🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,513 in Novo Mesto versus $1,625 in Plzen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,202 in Novo Mesto versus $2,291 in Plzen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,892 in Novo Mesto versus $2,957 in Plzen.
🙂Living in Novo Mesto costs roughly 7% less than in Plzen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Novo Mesto13% above, Plzen21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.47€9.88
$9.29Kč 193
23.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.22€30.34
$46.64Kč 970
-24.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.09€7.83
$8.61Kč 179
5.57%
Cappuccino
$1.80€1.55
$3.18Kč 66.2
-43.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.02
$1.95Kč 40.52
20.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61€1.38
$1.65Kč 34.39
-2.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29€2.83
$2.88Kč 59.9
14.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.43
$2.84Kč 59.2
-0.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.18
$1.21Kč 25.09
13.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.39
$1.55Kč 32.18
3.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.50
$2.36Kč 49.05
22.88%
Eggs
$3.58€3.09
$3.33Kč 69.2
7.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.73€11.83
$12.68Kč 264
8.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.80€7.58
$9.48Kč 197
-7.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.48€8.17
$14.53Kč 302
-34.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$1.71Kč 35.62
-1.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82€1.57
$1.76Kč 36.63
3.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.80
$2.16Kč 45.01
-3.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.93
$3.56Kč 74.1
-4.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14€0.99
$1.32Kč 27.37
-13.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.19Kč 24.66
27.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.12
$1.45Kč 30.15
-10.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.80Kč 16.64
-7.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.86€5.05
$7.17Kč 149
-18.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90€5.95
$7.30Kč 152
-5.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.20
$1.16Kč 24.10
20.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.55
$1.55Kč 32.31
16.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.49
$1.24Kč 25.84
38.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.08€27.64
$25.79Kč 536
24.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.70€1.47
$2.04Kč 42.32
-16.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26€1.09
$1.29Kč 26.75
-2.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.48€24.54
$13.84Kč 288
105.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60€1.38
$1.74Kč 36.16
-8.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K€22.8K
$27.7KKč 575.1K
-4.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K€24.9K
$30.0KKč 624.2K
-3.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306€263
$257Kč 5,352
18.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.75€10.12
$25.75Kč 535
-54.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.13€28.55
$20.39Kč 424
62.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.13€25.10
$64.3Kč 1,338
-54.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.25€29.51
$14.22Kč 296
140.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86€6.78
$10.07Kč 209
-21.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$524€452
$323Kč 6,719
62.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,530€7,349
$9,030Kč 187.8K
-5.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0€78.4
$83.1Kč 1,728
9.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.28€30.40
$42.59Kč 886
-17.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119€103
$90.7Kč 1,885
31.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€128
$115Kč 2,397
29.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$526€453
$665Kč 13.8K
-20.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433€373
$611Kč 12.7K
-29.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$882€760
$884Kč 18.4K
-0.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757€652
$854Kč 17.7K
-11.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,875€2,477
$5,167Kč 107.4K
-44.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,364€2,898
$4,190Kč 87.1K
-19.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,447€1,247
$1,930Kč 40.1K
-25.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
5.47
-39.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novo Mesto: June 7, 2026
Last update for Plzen: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Novo Mesto and $665 in Plzen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Plzen pays 33% 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 $47.00 in Plzen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $270 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 Plzen?
Novo Mesto and Plzen differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,513 vs $1,625 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, Plzen earns 33% less. 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 Plzen?
Rent for a central apartment: $526 in Novo Mesto versus $665 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 4% 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 $47.00 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 $1,513 in Novo Mesto versus $1,625 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 7% 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