🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,530 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,584 in Ostrava.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,488 in Karlovy Vary versus $2,363 in Ostrava.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,447 in Karlovy Vary versus $3,142 in Ostrava.
🌍Living in Karlovy Vary costs roughly 3% less than in Ostrava, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karlovy Vary11% above, Ostrava15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.59Kč 199
$11.09Kč 230
-13.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.86Kč 953
$50.1Kč 1,042
-8.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.27Kč 193
$8.89Kč 185
4.27%
Cappuccino
$3.11Kč 64.6
$3.35Kč 69.6
-7.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81Kč 37.65
$1.98Kč 41.14
-8.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42Kč 29.51
$1.55Kč 32.30
-8.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21Kč 45.89
$2.38Kč 49.38
-7.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01Kč 41.83
$2.49Kč 51.8
-19.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Kč 24.25
$1.21Kč 25.17
-3.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51Kč 31.47
$1.60Kč 33.31
-5.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.41Kč 50.1
$2.69Kč 55.9
-10.41%
Eggs
$2.94Kč 61.0
$3.65Kč 75.9
-19.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.76Kč 265
$12.29Kč 256
3.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38Kč 153
$11.02Kč 229
-33.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.36Kč 361
$13.69Kč 285
26.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98Kč 41.05
$1.71Kč 35.64
15.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80Kč 37.41
$1.87Kč 38.94
-3.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15Kč 44.71
$2.44Kč 50.8
-11.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.58Kč 74.4
$3.85Kč 80.0
-7.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08Kč 22.37
$1.10Kč 22.79
-1.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10Kč 22.94
$1.09Kč 22.71
0.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24Kč 25.71
$1.57Kč 32.58
-21.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 16.79
$0.78Kč 16.28
3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.75Kč 161
$8.12Kč 169
-4.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.30Kč 152
$7.19Kč 149
1.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99Kč 20.63
$0.98Kč 20.46
1.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73Kč 36.01
$2.14Kč 44.56
-19.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.44Kč 50.8
$1.45Kč 30.17
68.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.93Kč 539
$26.94Kč 560
-3.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Kč 61.3
$2.37Kč 49.19
24.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53Kč 31.73
$1.72Kč 35.72
-11.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.53Kč 364
$23.84Kč 496
-26.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87Kč 38.94
$1.84Kč 38.29
1.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KKč 593.7K
$32.7KKč 680.4K
-12.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KKč 516.9K
$32.1KKč 667.8K
-22.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260Kč 5,398
$234Kč 4,867
10.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.92Kč 497
$24.45Kč 508
-2.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.57Kč 407
$17.87Kč 372
9.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.0Kč 1,226
$57.2Kč 1,189
3.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.39Kč 465
$20.91Kč 435
7.08%
Cinema Ticket
$7.37Kč 153
$9.40Kč 195
-21.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$195Kč 4,052
$438Kč 9,109
-55.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,888Kč 60.0K
$10.0KKč 208.2K
-71.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8Kč 1,846
$80.8Kč 1,680
9.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.05Kč 812
$43.00Kč 894
-9.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108Kč 2,244
$106Kč 2,196
2.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129Kč 2,672
$116Kč 2,414
10.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$729Kč 15.2K
$734Kč 15.3K
-0.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$496Kč 10.3K
$542Kč 11.3K
-8.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,695Kč 35.2K
$1,322Kč 27.5K
28.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,390Kč 28.9K
$990Kč 20.6K
40.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,091Kč 147.4K
$3,286Kč 68.3K
115.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,212Kč 108.3K
$2,445Kč 50.8K
113.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlovy Vary
Ostrava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,443Kč 30.0K
$1,818Kč 37.8K
-20.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.64
5
-7.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlovy Vary: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ostrava: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Karlovy Vary and $734 in Ostrava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ostrava pays 26% 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: $46.00 in Karlovy Vary vs $50.0 in Ostrava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $280 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. The 4% 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 26% 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: $729 in Karlovy Vary versus $734 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 $46.00 versus $50.0 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 $1,530 per month in Karlovy Vary versus $1,584 in Ostrava – a 4% 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 $1,530 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,584 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 4% 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