🙂A single person spends $1,631 per month in Plzen vs $1,815 in Ceske Budejovice, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Plzen vs $2,641 in Ceske Budejovice, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,940 per month in Plzen vs $3,467 in Ceske Budejovice, rent included.
🙂Plzen is about 10% cheaper than Ceske Budejovice, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Plzen and Ceske Budejovice sit above the global median – Plzen by 22%, Ceske Budejovice by 36%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.54Kč 202
$9.92Kč 210
-3.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.28Kč 981
$41.27Kč 874
12.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.33Kč 176
$15.64Kč 331
-46.74%
Cappuccino
$3.02Kč 64.1
$3.21Kč 68.1
-5.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01Kč 42.62
$2.02Kč 42.73
-0.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68Kč 35.49
$3.62Kč 76.8
-53.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73Kč 57.8
$2.61Kč 55.2
4.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Kč 60.5
$2.98Kč 63.2
-4.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Kč 24.89
$1.38Kč 29.23
-15.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59Kč 33.69
$1.89Kč 39.99
-15.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.44Kč 51.7
$2.92Kč 61.8
-16.44%
Eggs
$3.26Kč 69.1
$3.54Kč 75.1
-7.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.66Kč 268
$13.81Kč 293
-8.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.99Kč 190
$10.11Kč 214
-11.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39Kč 305
$13.08Kč 277
10.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77Kč 37.42
$1.42Kč 30.03
24.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74Kč 36.80
$1.69Kč 35.82
2.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16Kč 45.85
$2.27Kč 48.10
-4.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62Kč 76.8
$3.09Kč 65.4
17.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25Kč 26.56
$1.60Kč 33.83
-21.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22Kč 25.85
$1.20Kč 25.47
1.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51Kč 32.09
$1.61Kč 34.03
-6.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82Kč 17.34
$0.93Kč 19.74
-11.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91Kč 146
$7.74Kč 164
-10.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.06Kč 150
$7.32Kč 155
-3.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12Kč 23.71
$1.16Kč 24.67
-3.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62Kč 34.42
$2.60Kč 55.1
-37.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23Kč 26.03
$0.94Kč 19.93
30.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.32Kč 558
$20.26Kč 429
29.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.07Kč 43.86
$4.37Kč 92.6
-52.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26Kč 26.73
$0.71Kč 15.05
77.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.28Kč 303
$18.36Kč 389
-22.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66Kč 35.17
$1.78Kč 37.68
-6.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KKč 600.6K
$32.9KKč 697.3K
-13.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KKč 634.6K
$25.9KKč 548.8K
15.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$254Kč 5,377
$360Kč 7,619
-29.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.33Kč 537
$33.63Kč 713
-24.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.43Kč 433
$18.50Kč 392
10.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.1Kč 1,337
$55.5Kč 1,176
13.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.14Kč 300
$16.36Kč 347
-13.57%
Cinema Ticket
$10.38Kč 220
$9.22Kč 195
12.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326Kč 6,917
$525Kč 11.1K
-37.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,778Kč 186.0K
$10.4KKč 220.6K
-15.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.5Kč 1,726
$54.6Kč 1,157
49.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.59Kč 924
$40.08Kč 849
8.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.8Kč 1,924
$98.5Kč 2,087
-7.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Kč 2,392
$140Kč 2,969
-19.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645Kč 13.7K
$869Kč 18.4K
-25.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606Kč 12.8K
$624Kč 13.2K
-2.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$885Kč 18.7K
$1,788Kč 37.9K
-50.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$841Kč 17.8K
$1,219Kč 25.8K
-31.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,107Kč 108.2K
$5,128Kč 108.7K
-0.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,091Kč 86.7K
$3,114Kč 66.0K
31.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,934Kč 41.0K
$1,512Kč 32.0K
27.89%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ceske Budejovice: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Plzen versus $869 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 $41.00 in Ceske Budejovice. Groceries tell a different story – $268 in Plzen vs $282 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 in Ceske Budejovice compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,631 in Plzen, $1,815 in Ceske Budejovice – roughly 11% 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 $2,447 per month in Plzen and $2,722 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 $1,631 in Plzen and $1,815 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 in Ceske Budejovice?
Public transport costs about 30% less in Plzen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Plzen, where all-in costs run around $1,631, than in Ceske Budejovice at $1,815. 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.