🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,477 in Novo Mesto versus $1,592 in Plzen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,153 in Novo Mesto versus $2,254 in Plzen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,829 in Novo Mesto versus $2,917 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 Mesto11% above, Plzen20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.77€10.20
$9.27Kč 194
26.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.58€29.95
$45.83Kč 961
-24.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.14€7.91
$8.18Kč 171
11.74%
Cappuccino
$1.87€1.62
$3.13Kč 65.6
-40.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.05
$1.91Kč 40.09
24.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.38
$1.67Kč 35.07
-4.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.27€2.83
$2.86Kč 60.0
14.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.53
$2.79Kč 58.5
4.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.18
$1.22Kč 25.50
12.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66€1.44
$1.61Kč 33.73
3.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88€2.49
$2.44Kč 51.2
18.03%
Eggs
$3.47€3.01
$3.33Kč 69.8
4.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.81€11.96
$12.63Kč 265
9.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.61€7.45
$9.27Kč 194
-7.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.35€8.10
$14.49Kč 304
-35.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$1.69Kč 35.39
1.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$1.72Kč 36.14
2.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04€1.77
$2.17Kč 45.50
-5.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50€3.03
$3.74Kč 78.4
-6.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17€1.01
$1.27Kč 26.66
-7.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.21Kč 25.43
28.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.09
$1.53Kč 32.10
-17.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70€0.60
$0.74Kč 15.58
-5.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.00€5.20
$7.02Kč 147
-14.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.78€5.87
$6.89Kč 145
-1.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.22
$1.12Kč 23.45
25.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.64
$1.56Kč 32.73
21.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.76€1.52
$1.17Kč 24.63
50.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.31€27.98
$25.98Kč 545
24.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.71€1.48
$2.04Kč 42.71
-16.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22€1.06
$1.28Kč 26.79
-4.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.20€25.29
$13.73Kč 288
112.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67€1.45
$1.64Kč 34.39
1.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K€22.7K
$27.6KKč 579.7K
-5.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K€24.4K
$29.8KKč 625.4K
-5.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$311€269
$263Kč 5,517
18.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.37€9.85
$26.06Kč 546
-56.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.50€29.01
$20.39Kč 428
64.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.42€25.48
$63.6Kč 1,334
-53.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.43€29.82
$14.55Kč 305
136.63%
Cinema Ticket
$8.28€7.17
$10.36Kč 217
-20.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$508€440
$331Kč 6,929
53.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,840€7,656
$9,048Kč 189.7K
-2.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.7€81.2
$82.9Kč 1,739
13.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.52€29.89
$43.69Kč 916
-20.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121€105
$89.4Kč 1,874
35.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150€130
$115Kč 2,406
30.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$530€459
$662Kč 13.9K
-19.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$427€369
$607Kč 12.7K
-29.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$872€755
$905Kč 19.0K
-3.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$760€658
$850Kč 17.8K
-10.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,873€2,488
$5,176Kč 108.5K
-44.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,256€2,819
$4,060Kč 85.1K
-19.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novo Mesto
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,439€1,246
$1,910Kč 40.0K
-24.66%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Plzen: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $530 in Novo Mesto and $662 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 $46.00 in Plzen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $269 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 8% in total monthly costs ($1,477 vs $1,592 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 33% 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: $530 in Novo Mesto versus $662 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 5% 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 $46.00 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 $1,477 in Novo Mesto versus $1,592 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 8% 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