🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,357 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,423 in Ostrava.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,239 in Karlovy Vary versus $2,162 in Ostrava.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,121 in Karlovy Vary versus $2,902 in Ostrava.
🌍Living in Karlovy Vary costs roughly 5% less than in Ostrava, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karlovy Vary2% above, Ostrava6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30Kč 176
$9.12Kč 193
-8.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.72Kč 926
$47.35Kč 1,003
-7.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96Kč 190
$8.07Kč 171
11.03%
Cappuccino
$2.89Kč 61.2
$3.08Kč 65.2
-6.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89Kč 40.04
$1.94Kč 41.08
-2.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24Kč 26.17
$1.57Kč 33.31
-21.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.11Kč 44.70
$2.04Kč 43.27
3.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02Kč 42.82
$2.97Kč 62.8
-31.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Kč 23.94
$1.12Kč 23.75
0.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49Kč 31.64
$1.32Kč 27.99
12.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18Kč 46.08
$2.40Kč 50.9
-9.17%
Eggs
$2.79Kč 59.1
$2.99Kč 63.4
-6.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.17Kč 258
$11.77Kč 249
3.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.91Kč 146
$10.02Kč 212
-31.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10Kč 277
$14.53Kč 308
-9.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73Kč 36.66
$1.64Kč 34.73
5.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70Kč 36.05
$1.86Kč 39.42
-8.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08Kč 44.15
$2.20Kč 46.66
-5.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.43Kč 72.5
$2.90Kč 61.5
18.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Kč 28.00
$1.09Kč 23.11
21.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20Kč 25.40
$1.14Kč 24.04
5.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24Kč 26.34
$1.40Kč 29.71
-11.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Kč 15.19
$0.60Kč 12.72
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08Kč 150
$7.30Kč 155
-3.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.09Kč 150
$6.97Kč 148
1.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87Kč 18.40
$0.94Kč 20.00
-7.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88Kč 39.79
$1.87Kč 39.51
0.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29Kč 48.48
$1.27Kč 26.98
80.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.52Kč 541
$26.00Kč 551
-1.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73Kč 57.8
$1.91Kč 40.38
42.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.37Kč 29.11
$1.23Kč 26.04
11.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.68Kč 332
$22.88Kč 484
-31.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62Kč 34.39
$1.74Kč 36.82
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KKč 591.9K
$30.9KKč 653.6K
-9.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4KKč 515.9K
$28.7KKč 608.2K
-15.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251Kč 5,325
$226Kč 4,787
11.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.78Kč 546
$29.89Kč 633
-13.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.79Kč 440
$19.01Kč 403
9.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.3Kč 1,255
$54.7Kč 1,158
8.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.38Kč 453
$19.41Kč 411
10.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91Kč 146
$9.50Kč 201
-27.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Kč 3,940
$428Kč 9,070
-56.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,752Kč 58.3K
$9,684Kč 205.1K
-71.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0Kč 1,799
$79.7Kč 1,687
6.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.85Kč 865
$51.5Kč 1,091
-20.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1Kč 2,056
$88.6Kč 1,876
9.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112Kč 2,364
$93.4Kč 1,978
19.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$720Kč 15.3K
$580Kč 12.3K
24.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$401Kč 8,489
$490Kč 10.4K
-18.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,424Kč 30.2K
$1,106Kč 23.4K
28.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,149Kč 24.3K
$862Kč 18.3K
33.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,039Kč 149.1K
$3,271Kč 69.3K
115.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,125Kč 108.5K
$2,368Kč 50.1K
116.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,429Kč 30.3K
$1,724Kč 36.5K
-17.12%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Ostrava: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $720 in Karlovy Vary and $580 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 $47.00 in Ostrava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $258 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Karlovy Vary or Ostrava?
On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Ostrava. 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: $720 in Karlovy Vary versus $580 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 in Ostrava?
Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $47.00 in Ostrava. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlovy Vary and in Ostrava?
All in, you'll spend $1,357 per month in Karlovy Vary versus $1,423 in Ostrava – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Karlovy Vary or in Ostrava?
At $1,357 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,423 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 5% 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