Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlovy Vary and Plzen Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlovy Vary and Plzen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,359 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,591 in Plzen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,236 in Karlovy Vary versus $2,308 in Plzen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,112 in Karlovy Vary versus $3,025 in Plzen.

Living in Karlovy Vary costs roughly 15% less than in Plzen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karlovy Vary 1% above, Plzen 19% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.51 Kč 177

$9.25 Kč 193

-8.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.73 Kč 912

$45.92 Kč 957

-4.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.91 Kč 186

$8.42 Kč 176

5.82%

Cappuccino

$2.90 Kč 60.5

$3.16 Kč 65.9

-8.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 Kč 40.87

$1.91 Kč 39.80

2.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 Kč 25.69

$1.67 Kč 34.89

-26.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 Kč 42.70

$2.77 Kč 57.7

-25.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 Kč 42.06

$2.74 Kč 57.1

-26.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 Kč 23.92

$1.18 Kč 24.57

-2.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 Kč 31.32

$1.56 Kč 32.44

-3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 Kč 43.81

$2.33 Kč 48.54

-9.87%

Eggs

$2.78 Kč 58.0

$3.21 Kč 67.0

-13.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.50 Kč 261

$12.57 Kč 262

-0.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.02 Kč 146

$9.14 Kč 191

-23.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.68 Kč 264

$14.24 Kč 297

-10.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.73 Kč 36.06

$1.72 Kč 35.90

0.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 Kč 35.95

$1.77 Kč 36.83

-2.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 Kč 44.56

$2.25 Kč 46.96

-4.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 Kč 71.1

$3.71 Kč 77.3

-8.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Kč 27.58

$1.31 Kč 27.30

0.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 Kč 24.00

$1.23 Kč 25.69

-6.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 Kč 24.66

$1.45 Kč 30.25

-18.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Kč 15.14

$0.81 Kč 16.99

-9.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.98 Kč 146

$6.95 Kč 145

0.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.16 Kč 149

$7.04 Kč 147

1.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 Kč 19.22

$1.16 Kč 24.19

-20.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 Kč 37.94

$1.56 Kč 32.44

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.31 Kč 48.26

$1.22 Kč 25.50

89.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.86 Kč 539

$26.44 Kč 551

-2.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 Kč 59.9

$2.06 Kč 42.87

39.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 Kč 27.52

$1.22 Kč 25.46

8.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.29 Kč 319

$13.92 Kč 290

9.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 Kč 35.51

$1.73 Kč 36.11

-1.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.4K Kč 591.2K

$28.2K Kč 588.4K

0.48%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.8K Kč 496.3K

$30.1K Kč 627.7K

-20.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$258 Kč 5,382

$260 Kč 5,422

-0.73%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.42 Kč 530

$25.48 Kč 531

-0.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.69 Kč 431

$20.43 Kč 426

1.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 Kč 1,202

$64.0 Kč 1,334

-9.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 Kč 456

$14.36 Kč 299

52.37%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 Kč 147

$10.23 Kč 213

-31.18%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$187 Kč 3,892

$328 Kč 6,837

-43.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,833 Kč 59.1K

$8,886 Kč 185.3K

-68.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.0 Kč 1,772

$83.6 Kč 1,743

1.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.27 Kč 860

$43.33 Kč 903

-4.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 Kč 2,057

$91.1 Kč 1,899

8.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 Kč 2,347

$114 Kč 2,366

-0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 Kč 15.2K

$671 Kč 14.0K

8.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 Kč 8,081

$607 Kč 12.7K

-36.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,420 Kč 29.6K

$876 Kč 18.3K

62.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,145 Kč 23.9K

$850 Kč 17.7K

34.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,263 Kč 151.4K

$4,838 Kč 100.9K

50.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,248 Kč 109.4K

$3,939 Kč 82.1K

33.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,469 Kč 30.6K

$1,989 Kč 41.5K

-26.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.56

5.47

1.65%

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

Last update for Karlovy Vary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Plzen: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Karlovy Vary and $671 in Plzen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Plzen pays 35% 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 Plzen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $267 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 Plzen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karlovy Vary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Plzen earns 35% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Karlovy Vary versus $671 in Plzen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $46.00 in Plzen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,359 per month in Karlovy Vary versus $1,591 in Plzen – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,359 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,591 in Plzen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Karlovy Vary but tight or insufficient in Plzen. The gap between the two cities makes Karlovy Vary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Karlovy Vary and Plzen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Karlovy Vary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.