😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,423 in Ostrava versus $1,357 in Karlovy Vary.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,162 in Ostrava versus $2,239 in Karlovy Vary.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,902 in Ostrava versus $3,121 in Karlovy Vary.
🌍Living in Ostrava is roughly 5% more expensive than in Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ostrava6% above, Karlovy Vary2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.12Kč 193
$8.30Kč 176
9.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.35Kč 1,003
$43.72Kč 926
8.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.07Kč 171
$8.96Kč 190
-9.93%
Cappuccino
$3.08Kč 65.3
$2.89Kč 61.2
6.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94Kč 41.10
$1.89Kč 40.06
2.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57Kč 33.33
$1.24Kč 26.18
26.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04Kč 43.29
$2.11Kč 44.72
-3.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97Kč 62.8
$2.02Kč 42.84
47.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Kč 23.77
$1.13Kč 23.95
-0.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32Kč 28.00
$1.49Kč 31.65
-11.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40Kč 50.9
$2.18Kč 46.11
10.09%
Eggs
$2.99Kč 63.4
$2.79Kč 59.1
7.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.77Kč 249
$12.17Kč 258
-3.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.02Kč 212
$6.91Kč 146
45.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.53Kč 308
$13.10Kč 278
10.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64Kč 34.75
$1.73Kč 36.68
-5.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86Kč 39.45
$1.70Kč 36.07
9.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20Kč 46.69
$2.08Kč 44.17
5.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.90Kč 61.5
$3.43Kč 72.6
-15.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09Kč 23.12
$1.32Kč 28.02
-17.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14Kč 24.05
$1.20Kč 25.42
-5.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40Kč 29.72
$1.24Kč 26.35
12.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60Kč 12.72
$0.72Kč 15.20
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.30Kč 155
$7.08Kč 150
3.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.97Kč 148
$7.09Kč 150
-1.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94Kč 20.01
$0.87Kč 18.41
8.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87Kč 39.53
$1.88Kč 39.81
-0.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27Kč 26.99
$2.29Kč 48.51
-44.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.00Kč 551
$25.52Kč 541
1.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.91Kč 40.40
$2.73Kč 57.9
-30.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23Kč 26.06
$1.37Kč 29.12
-10.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.88Kč 485
$15.68Kč 332
45.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74Kč 36.84
$1.62Kč 34.40
7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KKč 653.9K
$27.9KKč 592.2K
10.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KKč 608.5K
$24.4KKč 516.2K
17.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$226Kč 4,789
$251Kč 5,328
-10.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.89Kč 633
$25.78Kč 546
15.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.01Kč 403
$20.79Kč 441
-8.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7Kč 1,159
$59.3Kč 1,256
-7.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41Kč 411
$21.38Kč 453
-9.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.50Kč 201
$6.91Kč 146
37.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428Kč 9,075
$186Kč 3,942
130.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,684Kč 205.2K
$2,752Kč 58.3K
251.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.7Kč 1,688
$85.0Kč 1,800
-6.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5Kč 1,092
$40.85Kč 866
26.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Kč 1,877
$97.1Kč 2,057
-8.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4Kč 1,979
$112Kč 2,365
-16.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580Kč 12.3K
$720Kč 15.3K
-19.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490Kč 10.4K
$401Kč 8,493
22.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,106Kč 23.4K
$1,424Kč 30.2K
-22.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$862Kč 18.3K
$1,149Kč 24.4K
-24.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,271Kč 69.3K
$7,039Kč 149.2K
-53.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,368Kč 50.2K
$5,125Kč 108.6K
-53.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,724Kč 36.5K
$1,429Kč 30.3K
20.66%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Karlovy Vary: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $580 in Ostrava and $720 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: $47.00 in Ostrava vs $44.00 in Karlovy Vary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $243 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ostrava or Karlovy Vary?
Average pay runs 21% 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: $580 in Ostrava versus $720 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 $44.00 versus $47.00 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 $1,423 per month in Ostrava versus $1,357 in Karlovy Vary – a 5% 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 $1,357 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,423 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 5% less than in Ostrava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.