🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,359 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,448 in Ostrava.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,236 in Karlovy Vary versus $2,151 in Ostrava.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,112 in Karlovy Vary versus $2,854 in Ostrava.
🙂Living in Karlovy Vary costs roughly 6% less than in Ostrava, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karlovy Vary1% above, Ostrava8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.51Kč 177
$9.15Kč 191
-6.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.73Kč 912
$46.14Kč 962
-5.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.91Kč 186
$8.29Kč 173
7.48%
Cappuccino
$2.90Kč 60.5
$2.93Kč 61.0
-1.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96Kč 40.87
$1.91Kč 39.85
2.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23Kč 25.69
$1.58Kč 33.03
-22.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05Kč 42.70
$2.16Kč 44.95
-5.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02Kč 42.06
$2.86Kč 59.6
-29.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15Kč 23.92
$1.13Kč 23.55
1.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Kč 31.32
$1.35Kč 28.08
11.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10Kč 43.81
$2.37Kč 49.50
-11.39%
Eggs
$2.78Kč 58.0
$2.98Kč 62.1
-6.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.50Kč 261
$11.49Kč 240
8.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.02Kč 146
$10.08Kč 210
-30.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.68Kč 264
$14.77Kč 308
-14.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73Kč 36.06
$1.66Kč 34.50
4.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72Kč 35.95
$1.86Kč 38.72
-7.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.14Kč 44.56
$2.21Kč 46.15
-3.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.41Kč 71.1
$2.94Kč 61.3
15.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Kč 27.58
$1.10Kč 22.97
20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15Kč 24.00
$1.12Kč 23.38
2.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18Kč 24.66
$1.36Kč 28.41
-13.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Kč 15.14
$0.65Kč 13.57
12.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.98Kč 146
$7.42Kč 155
-5.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.16Kč 149
$7.29Kč 152
-1.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92Kč 19.22
$0.94Kč 19.67
-2.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82Kč 37.94
$1.85Kč 38.55
-1.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.31Kč 48.26
$1.28Kč 26.60
80.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86Kč 539
$25.44Kč 530
1.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88Kč 59.9
$1.85Kč 38.57
55.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32Kč 27.52
$1.23Kč 25.65
7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.29Kč 319
$23.39Kč 488
-34.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70Kč 35.51
$1.66Kč 34.56
2.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KKč 591.2K
$31.5KKč 656.0K
-9.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KKč 496.3K
$28.9KKč 601.8K
-17.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$258Kč 5,382
$220Kč 4,592
17.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.42Kč 530
$29.51Kč 615
-13.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.69Kč 431
$18.81Kč 392
9.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7Kč 1,202
$54.7Kč 1,141
5.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.88Kč 456
$19.47Kč 406
12.38%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04Kč 147
$9.42Kč 196
-25.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187Kč 3,892
$433Kč 9,032
-56.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,833Kč 59.1K
$9,482Kč 197.7K
-70.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0Kč 1,772
$79.6Kč 1,659
6.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.27Kč 860
$51.1Kč 1,065
-19.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.7Kč 2,057
$85.5Kč 1,782
15.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Kč 2,347
$94.2Kč 1,964
19.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730Kč 15.2K
$583Kč 12.2K
25.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$388Kč 8,081
$484Kč 10.1K
-19.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,420Kč 29.6K
$1,130Kč 23.6K
25.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,145Kč 23.9K
$858Kč 17.9K
33.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,263Kč 151.4K
$3,395Kč 70.8K
113.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,248Kč 109.4K
$2,387Kč 49.8K
119.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,469Kč 30.6K
$1,782Kč 37.2K
-17.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.56
5.5
1.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlovy Vary: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ostrava: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Karlovy Vary and $583 in Ostrava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ostrava pays 21% 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 Karlovy Vary vs $46.00 in Ostrava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $260 per month, with Karlovy Vary cheaper across the board.
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
Karlovy Vary vs Ostrava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ostrava cheaper than Karlovy Vary?
Karlovy Vary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Karlovy Vary or Ostrava?
On paper, Ostrava earns 21% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Karlovy Vary and Ostrava?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Karlovy Vary versus $583 in Ostrava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Karlovy Vary or Ostrava?
Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $46.00 in Ostrava. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlovy Vary vs Ostrava?
All in, you'll spend $1,359 per month in Karlovy Vary versus $1,448 in Ostrava – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Karlovy Vary or Ostrava?
At $1,359 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,448 in Ostrava, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Karlovy Vary but tight or insufficient in Ostrava. The gap between the two cities makes Karlovy Vary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Karlovy Vary or Ostrava more family-friendly?
For families, Karlovy Vary is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ostrava, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Karlovy Vary or Ostrava?
Safety-wise, Karlovy Vary and Ostrava 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 7% less than in Ostrava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Karlovy Vary vs other spots: cost of living compared