Cost of Living Comparison Between Plzen and Ceske Budejovice Cost of Living Comparison Between Plzen and Ceske Budejovice

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$9.25 Kč 193
$9.90 Kč 206
-6.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.92 Kč 957
$41.70 Kč 869
10.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.42 Kč 176
$16.18 Kč 337
-47.96%
Cappuccino
$3.16 Kč 65.9
$3.11 Kč 64.9
1.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 Kč 39.80
$2.03 Kč 42.30
-5.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Kč 34.89
$3.55 Kč 74.1
-52.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 Kč 57.7
$2.60 Kč 54.3
6.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 Kč 57.1
$3.09 Kč 64.4
-11.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Kč 24.57
$1.43 Kč 29.77
-17.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 Kč 32.44
$1.96 Kč 40.81
-20.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 Kč 48.54
$2.93 Kč 61.1
-20.48%
Eggs
$3.21 Kč 67.0
$3.62 Kč 75.4
-11.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.57 Kč 262
$13.90 Kč 290
-9.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.14 Kč 191
$10.33 Kč 215
-11.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.24 Kč 297
$12.82 Kč 267
11.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.72 Kč 35.90
$1.42 Kč 29.68
21.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 Kč 36.83
$1.70 Kč 35.53
4.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 Kč 46.96
$2.27 Kč 47.30
-0.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 Kč 77.3
$3.14 Kč 65.4
18.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 Kč 27.30
$1.58 Kč 32.98
-17.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 Kč 25.69
$1.20 Kč 24.93
2.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 Kč 30.25
$1.61 Kč 33.61
-9.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 Kč 16.99
$0.89 Kč 18.55
-8.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.95 Kč 145
$7.74 Kč 161
-10.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.04 Kč 147
$7.81 Kč 163
-9.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 Kč 24.19
$1.20 Kč 24.97
-3.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 Kč 32.44
$2.52 Kč 52.5
-38.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 Kč 25.50
$0.89 Kč 18.47
37.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.44 Kč 551
$20.06 Kč 418
31.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 Kč 42.87
$4.35 Kč 90.8
-52.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 Kč 25.46
$0.67 Kč 14.06
82.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.92 Kč 290
$18.72 Kč 390
-25.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 Kč 36.11
$1.77 Kč 36.82
-2.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K Kč 588.4K
$33.1K Kč 689.4K
-14.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K Kč 627.7K
$25.9K Kč 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)
$260 Kč 5,422
$361 Kč 7,519
-27.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.48 Kč 531
$33.08 Kč 690
-22.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.43 Kč 426
$18.65 Kč 389
9.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.0 Kč 1,334
$55.5 Kč 1,157
15.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36 Kč 299
$16.22 Kč 338
-11.47%
Cinema Ticket
$10.23 Kč 213
$9.25 Kč 193
10.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 Kč 6,837
$512 Kč 10.7K
-35.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,886 Kč 185.3K
$10.7K Kč 223.3K
-17.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6 Kč 1,743
$53.7 Kč 1,119
55.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.33 Kč 903
$40.43 Kč 843
7.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 Kč 1,899
$98.3 Kč 2,049
-7.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 Kč 2,366
$139 Kč 2,903
-18.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$671 Kč 14.0K
$857 Kč 17.9K
-21.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 Kč 12.7K
$621 Kč 13.0K
-2.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$876 Kč 18.3K
$1,833 Kč 38.2K
-52.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$850 Kč 17.7K
$1,210 Kč 25.2K
-29.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,838 Kč 100.9K
$5,330 Kč 111.1K
-9.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,939 Kč 82.1K
$3,283 Kč 68.4K
19.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Ceske Budejovice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,989 Kč 41.5K
$1,558 Kč 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.

Plzen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities