🙂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 Mesto11% above, Plzen33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.68€10.18
$11.74Kč 249
-0.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.50€30.95
$56.8Kč 1,205
-37.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.31€8.12
$9.37Kč 199
-0.64%
Cappuccino
$1.91€1.67
$3.25Kč 68.9
-41.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30€2.00
$2.10Kč 44.41
9.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64€1.43
$1.83Kč 38.74
-10.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28€2.86
$2.89Kč 61.3
13.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.55
$2.94Kč 62.3
-0.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.15
$1.15Kč 24.30
14.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83€1.60
$1.68Kč 35.60
8.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.98€2.60
$3.07Kč 65.0
-2.93%
Eggs
$3.96€3.45
$4.35Kč 92.2
-8.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.71€11.95
$14.35Kč 304
-4.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.03€8.74
$10.62Kč 225
-5.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.20€8.02
$16.68Kč 354
-44.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72€1.50
$2.30Kč 48.74
-25.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.52
$1.94Kč 41.10
-10.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04€1.78
$2.33Kč 49.32
-12.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50€3.05
$3.67Kč 77.8
-4.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15€1.00
$1.31Kč 27.75
-12.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58€1.38
$1.36Kč 28.77
16.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.13
$1.64Kč 34.70
-20.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76€0.67
$0.85Kč 17.95
-10.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.05€5.27
$7.28Kč 154
-16.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.11€6.20
$6.94Kč 147
2.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48€1.29
$1.44Kč 30.61
2.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.58
$1.76Kč 37.31
2.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36€1.18
$1.35Kč 28.71
0.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.71€27.64
$28.31Kč 600
12.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.72€1.50
$2.16Kč 45.89
-20.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.37€1.20
$1.42Kč 30.01
-3.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.57
$14.39Kč 305
103.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.84Kč 39.09
-5.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K€26.2K
$32.0KKč 679.2K
-6.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K€22.7K
$30.6KKč 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
$279Kč 5,912
8.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.54€10.06
$17.90Kč 379
-35.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.72€34.62
$17.25Kč 366
130.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2€47.24
$63.5Kč 1,347
-14.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.22€29.83
$15.41Kč 327
122.06%
Cinema Ticket
$8.20€7.15
$12.05Kč 255
-31.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517€451
$336Kč 7,121
53.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K€10.0K
$11.0KKč 232.4K
4.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.8€81.8
$83.0Kč 1,760
12.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32€33.40
$45.42Kč 963
-15.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126€110
$90.7Kč 1,923
38.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150€130
$116Kč 2,463
28.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$518€452
$765Kč 16.2K
-32.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$435€379
$712Kč 15.1K
-38.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855€745
$965Kč 20.4K
-11.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$770€671
$936Kč 19.8K
-17.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,939€2,562
$5,165Kč 109.5K
-43.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,398€2,962
$4,140Kč 87.8K
-17.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,493€1,301
$1,966Kč 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.
Novo Mesto vs other spots: cost of living compared