😐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: Ostrava15% above, Karlovy Vary11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09Kč 230
$9.59Kč 199
15.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1Kč 1,042
$45.86Kč 953
9.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.89Kč 185
$9.27Kč 193
-4.10%
Cappuccino
$3.35Kč 69.6
$3.11Kč 64.6
7.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98Kč 41.14
$1.81Kč 37.65
9.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55Kč 32.30
$1.42Kč 29.51
9.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.38Kč 49.38
$2.21Kč 45.89
7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49Kč 51.8
$2.01Kč 41.83
23.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Kč 25.17
$1.17Kč 24.25
3.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60Kč 33.31
$1.51Kč 31.47
5.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.69Kč 55.9
$2.41Kč 50.1
11.62%
Eggs
$3.65Kč 75.9
$2.94Kč 61.0
24.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.29Kč 256
$12.76Kč 265
-3.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.02Kč 229
$7.38Kč 153
49.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.69Kč 285
$17.36Kč 361
-21.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71Kč 35.64
$1.98Kč 41.05
-13.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87Kč 38.94
$1.80Kč 37.41
3.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44Kč 50.8
$2.15Kč 44.71
13.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.85Kč 80.0
$3.58Kč 74.4
7.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10Kč 22.79
$1.08Kč 22.37
1.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09Kč 22.71
$1.10Kč 22.94
-0.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57Kč 32.58
$1.24Kč 25.71
26.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Kč 16.28
$0.81Kč 16.79
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.12Kč 169
$7.75Kč 161
4.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.19Kč 149
$7.30Kč 152
-1.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98Kč 20.46
$0.99Kč 20.63
-1.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14Kč 44.56
$1.73Kč 36.01
23.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.45Kč 30.17
$2.44Kč 50.8
-40.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94Kč 560
$25.93Kč 539
3.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.37Kč 49.19
$2.95Kč 61.3
-19.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72Kč 35.72
$1.53Kč 31.73
12.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.84Kč 496
$17.53Kč 364
36.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84Kč 38.29
$1.87Kč 38.94
-1.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KKč 680.4K
$28.6KKč 593.7K
14.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KKč 667.8K
$24.9KKč 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)
$234Kč 4,867
$260Kč 5,398
-9.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.45Kč 508
$23.92Kč 497
2.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.87Kč 372
$19.57Kč 407
-8.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2Kč 1,189
$59.0Kč 1,226
-3.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.91Kč 435
$22.39Kč 465
-6.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.40Kč 195
$7.37Kč 153
27.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438Kč 9,109
$195Kč 4,052
124.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KKč 208.2K
$2,888Kč 60.0K
246.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8Kč 1,680
$88.8Kč 1,846
-8.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.00Kč 894
$39.05Kč 812
10.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106Kč 2,196
$108Kč 2,244
-2.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116Kč 2,414
$129Kč 2,672
-9.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$734Kč 15.3K
$729Kč 15.2K
0.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$542Kč 11.3K
$496Kč 10.3K
9.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,322Kč 27.5K
$1,695Kč 35.2K
-21.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$990Kč 20.6K
$1,390Kč 28.9K
-28.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,286Kč 68.3K
$7,091Kč 147.4K
-53.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,445Kč 50.8K
$5,212Kč 108.3K
-53.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,818Kč 37.8K
$1,443Kč 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.