😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,621 in Plzen versus $1,487 in Novo Mesto.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,287 in Plzen versus $2,204 in Novo Mesto.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,952 in Plzen versus $2,921 in Novo Mesto.
😐Living in Plzen is roughly 9% more expensive than Novo Mesto, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen22% above, Novo Mesto12% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.58Kč 199
$11.43€9.84
-16.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.96Kč 955
$34.15€29.41
34.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31Kč 173
$9.09€7.83
-8.58%
Cappuccino
$3.18Kč 66.1
$1.83€1.57
73.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01Kč 41.73
$2.35€2.03
-14.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69Kč 35.08
$1.57€1.35
7.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.75Kč 57.2
$3.22€2.77
-14.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72Kč 56.5
$2.96€2.55
-8.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20Kč 25.00
$1.33€1.14
-9.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57Kč 32.55
$1.59€1.37
-1.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.45Kč 51.0
$2.96€2.55
-17.23%
Eggs
$3.21Kč 66.8
$3.57€3.08
-10.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.41Kč 258
$13.97€12.03
-11.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.03Kč 188
$8.62€7.43
4.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.68Kč 305
$9.02€7.77
62.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71Kč 35.45
$1.76€1.52
-2.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72Kč 35.79
$1.81€1.56
-4.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.14Kč 44.52
$2.00€1.73
7.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.57Kč 74.2
$3.55€3.06
0.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26Kč 26.27
$1.13€0.98
11.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23Kč 25.64
$1.52€1.31
-19.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51Kč 31.47
$1.25€1.07
20.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80Kč 16.59
$0.75€0.65
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.81Kč 142
$6.04€5.20
12.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.26Kč 151
$6.76€5.83
7.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12Kč 23.36
$1.40€1.21
-20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61Kč 33.52
$1.83€1.58
-12.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22Kč 25.40
$1.78€1.54
-31.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.33Kč 547
$31.74€27.34
-17.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.97Kč 40.98
$1.71€1.47
15.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22Kč 25.32
$1.22€1.05
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.03Kč 292
$29.19€25.13
-51.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64Kč 34.09
$1.62€1.40
1.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KKč 571.5K
$26.5K€22.8K
3.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KKč 622.1K
$28.3K€24.4K
5.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260Kč 5,412
$309€266
-15.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.70Kč 534
$11.52€9.92
123.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.80Kč 411
$34.17€29.42
-42.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.3Kč 1,295
$28.88€24.87
115.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.32Kč 298
$34.41€29.63
-58.38%
Cinema Ticket
$10.21Kč 212
$8.13€7.00
25.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326Kč 6,765
$510€439
-36.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,061Kč 188.3K
$8,794€7,573
3.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.8Kč 1,721
$93.2€80.2
-11.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12Kč 896
$35.24€30.34
22.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.8Kč 1,886
$120€104
-24.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115Kč 2,390
$148€128
-22.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$650Kč 13.5K
$530€456
22.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$612Kč 12.7K
$426€367
43.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891Kč 18.5K
$859€740
3.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$836Kč 17.4K
$747€643
11.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,258Kč 109.3K
$2,919€2,514
80.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,222Kč 87.8K
$3,368€2,900
25.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,937Kč 40.3K
$1,486€1,279
30.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
3.3
65.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Plzen: June 14, 2026
Last update for Novo Mesto: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $650 in Plzen and $530 in Novo Mesto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Plzen pays 30% 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 $34.00 in Novo Mesto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $257 per month, with Novo Mesto 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 Novo Mesto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Plzen and Novo Mesto?
Plzen and Novo Mesto differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,621 vs $1,487 including rent). Novo Mesto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Plzen or Novo Mesto?
Plzen pays 30% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Plzen and Novo Mesto?
Rent for a central apartment: $650 in Plzen versus $530 in Novo Mesto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Plzen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Novo Mesto – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $46.00 in Plzen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,487 in Novo Mesto versus $1,621 in Plzen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Novo Mesto but tight or insufficient in Plzen. The gap between the two cities makes Novo Mesto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Plzen and Novo Mesto?
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.
Is Plzen or Novo Mesto safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Plzen and Novo Mesto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Plzen or Novo Mesto?
Expats usually find Novo Mesto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.