average pay runs 32% higher in Brno, 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: $981 in Brno versus $692 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 in Karlovy Vary?
Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $45.00 in Brno. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Brno and in Karlovy Vary?
All in, you'll spend $1,873 per month in Brno versus $1,447 in Karlovy Vary – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Brno or in Karlovy Vary?
At $1,447 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,873 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 29% less than in Brno. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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