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: $1,631 in Plzen versus $1,357 in Karlovy Vary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Plzen versus $2,239 in Karlovy Vary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,940 in Plzen versus $3,121 in Karlovy Vary.

Living in Plzen is roughly 20% more expensive than in Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen 22% above, Karlovy Vary 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.54 Kč 202

$8.30 Kč 176

14.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.28 Kč 981

$43.72 Kč 926

5.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.33 Kč 176

$8.96 Kč 190

-7.03%

Cappuccino

$3.02 Kč 64.1

$2.89 Kč 61.2

4.50%

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

$2.01 Kč 42.62

$1.89 Kč 40.06

6.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 Kč 35.49

$1.24 Kč 26.18

35.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Kč 57.8

$2.11 Kč 44.72

29.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Kč 60.5

$2.02 Kč 42.84

41.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 Kč 24.89

$1.13 Kč 23.95

3.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 Kč 33.69

$1.49 Kč 31.65

6.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 Kč 51.7

$2.18 Kč 46.11

11.93%

Eggs

$3.26 Kč 69.1

$2.79 Kč 59.1

16.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 Kč 268

$12.17 Kč 258

4.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.99 Kč 190

$6.91 Kč 146

30.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.39 Kč 305

$13.10 Kč 278

9.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 Kč 37.42

$1.73 Kč 36.68

2.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 Kč 36.80

$1.70 Kč 36.07

2.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 Kč 45.85

$2.08 Kč 44.17

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.62 Kč 76.8

$3.43 Kč 72.6

5.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 Kč 26.56

$1.32 Kč 28.02

-5.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 Kč 25.85

$1.20 Kč 25.42

1.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 Kč 32.09

$1.24 Kč 26.35

21.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 Kč 17.34

$0.72 Kč 15.20

13.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.91 Kč 146

$7.08 Kč 150

-2.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.06 Kč 150

$7.09 Kč 150

-0.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 Kč 23.71

$0.87 Kč 18.41

28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 Kč 34.42

$1.88 Kč 39.81

-13.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 Kč 26.03

$2.29 Kč 48.51

-46.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.32 Kč 558

$25.52 Kč 541

3.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 Kč 43.86

$2.73 Kč 57.9

-24.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 Kč 26.73

$1.37 Kč 29.12

-8.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.28 Kč 303

$15.68 Kč 332

-8.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 Kč 35.17

$1.62 Kč 34.40

2.47%

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

$28.3K Kč 600.6K

$27.9K Kč 592.2K

1.41%

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

$29.9K Kč 634.6K

$24.4K Kč 516.2K

22.93%

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

$254 Kč 5,377

$251 Kč 5,328

0.91%

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

$25.33 Kč 537

$25.78 Kč 546

-1.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.43 Kč 433

$20.79 Kč 441

-1.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 Kč 1,337

$59.3 Kč 1,256

6.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.14 Kč 300

$21.38 Kč 453

-33.86%

Cinema Ticket

$10.38 Kč 220

$6.91 Kč 146

50.22%

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

$326 Kč 6,917

$186 Kč 3,942

75.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,778 Kč 186.0K

$2,752 Kč 58.3K

219.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.5 Kč 1,726

$85.0 Kč 1,800

-4.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.59 Kč 924

$40.85 Kč 866

6.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 Kč 1,924

$97.1 Kč 2,057

-6.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 Kč 2,392

$112 Kč 2,365

1.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 Kč 13.7K

$720 Kč 15.3K

-10.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 Kč 12.8K

$401 Kč 8,493

51.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 Kč 18.7K

$1,424 Kč 30.2K

-37.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$841 Kč 17.8K

$1,149 Kč 24.4K

-26.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,107 Kč 108.2K

$7,039 Kč 149.2K

-27.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,091 Kč 86.7K

$5,125 Kč 108.6K

-20.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,934 Kč 41.0K

$1,429 Kč 30.3K

35.40%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Karlovy Vary: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $645 in Plzen and $720 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 $268 vs $243 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 20% 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: $645 in Plzen versus $720 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 $1,631 per month in Plzen versus $1,357 in Karlovy Vary – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,357 in Karlovy Vary versus $1,631 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 20% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.