😐A single person spends $1,844 per month in Plzen vs $1,824 in Ceske Budejovice, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Plzen vs $2,721 in Ceske Budejovice, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,254 per month in Plzen vs $3,618 in Ceske Budejovice, rent included.
😐Plzen costs about 1% more than Ceske Budejovice, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Plzen and Ceske Budejovice sit above the global median – Plzen by 34%, Ceske Budejovice by 33%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.94Kč 228
$9.75Kč 203
12.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.4Kč 1,111
$43.11Kč 897
23.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.79Kč 204
$16.43Kč 342
-40.41%
Cappuccino
$3.31Kč 68.9
$3.43Kč 71.3
-3.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13Kč 44.22
$2.18Kč 45.36
-2.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86Kč 38.64
$3.98Kč 82.8
-53.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97Kč 61.8
$2.94Kč 61.2
1.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94Kč 61.1
$2.85Kč 59.3
3.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Kč 25.12
$1.43Kč 29.73
-15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75Kč 36.44
$2.12Kč 44.21
-17.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.23Kč 67.2
$2.91Kč 60.5
11.00%
Eggs
$4.32Kč 90.0
$3.40Kč 70.7
27.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.59Kč 303
$15.18Kč 316
-3.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.45Kč 217
$10.88Kč 226
-3.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.04Kč 355
$11.72Kč 244
45.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32Kč 48.25
$1.59Kč 33.13
45.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97Kč 41.09
$1.81Kč 37.76
8.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44Kč 50.7
$2.33Kč 48.38
4.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.68Kč 76.5
$3.56Kč 74.0
3.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30Kč 27.12
$1.74Kč 36.27
-25.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38Kč 28.62
$1.27Kč 26.38
8.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.72Kč 35.87
$1.62Kč 33.68
6.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 16.77
$0.84Kč 17.57
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12Kč 148
$7.65Kč 159
-6.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33Kč 153
$7.88Kč 164
-6.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47Kč 30.59
$1.19Kč 24.84
23.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82Kč 37.92
$2.52Kč 52.5
-27.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38Kč 28.73
$1.41Kč 29.37
-2.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.30Kč 610
$20.46Kč 426
43.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.11Kč 43.92
$4.63Kč 96.4
-54.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46Kč 30.41
$0.77Kč 16.02
89.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.36Kč 299
$19.06Kč 397
-24.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87Kč 38.89
$1.81Kč 37.61
3.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KKč 668.5K
$32.3KKč 671.5K
-0.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KKč 663.0K
$31.2KKč 649.2K
2.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$284Kč 5,914
$371Kč 7,716
-23.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.35Kč 382
$32.80Kč 683
-44.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.39Kč 362
$20.06Kč 417
-13.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.7Kč 1,326
$58.5Kč 1,216
9.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.67Kč 326
$16.69Kč 347
-6.11%
Cinema Ticket
$12.12Kč 252
$9.60Kč 200
26.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$339Kč 7,063
$543Kč 11.3K
-37.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KKč 229.0K
$10.7KKč 221.7K
3.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9Kč 1,766
$55.1Kč 1,146
54.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.21Kč 961
$42.51Kč 884
8.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.7Kč 1,886
$101Kč 2,099
-10.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117Kč 2,437
$141Kč 2,933
-16.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$768Kč 16.0K
$784Kč 16.3K
-2.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$741Kč 15.4K
$614Kč 12.8K
20.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$982Kč 20.4K
$1,756Kč 36.5K
-44.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$959Kč 20.0K
$1,235Kč 25.7K
-22.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,264Kč 109.5K
$5,209Kč 108.4K
1.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,188Kč 87.1K
$3,225Kč 67.1K
29.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,955Kč 40.7K
$1,650Kč 34.3K
18.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.71
5.8
-18.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Plzen: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ceske Budejovice: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $768 in Plzen versus $784 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 19% higher in Plzen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Plzen versus $43.00 in Ceske Budejovice. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $293 – making Ceske Budejovice the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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: $1,844 in Plzen, $1,824 in Ceske Budejovice – roughly 1% apart. Plzen 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 $2,766 per month in Plzen and $2,736 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 Ceske Budejovice, 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 $1,844 in Plzen and $1,824 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 43% less in Ceske Budejovice. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Ceske Budejovice, where all-in costs run around $1,824, than in Plzen at $1,844. In Ceske Budejovice it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plzen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Plzen or Ceske Budejovice?
Families tend to lean toward Ceske Budejovice – 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 Ceske Budejovice. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Plzen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.