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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,584 in Ostrava versus $1,530 in Karlovy Vary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,363 in Ostrava versus $2,488 in Karlovy Vary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,142 in Ostrava versus $3,447 in Karlovy Vary.

Living in Ostrava is roughly 4% more expensive than in Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ostrava 15% above, Karlovy Vary 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09 Kč 230
$9.59 Kč 199
15.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1 Kč 1,042
$45.86 Kč 953
9.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.89 Kč 185
$9.27 Kč 193
-4.10%
Cappuccino
$3.35 Kč 69.6
$3.11 Kč 64.6
7.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 Kč 41.14
$1.81 Kč 37.65
9.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 Kč 32.30
$1.42 Kč 29.51
9.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 Kč 49.38
$2.21 Kč 45.89
7.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 Kč 51.8
$2.01 Kč 41.83
23.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 Kč 25.17
$1.17 Kč 24.25
3.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 Kč 33.31
$1.51 Kč 31.47
5.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.69 Kč 55.9
$2.41 Kč 50.1
11.62%
Eggs
$3.65 Kč 75.9
$2.94 Kč 61.0
24.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.29 Kč 256
$12.76 Kč 265
-3.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.02 Kč 229
$7.38 Kč 153
49.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.69 Kč 285
$17.36 Kč 361
-21.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.71 Kč 35.64
$1.98 Kč 41.05
-13.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 Kč 38.94
$1.80 Kč 37.41
3.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.44 Kč 50.8
$2.15 Kč 44.71
13.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.85 Kč 80.0
$3.58 Kč 74.4
7.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 Kč 22.79
$1.08 Kč 22.37
1.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 Kč 22.71
$1.10 Kč 22.94
-0.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 Kč 32.58
$1.24 Kč 25.71
26.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Kč 16.28
$0.81 Kč 16.79
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.12 Kč 169
$7.75 Kč 161
4.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.19 Kč 149
$7.30 Kč 152
-1.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 Kč 20.46
$0.99 Kč 20.63
-1.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 Kč 44.56
$1.73 Kč 36.01
23.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 Kč 30.17
$2.44 Kč 50.8
-40.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 Kč 560
$25.93 Kč 539
3.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 Kč 49.19
$2.95 Kč 61.3
-19.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 Kč 35.72
$1.53 Kč 31.73
12.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.84 Kč 496
$17.53 Kč 364
36.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 Kč 38.29
$1.87 Kč 38.94
-1.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K Kč 680.4K
$28.6K Kč 593.7K
14.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Kč 667.8K
$24.9K Kč 516.9K
29.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 Kč 4,867
$260 Kč 5,398
-9.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.45 Kč 508
$23.92 Kč 497
2.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.87 Kč 372
$19.57 Kč 407
-8.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 Kč 1,189
$59.0 Kč 1,226
-3.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.91 Kč 435
$22.39 Kč 465
-6.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.40 Kč 195
$7.37 Kč 153
27.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$438 Kč 9,109
$195 Kč 4,052
124.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K Kč 208.2K
$2,888 Kč 60.0K
246.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8 Kč 1,680
$88.8 Kč 1,846
-8.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.00 Kč 894
$39.05 Kč 812
10.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 Kč 2,196
$108 Kč 2,244
-2.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 Kč 2,414
$129 Kč 2,672
-9.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$734 Kč 15.3K
$729 Kč 15.2K
0.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$542 Kč 11.3K
$496 Kč 10.3K
9.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 Kč 27.5K
$1,695 Kč 35.2K
-21.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$990 Kč 20.6K
$1,390 Kč 28.9K
-28.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,286 Kč 68.3K
$7,091 Kč 147.4K
-53.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,445 Kč 50.8K
$5,212 Kč 108.3K
-53.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,818 Kč 37.8K
$1,443 Kč 30.0K
25.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.64
7.76%

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

Last update for Ostrava: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karlovy Vary: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $734 in Ostrava and $729 in Karlovy Vary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ostrava pays 26% 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: $50.0 in Ostrava vs $46.00 in Karlovy Vary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $266 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
Ostrava vs Karlovy Vary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlovy Vary cheaper than Ostrava?
Karlovy Vary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ostrava or Karlovy Vary?
Average pay runs 26% higher in Ostrava, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Ostrava and Karlovy Vary?
Rent for a central apartment: $734 in Ostrava versus $729 in Karlovy Vary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Ostrava or in Karlovy Vary?
Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $50.0 in Ostrava. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Ostrava and in Karlovy Vary?
All in, you'll spend $1,584 per month in Ostrava versus $1,530 in Karlovy Vary – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ostrava or in Karlovy Vary?
At $1,530 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,584 in Ostrava, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Karlovy Vary but tight or insufficient in Ostrava. The gap between the two cities makes Karlovy Vary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ostrava or Karlovy Vary more family-friendly?
For families, Karlovy Vary is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ostrava, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ostrava or Karlovy Vary?
Safety-wise, Ostrava and Karlovy Vary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Karlovy Vary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Ostrava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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