😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,592 in Plzen versus $1,477 in Novo Mesto.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,254 in Plzen versus $2,153 in Novo Mesto.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,917 in Plzen versus $2,829 in Novo Mesto.
🌍Living in Plzen is roughly 8% more expensive than in Novo Mesto, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen20% above, Novo Mesto11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.27Kč 194
$11.77€10.20
-21.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.83Kč 961
$34.58€29.95
32.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.18Kč 171
$9.14€7.91
-10.50%
Cappuccino
$3.13Kč 65.6
$1.87€1.62
67.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91Kč 40.09
$2.37€2.05
-19.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Kč 35.07
$1.60€1.38
4.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.86Kč 60.0
$3.27€2.83
-12.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79Kč 58.5
$2.92€2.53
-4.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Kč 25.50
$1.37€1.18
-10.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61Kč 33.73
$1.66€1.44
-3.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.44Kč 51.2
$2.88€2.49
-15.28%
Eggs
$3.33Kč 69.8
$3.47€3.01
-4.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.63Kč 265
$13.81€11.96
-8.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.27Kč 194
$8.61€7.45
7.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.49Kč 304
$9.35€8.10
54.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69Kč 35.39
$1.71€1.48
-1.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72Kč 36.14
$1.76€1.52
-2.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Kč 45.50
$2.04€1.77
6.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.74Kč 78.4
$3.50€3.03
6.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27Kč 26.66
$1.17€1.01
8.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21Kč 25.43
$1.56€1.35
-22.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53Kč 32.10
$1.26€1.09
21.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74Kč 15.58
$0.70€0.60
5.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.02Kč 147
$6.00€5.20
17.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.89Kč 145
$6.78€5.87
1.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12Kč 23.45
$1.41€1.22
-20.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56Kč 32.73
$1.89€1.64
-17.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17Kč 24.63
$1.76€1.52
-33.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.98Kč 545
$32.31€27.98
-19.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04Kč 42.71
$1.71€1.48
19.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28Kč 26.79
$1.22€1.06
4.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.73Kč 288
$29.20€25.29
-52.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64Kč 34.39
$1.67€1.45
-1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KKč 579.7K
$26.2K€22.7K
5.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8KKč 625.4K
$28.2K€24.4K
5.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$263Kč 5,517
$311€269
-15.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.06Kč 546
$11.37€9.85
129.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.39Kč 428
$33.50€29.01
-39.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.6Kč 1,334
$29.42€25.48
116.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.55Kč 305
$34.43€29.82
-57.74%
Cinema Ticket
$10.36Kč 217
$8.28€7.17
25.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$331Kč 6,929
$508€440
-34.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,048Kč 189.7K
$8,840€7,656
2.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.9Kč 1,739
$93.7€81.2
-11.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.69Kč 916
$34.52€29.89
26.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.4Kč 1,874
$121€105
-26.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115Kč 2,406
$150€130
-23.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$662Kč 13.9K
$530€459
24.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$607Kč 12.7K
$427€369
42.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$905Kč 19.0K
$872€755
3.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$850Kč 17.8K
$760€658
11.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,176Kč 108.5K
$2,873€2,488
80.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,060Kč 85.1K
$3,256€2,819
24.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,910Kč 40.0K
$1,439€1,246
32.72%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Novo Mesto: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $662 in Plzen and $530 in Novo Mesto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Plzen pays 33% 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 $35.00 in Novo Mesto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 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 in Novo Mesto?
Plzen and Novo Mesto differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($1,592 vs $1,477 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?
Average pay runs 33% higher in Plzen, 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 in Novo Mesto?
Rent for a central apartment: $662 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 5% 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 $35.00 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 $1,477 in Novo Mesto versus $1,592 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 8% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.