Cost of Living Comparison Between Plzen and Karlovy Vary Cost of Living Comparison Between Plzen and Karlovy Vary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,844 in Plzen versus $1,530 in Karlovy Vary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Plzen versus $2,488 in Karlovy Vary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,254 in Plzen versus $3,447 in Karlovy Vary.

Living in Plzen is roughly 21% more expensive than in Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen 34% above, Karlovy Vary 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.94 Kč 227

$9.59 Kč 199

14.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.4 Kč 1,110

$45.86 Kč 953

16.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.79 Kč 203

$9.27 Kč 193

5.61%

Cappuccino

$3.31 Kč 68.8

$3.11 Kč 64.6

6.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 Kč 44.18

$1.81 Kč 37.65

17.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 Kč 38.61

$1.42 Kč 29.51

30.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 Kč 61.7

$2.21 Kč 45.89

34.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 Kč 61.0

$2.01 Kč 41.83

46.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 Kč 25.10

$1.17 Kč 24.25

3.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 Kč 36.41

$1.51 Kč 31.47

15.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 Kč 67.1

$2.41 Kč 50.1

34.02%

Eggs

$4.32 Kč 89.9

$2.94 Kč 61.0

46.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.59 Kč 303

$12.76 Kč 265

14.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.45 Kč 217

$7.38 Kč 153

41.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.04 Kč 354

$17.36 Kč 361

-1.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 Kč 48.21

$1.98 Kč 41.05

17.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 Kč 41.05

$1.80 Kč 37.41

9.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 Kč 50.7

$2.15 Kč 44.71

13.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 Kč 76.4

$3.58 Kč 74.4

2.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 Kč 27.09

$1.08 Kč 22.37

20.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 Kč 28.59

$1.10 Kč 22.94

25.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 Kč 35.83

$1.24 Kč 25.71

38.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 Kč 16.75

$0.81 Kč 16.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 Kč 148

$7.75 Kč 161

-8.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 Kč 152

$7.30 Kč 152

0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 Kč 30.56

$0.99 Kč 20.63

48.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 Kč 37.89

$1.73 Kč 36.01

5.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.38 Kč 28.70

$2.44 Kč 50.8

-43.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.30 Kč 609

$25.93 Kč 539

13.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 Kč 43.88

$2.95 Kč 61.3

-28.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 Kč 30.38

$1.53 Kč 31.73

-4.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.36 Kč 298

$17.53 Kč 364

-18.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 Kč 38.85

$1.87 Kč 38.94

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.1K Kč 667.8K

$28.6K Kč 593.7K

12.48%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.9K Kč 662.4K

$24.9K Kč 516.9K

28.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$284 Kč 5,908

$260 Kč 5,398

9.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.35 Kč 381

$23.92 Kč 497

-23.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.39 Kč 361

$19.57 Kč 407

-11.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.7 Kč 1,325

$59.0 Kč 1,226

8.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.67 Kč 326

$22.39 Kč 465

-30.01%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 Kč 252

$7.37 Kč 153

64.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$339 Kč 7,056

$195 Kč 4,052

74.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K Kč 228.8K

$2,888 Kč 60.0K

281.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.9 Kč 1,764

$88.8 Kč 1,846

-4.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.21 Kč 960

$39.05 Kč 812

18.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 Kč 1,884

$108 Kč 2,244

-16.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 Kč 2,435

$129 Kč 2,672

-8.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 Kč 16.0K

$729 Kč 15.2K

5.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 Kč 15.4K

$496 Kč 10.3K

49.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 Kč 20.4K

$1,695 Kč 35.2K

-42.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$959 Kč 19.9K

$1,390 Kč 28.9K

-31.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,264 Kč 109.4K

$7,091 Kč 147.4K

-25.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,188 Kč 87.0K

$5,212 Kč 108.3K

-19.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,955 Kč 40.6K

$1,443 Kč 30.0K

35.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

4.64

1.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Plzen: August 31, 2026

Last update for Karlovy Vary: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $768 in Plzen and $729 in Karlovy Vary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Plzen pays 35% 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: $53.0 in Plzen vs $46.00 in Karlovy Vary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $266 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

Plzen vs Karlovy Vary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karlovy Vary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Plzen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $768 in Plzen versus $729 in Karlovy Vary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $53.0 in Plzen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,844 per month in Plzen versus $1,530 in Karlovy Vary – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,530 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,844 in Plzen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Karlovy Vary but tight or insufficient in Plzen. The gap between the two cities makes Karlovy Vary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Plzen 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.

Expats usually find Karlovy Vary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.