Cost of Living Comparison Between Novo Mesto and Plzen Cost of Living Comparison Between Novo Mesto and Plzen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,514 in Novo Mesto versus $1,813 in Plzen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Novo Mesto versus $2,556 in Plzen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,996 in Novo Mesto versus $3,299 in Plzen.

Living in Novo Mesto costs roughly 16% less than in Plzen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Novo Mesto 11% above, Plzen 33% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.68 €10.18
$11.74 Kč 249
-0.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.50 €30.95
$56.8 Kč 1,205
-37.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 €8.12
$9.37 Kč 199
-0.64%
Cappuccino
$1.91 €1.67
$3.25 Kč 68.9
-41.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 €2.00
$2.10 Kč 44.41
9.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 €1.43
$1.83 Kč 38.74
-10.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 €2.86
$2.89 Kč 61.3
13.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 €2.55
$2.94 Kč 62.3
-0.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.15
$1.15 Kč 24.30
14.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 €1.60
$1.68 Kč 35.60
8.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.98 €2.60
$3.07 Kč 65.0
-2.93%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.45
$4.35 Kč 92.2
-8.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.71 €11.95
$14.35 Kč 304
-4.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.03 €8.74
$10.62 Kč 225
-5.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 €8.02
$16.68 Kč 354
-44.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.72 €1.50
$2.30 Kč 48.74
-25.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.52
$1.94 Kč 41.10
-10.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 €1.78
$2.33 Kč 49.32
-12.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.50 €3.05
$3.67 Kč 77.8
-4.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 €1.00
$1.31 Kč 27.75
-12.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 €1.38
$1.36 Kč 28.77
16.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 €1.13
$1.64 Kč 34.70
-20.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.67
$0.85 Kč 17.95
-10.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.05 €5.27
$7.28 Kč 154
-16.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.11 €6.20
$6.94 Kč 147
2.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 €1.29
$1.44 Kč 30.61
2.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 €1.58
$1.76 Kč 37.31
2.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.18
$1.35 Kč 28.71
0.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.71 €27.64
$28.31 Kč 600
12.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.72 €1.50
$2.16 Kč 45.89
-20.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 €1.20
$1.42 Kč 30.01
-3.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.33 €25.57
$14.39 Kč 305
103.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.51
$1.84 Kč 39.09
-5.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K €26.2K
$32.0K Kč 679.2K
-6.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K €22.7K
$30.6K Kč 647.8K
-14.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$302 €263
$279 Kč 5,912
8.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.54 €10.06
$17.90 Kč 379
-35.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.72 €34.62
$17.25 Kč 366
130.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 €47.24
$63.5 Kč 1,347
-14.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.22 €29.83
$15.41 Kč 327
122.06%
Cinema Ticket
$8.20 €7.15
$12.05 Kč 255
-31.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$517 €451
$336 Kč 7,121
53.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K €10.0K
$11.0K Kč 232.4K
4.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.8 €81.8
$83.0 Kč 1,760
12.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32 €33.40
$45.42 Kč 963
-15.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 €110
$90.7 Kč 1,923
38.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 €130
$116 Kč 2,463
28.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 €452
$765 Kč 16.2K
-32.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$435 €379
$712 Kč 15.1K
-38.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$855 €745
$965 Kč 20.4K
-11.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$770 €671
$936 Kč 19.8K
-17.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,939 €2,562
$5,165 Kč 109.5K
-43.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,398 €2,962
$4,140 Kč 87.8K
-17.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,493 €1,301
$1,966 Kč 41.7K
-24.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.29
4.73
-30.44%

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

Last update for Novo Mesto: September 13, 2026

Last update for Plzen: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Novo Mesto and $765 in Plzen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Plzen pays 32% 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: $35.00 in Novo Mesto vs $57.0 in Plzen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $303 per month, with Novo Mesto 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
Novo Mesto vs Plzen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Novo Mesto and in Plzen?
Novo Mesto and Plzen differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,514 vs $1,813 including rent). Novo Mesto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Plzen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Novo Mesto and in Plzen?
Rent for a central apartment: $518 in Novo Mesto versus $765 in Plzen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Plzen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Novo Mesto – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $57.0 in Plzen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,514 in Novo Mesto versus $1,813 in Plzen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Novo Mesto but tight or insufficient in Plzen. The gap between the two cities makes Novo Mesto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Novo Mesto and Plzen?
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.
Is Novo Mesto or Plzen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Novo Mesto 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.
Where should expats move: Novo Mesto or Plzen?
Expats usually find Novo Mesto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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