😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Ostrava versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,151 in Ostrava versus $2,236 in Karlovy Vary.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,854 in Ostrava versus $3,112 in Karlovy Vary.
😐Living in Ostrava is roughly 7% more expensive than Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ostrava8% above, Karlovy Vary1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.15Kč 191
$8.51Kč 177
7.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.14Kč 962
$43.73Kč 912
5.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29Kč 173
$8.91Kč 186
-6.96%
Cappuccino
$2.93Kč 61.0
$2.90Kč 60.5
1.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91Kč 39.85
$1.96Kč 40.87
-2.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58Kč 33.03
$1.23Kč 25.69
28.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16Kč 44.95
$2.05Kč 42.70
5.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Kč 59.6
$2.02Kč 42.06
41.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Kč 23.55
$1.15Kč 23.92
-1.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35Kč 28.08
$1.50Kč 31.32
-10.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37Kč 49.50
$2.10Kč 43.81
12.86%
Eggs
$2.98Kč 62.1
$2.78Kč 58.0
7.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.49Kč 240
$12.50Kč 261
-8.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.08Kč 210
$7.02Kč 146
43.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.77Kč 308
$12.68Kč 264
16.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.66Kč 34.50
$1.73Kč 36.06
-4.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86Kč 38.72
$1.72Kč 35.95
8.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21Kč 46.15
$2.14Kč 44.56
3.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94Kč 61.3
$3.41Kč 71.1
-13.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10Kč 22.97
$1.32Kč 27.58
-16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12Kč 23.38
$1.15Kč 24.00
-2.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36Kč 28.41
$1.18Kč 24.66
15.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65Kč 13.57
$0.73Kč 15.14
-10.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42Kč 155
$6.98Kč 146
6.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.29Kč 152
$7.16Kč 149
1.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94Kč 19.67
$0.92Kč 19.22
2.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85Kč 38.55
$1.82Kč 37.94
1.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28Kč 26.60
$2.31Kč 48.26
-44.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.44Kč 530
$25.86Kč 539
-1.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85Kč 38.57
$2.88Kč 59.9
-35.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23Kč 25.65
$1.32Kč 27.52
-6.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.39Kč 488
$15.29Kč 319
52.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66Kč 34.56
$1.70Kč 35.51
-2.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5KKč 656.0K
$28.4KKč 591.2K
10.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9KKč 601.8K
$23.8KKč 496.3K
21.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220Kč 4,592
$258Kč 5,382
-14.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.51Kč 615
$25.42Kč 530
16.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.81Kč 392
$20.69Kč 431
-9.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7Kč 1,141
$57.7Kč 1,202
-5.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.47Kč 406
$21.88Kč 456
-11.01%
Cinema Ticket
$9.42Kč 196
$7.04Kč 147
33.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433Kč 9,032
$187Kč 3,892
132.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,482Kč 197.7K
$2,833Kč 59.1K
234.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6Kč 1,659
$85.0Kč 1,772
-6.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1Kč 1,065
$41.27Kč 860
23.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.5Kč 1,782
$98.7Kč 2,057
-13.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2Kč 1,964
$113Kč 2,347
-16.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$583Kč 12.2K
$730Kč 15.2K
-20.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$484Kč 10.1K
$388Kč 8,081
24.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,130Kč 23.6K
$1,420Kč 29.6K
-20.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$858Kč 17.9K
$1,145Kč 23.9K
-25.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,395Kč 70.8K
$7,263Kč 151.4K
-53.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,387Kč 49.8K
$5,248Kč 109.4K
-54.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,782Kč 37.2K
$1,469Kč 30.6K
21.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
5.56
-1.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ostrava: May 31, 2026
Last update for Karlovy Vary: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $583 in Ostrava and $730 in Karlovy Vary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ostrava pays 21% 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: $46.00 in Ostrava vs $44.00 in Karlovy Vary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $244 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ostrava or Karlovy Vary?
Ostrava pays 21% more on average, 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: $583 in Ostrava versus $730 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 Karlovy Vary?
Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $46.00 in Ostrava. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Ostrava vs Karlovy Vary?
All in, you'll spend $1,448 per month in Ostrava versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ostrava or Karlovy Vary?
At $1,359 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,448 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 7% less than in Ostrava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.