😐A single person spends $1,754 per month in Ceske Budejovice vs $1,591 in Plzen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,658 per month in Ceske Budejovice vs $2,308 in Plzen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,562 per month in Ceske Budejovice vs $3,025 in Plzen, rent included.
😐Ceske Budejovice costs about 10% more than Plzen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ceske Budejovice and Plzen sit above the global median – Ceske Budejovice by 31%, Plzen by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ceske Budejovice
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.90Kč 206
$9.25Kč 193
7.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.70Kč 869
$45.92Kč 957
-9.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.18Kč 337
$8.42Kč 176
92.16%
Cappuccino
$3.11Kč 64.9
$3.16Kč 65.9
-1.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03Kč 42.30
$1.91Kč 39.80
6.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55Kč 74.1
$1.67Kč 34.89
112.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.60Kč 54.3
$2.77Kč 57.7
-6.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09Kč 64.4
$2.74Kč 57.1
12.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ceske Budejovice
Plzen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43Kč 29.77
$1.18Kč 24.57
21.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.96Kč 40.81
$1.56Kč 32.44
25.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93Kč 61.1
$2.33Kč 48.54
25.75%
Eggs
$3.62Kč 75.4
$3.21Kč 67.0
12.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.90Kč 290
$12.57Kč 262
10.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.33Kč 215
$9.14Kč 191
13.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.82Kč 267
$14.24Kč 297
-9.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42Kč 29.68
$1.72Kč 35.90
-17.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70Kč 35.53
$1.77Kč 36.83
-3.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27Kč 47.30
$2.25Kč 46.96
0.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.14Kč 65.4
$3.71Kč 77.3
-15.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.58Kč 32.98
$1.31Kč 27.30
20.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20Kč 24.93
$1.23Kč 25.69
-2.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61Kč 33.61
$1.45Kč 30.25
11.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89Kč 18.55
$0.81Kč 16.99
9.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.74Kč 161
$6.95Kč 145
11.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81Kč 163
$7.04Kč 147
10.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20Kč 24.97
$1.16Kč 24.19
3.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52Kč 52.5
$1.56Kč 32.44
61.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Ceske Budejovice
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89Kč 18.47
$1.22Kč 25.50
-27.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.06Kč 418
$26.44Kč 551
-24.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.35Kč 90.8
$2.06Kč 42.87
111.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67Kč 14.06
$1.22Kč 25.46
-45.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.72Kč 390
$13.92Kč 290
34.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77Kč 36.82
$1.73Kč 36.11
2.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1KKč 689.4K
$28.2KKč 588.4K
17.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KKč 540.7K
$30.1KKč 627.7K
-13.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ceske Budejovice
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$361Kč 7,519
$260Kč 5,422
38.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.08Kč 690
$25.48Kč 531
29.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.65Kč 389
$20.43Kč 426
-8.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ceske Budejovice
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5Kč 1,157
$64.0Kč 1,334
-13.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.22Kč 338
$14.36Kč 299
12.95%
Cinema Ticket
$9.25Kč 193
$10.23Kč 213
-9.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ceske Budejovice
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$512Kč 10.7K
$328Kč 6,837
56.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KKč 223.3K
$8,886Kč 185.3K
20.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ceske Budejovice
Plzen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7Kč 1,119
$83.6Kč 1,743
-35.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43Kč 843
$43.33Kč 903
-6.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.3Kč 2,049
$91.1Kč 1,899
7.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139Kč 2,903
$114Kč 2,366
22.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ceske Budejovice
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$857Kč 17.9K
$671Kč 14.0K
27.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621Kč 13.0K
$607Kč 12.7K
2.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,833Kč 38.2K
$876Kč 18.3K
109.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,210Kč 25.2K
$850Kč 17.7K
42.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,330Kč 111.1K
$4,838Kč 100.9K
10.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,283Kč 68.4K
$3,939Kč 82.1K
-16.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ceske Budejovice
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,558Kč 32.5K
$1,989Kč 41.5K
-21.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.8
5.47
6.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ceske Budejovice: May 31, 2026
Last update for Plzen: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $857 in Ceske Budejovice versus $671 in Plzen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 28% higher in Plzen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Ceske Budejovice versus $46.00 in Plzen. Groceries tell a different story – $285 in Ceske Budejovice vs $267 in Plzen – so Plzen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Ceske Budejovice vs Plzen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ceske Budejovice and Plzen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,754 in Ceske Budejovice, $1,591 in Plzen – roughly 10% apart. Ceske Budejovice costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ceske Budejovice compared to Plzen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,631 per month in Ceske Budejovice and $2,386 in Plzen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ceske Budejovice and Plzen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Plzen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ceske Budejovice or Plzen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,754 in Ceske Budejovice and $1,591 in Plzen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Ceske Budejovice and Plzen?
Public transport costs about 32% less in Plzen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Plzen, where all-in costs run around $1,591, than in Ceske Budejovice at $1,754. In Plzen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ceske Budejovice it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Ceske Budejovice or Plzen?
Families tend to lean toward Plzen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Ceske Budejovice or Plzen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Ceske Budejovice and Plzen?
If budget matters most, go with Plzen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ceske Budejovice makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ceske Budejovice vs other spots: cost of living compared