🙂A single person spends $1,591 per month in Plzen vs $1,754 in Ceske Budejovice, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,308 per month in Plzen vs $2,658 in Ceske Budejovice, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,025 per month in Plzen vs $3,562 in Ceske Budejovice, rent included.
🙂Plzen is about 9% cheaper than Ceske Budejovice, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Plzen and Ceske Budejovice sit above the global median – Plzen by 19%, Ceske Budejovice by 31%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.25Kč 193
$9.90Kč 206
-6.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.92Kč 957
$41.70Kč 869
10.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42Kč 176
$16.18Kč 337
-47.96%
Cappuccino
$3.16Kč 65.9
$3.11Kč 64.9
1.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91Kč 39.80
$2.03Kč 42.30
-5.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Kč 34.89
$3.55Kč 74.1
-52.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77Kč 57.7
$2.60Kč 54.3
6.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74Kč 57.1
$3.09Kč 64.4
-11.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Kč 24.57
$1.43Kč 29.77
-17.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56Kč 32.44
$1.96Kč 40.81
-20.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33Kč 48.54
$2.93Kč 61.1
-20.48%
Eggs
$3.21Kč 67.0
$3.62Kč 75.4
-11.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.57Kč 262
$13.90Kč 290
-9.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.14Kč 191
$10.33Kč 215
-11.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.24Kč 297
$12.82Kč 267
11.08%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72Kč 35.90
$1.42Kč 29.68
21.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77Kč 36.83
$1.70Kč 35.53
4.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25Kč 46.96
$2.27Kč 47.30
-0.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71Kč 77.3
$3.14Kč 65.4
18.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31Kč 27.30
$1.58Kč 32.98
-17.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23Kč 25.69
$1.20Kč 24.93
2.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45Kč 30.25
$1.61Kč 33.61
-9.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 16.99
$0.89Kč 18.55
-8.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.95Kč 145
$7.74Kč 161
-10.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.04Kč 147
$7.81Kč 163
-9.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16Kč 24.19
$1.20Kč 24.97
-3.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56Kč 32.44
$2.52Kč 52.5
-38.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22Kč 25.50
$0.89Kč 18.47
37.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.44Kč 551
$20.06Kč 418
31.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06Kč 42.87
$4.35Kč 90.8
-52.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22Kč 25.46
$0.67Kč 14.06
82.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.92Kč 290
$18.72Kč 390
-25.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73Kč 36.11
$1.77Kč 36.82
-2.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KKč 588.4K
$33.1KKč 689.4K
-14.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KKč 627.7K
$25.9KKč 540.7K
16.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260Kč 5,422
$361Kč 7,519
-27.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.48Kč 531
$33.08Kč 690
-22.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.43Kč 426
$18.65Kč 389
9.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.0Kč 1,334
$55.5Kč 1,157
15.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36Kč 299
$16.22Kč 338
-11.47%
Cinema Ticket
$10.23Kč 213
$9.25Kč 193
10.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$328Kč 6,837
$512Kč 10.7K
-35.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,886Kč 185.3K
$10.7KKč 223.3K
-17.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6Kč 1,743
$53.7Kč 1,119
55.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.33Kč 903
$40.43Kč 843
7.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.1Kč 1,899
$98.3Kč 2,049
-7.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114Kč 2,366
$139Kč 2,903
-18.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$671Kč 14.0K
$857Kč 17.9K
-21.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$607Kč 12.7K
$621Kč 13.0K
-2.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$876Kč 18.3K
$1,833Kč 38.2K
-52.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$850Kč 17.7K
$1,210Kč 25.2K
-29.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,838Kč 100.9K
$5,330Kč 111.1K
-9.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,939Kč 82.1K
$3,283Kč 68.4K
19.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,989Kč 41.5K
$1,558Kč 32.5K
27.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
5.8
-5.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Plzen: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ceske Budejovice: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $671 in Plzen versus $857 in Ceske Budejovice. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 28% higher in Plzen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Plzen versus $42.00 in Ceske Budejovice. Groceries tell a different story – $267 in Plzen vs $285 in Ceske Budejovice – so Plzen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Plzen vs Ceske Budejovice: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Plzen and Ceske Budejovice compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,591 in Plzen, $1,754 in Ceske Budejovice – roughly 10% apart. Ceske Budejovice costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Plzen compared to Ceske Budejovice?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,386 per month in Plzen and $2,631 in Ceske Budejovice. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Plzen and Ceske Budejovice?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Plzen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Plzen or Ceske Budejovice?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,591 in Plzen and $1,754 in Ceske Budejovice. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Plzen and Ceske Budejovice?
Public transport costs about 32% less in Plzen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Plzen, where all-in costs run around $1,591, than in Ceske Budejovice at $1,754. In Plzen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ceske Budejovice it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Plzen or Ceske Budejovice?
Families tend to lean toward Plzen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Plzen or Ceske Budejovice safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Plzen and Ceske Budejovice?
If budget matters most, go with Plzen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ceske Budejovice makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.