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: $1,591 in Plzen versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,308 in Plzen versus $2,236 in Karlovy Vary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,025 in Plzen versus $3,112 in Karlovy Vary.

Living in Plzen is roughly 17% more expensive than Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen 19% above, Karlovy Vary 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.25 Kč 193

$8.51 Kč 177

8.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.92 Kč 957

$43.73 Kč 912

5.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 Kč 176

$8.91 Kč 186

-5.50%

Cappuccino

$3.16 Kč 65.9

$2.90 Kč 60.5

8.97%

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

$1.91 Kč 39.80

$1.96 Kč 40.87

-2.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 Kč 34.89

$1.23 Kč 25.69

35.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 Kč 57.7

$2.05 Kč 42.70

35.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 Kč 57.1

$2.02 Kč 42.06

35.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 Kč 24.57

$1.15 Kč 23.92

2.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 Kč 32.44

$1.50 Kč 31.32

4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 Kč 48.54

$2.10 Kč 43.81

10.95%

Eggs

$3.21 Kč 67.0

$2.78 Kč 58.0

15.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 Kč 262

$12.50 Kč 261

0.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.14 Kč 191

$7.02 Kč 146

30.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 Kč 297

$12.68 Kč 264

12.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.72 Kč 35.90

$1.73 Kč 36.06

-0.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 Kč 36.83

$1.72 Kč 35.95

2.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 Kč 46.96

$2.14 Kč 44.56

5.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.71 Kč 77.3

$3.41 Kč 71.1

8.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 Kč 27.30

$1.32 Kč 27.58

-0.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 Kč 25.69

$1.15 Kč 24.00

6.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 Kč 30.25

$1.18 Kč 24.66

22.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 Kč 16.99

$0.73 Kč 15.14

10.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.95 Kč 145

$6.98 Kč 146

-0.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.04 Kč 147

$7.16 Kč 149

-1.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 Kč 24.19

$0.92 Kč 19.22

26.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 Kč 32.44

$1.82 Kč 37.94

-14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 Kč 25.50

$2.31 Kč 48.26

-47.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.44 Kč 551

$25.86 Kč 539

2.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 Kč 42.87

$2.88 Kč 59.9

-28.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 Kč 25.46

$1.32 Kč 27.52

-7.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.92 Kč 290

$15.29 Kč 319

-8.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 Kč 36.11

$1.70 Kč 35.51

1.76%

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

$28.2K Kč 588.4K

$28.4K Kč 591.2K

-0.48%

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

$30.1K Kč 627.7K

$23.8K Kč 496.3K

26.47%

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

$260 Kč 5,422

$258 Kč 5,382

0.74%

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

$25.48 Kč 531

$25.42 Kč 530

0.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.43 Kč 426

$20.69 Kč 431

-1.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.0 Kč 1,334

$57.7 Kč 1,202

10.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.36 Kč 299

$21.88 Kč 456

-34.37%

Cinema Ticket

$10.23 Kč 213

$7.04 Kč 147

45.31%

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

$328 Kč 6,837

$187 Kč 3,892

75.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,886 Kč 185.3K

$2,833 Kč 59.1K

213.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.6 Kč 1,743

$85.0 Kč 1,772

-1.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.33 Kč 903

$41.27 Kč 860

4.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 Kč 1,899

$98.7 Kč 2,057

-7.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 Kč 2,366

$113 Kč 2,347

0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$671 Kč 14.0K

$730 Kč 15.2K

-8.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 Kč 12.7K

$388 Kč 8,081

56.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 Kč 18.3K

$1,420 Kč 29.6K

-38.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$850 Kč 17.7K

$1,145 Kč 23.9K

-25.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,838 Kč 100.9K

$7,263 Kč 151.4K

-33.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,939 Kč 82.1K

$5,248 Kč 109.4K

-24.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,989 Kč 41.5K

$1,469 Kč 30.6K

35.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

5.56

-1.62%

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

Last update for Plzen: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karlovy Vary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $671 in Plzen and $730 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: $46.00 in Plzen vs $44.00 in Karlovy Vary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $244 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Plzen pays 35% more on average, 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: $671 in Plzen versus $730 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 $44.00 versus $46.00 in Plzen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,591 per month in Plzen versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,359 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,591 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 17% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.