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: $1,448 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: Ostrava 8% above, Karlovy Vary 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.15 Kč 191
$8.51 Kč 177
7.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.14 Kč 962
$43.73 Kč 912
5.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 Kč 173
$8.91 Kč 186
-6.96%
Cappuccino
$2.93 Kč 61.0
$2.90 Kč 60.5
1.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 Kč 39.85
$1.96 Kč 40.87
-2.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 Kč 33.03
$1.23 Kč 25.69
28.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 Kč 44.95
$2.05 Kč 42.70
5.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Kč 59.6
$2.02 Kč 42.06
41.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Kč 23.55
$1.15 Kč 23.92
-1.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 Kč 28.08
$1.50 Kč 31.32
-10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 Kč 49.50
$2.10 Kč 43.81
12.86%
Eggs
$2.98 Kč 62.1
$2.78 Kč 58.0
7.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.49 Kč 240
$12.50 Kč 261
-8.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.08 Kč 210
$7.02 Kč 146
43.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.77 Kč 308
$12.68 Kč 264
16.48%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 Kč 34.50
$1.73 Kč 36.06
-4.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 Kč 38.72
$1.72 Kč 35.95
8.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 Kč 46.15
$2.14 Kč 44.56
3.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.94 Kč 61.3
$3.41 Kč 71.1
-13.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 Kč 22.97
$1.32 Kč 27.58
-16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 Kč 23.38
$1.15 Kč 24.00
-2.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 Kč 28.41
$1.18 Kč 24.66
15.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 Kč 13.57
$0.73 Kč 15.14
-10.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42 Kč 155
$6.98 Kč 146
6.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.29 Kč 152
$7.16 Kč 149
1.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 Kč 19.67
$0.92 Kč 19.22
2.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 Kč 38.55
$1.82 Kč 37.94
1.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 Kč 26.60
$2.31 Kč 48.26
-44.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.44 Kč 530
$25.86 Kč 539
-1.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 Kč 38.57
$2.88 Kč 59.9
-35.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 Kč 25.65
$1.32 Kč 27.52
-6.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.39 Kč 488
$15.29 Kč 319
52.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 Kč 34.56
$1.70 Kč 35.51
-2.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K Kč 656.0K
$28.4K Kč 591.2K
10.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K Kč 601.8K
$23.8K Kč 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)
$220 Kč 4,592
$258 Kč 5,382
-14.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.51 Kč 615
$25.42 Kč 530
16.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.81 Kč 392
$20.69 Kč 431
-9.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.7 Kč 1,141
$57.7 Kč 1,202
-5.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.47 Kč 406
$21.88 Kč 456
-11.01%
Cinema Ticket
$9.42 Kč 196
$7.04 Kč 147
33.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$433 Kč 9,032
$187 Kč 3,892
132.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,482 Kč 197.7K
$2,833 Kč 59.1K
234.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6 Kč 1,659
$85.0 Kč 1,772
-6.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 Kč 1,065
$41.27 Kč 860
23.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.5 Kč 1,782
$98.7 Kč 2,057
-13.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2 Kč 1,964
$113 Kč 2,347
-16.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 Kč 12.2K
$730 Kč 15.2K
-20.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$484 Kč 10.1K
$388 Kč 8,081
24.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,130 Kč 23.6K
$1,420 Kč 29.6K
-20.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$858 Kč 17.9K
$1,145 Kč 23.9K
-25.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,395 Kč 70.8K
$7,263 Kč 151.4K
-53.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,387 Kč 49.8K
$5,248 Kč 109.4K
-54.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostrava
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,782 Kč 37.2K
$1,469 Kč 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.

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