😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,643 in Plzen versus $1,487 in Novo Mesto.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,333 in Plzen versus $2,195 in Novo Mesto.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,024 in Plzen versus $2,902 in Novo Mesto.
😐Living in Plzen is roughly 10% more expensive than Novo Mesto, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen23% above, Novo Mesto11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.43Kč 197
$11.78€10.08
-19.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.37Kč 988
$35.18€30.12
34.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.64Kč 180
$9.47€8.10
-8.76%
Cappuccino
$3.05Kč 63.6
$1.89€1.62
61.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00Kč 41.63
$2.34€2.00
-14.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68Kč 34.97
$1.61€1.38
4.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76Kč 57.6
$3.15€2.70
-12.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Kč 56.9
$2.83€2.42
-3.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Kč 25.36
$1.32€1.13
-7.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56Kč 32.47
$1.59€1.36
-1.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.45Kč 51.2
$2.96€2.54
-17.23%
Eggs
$3.22Kč 67.2
$3.46€2.96
-6.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.75Kč 266
$13.66€11.69
-6.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39Kč 196
$8.69€7.44
8.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20Kč 296
$9.50€8.13
49.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79Kč 37.32
$1.78€1.52
0.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79Kč 37.37
$1.75€1.50
2.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23Kč 46.48
$2.00€1.71
11.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.69Kč 77.1
$3.55€3.04
3.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26Kč 26.21
$1.18€1.01
6.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23Kč 25.59
$1.57€1.35
-21.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53Kč 31.98
$1.30€1.11
17.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 16.96
$0.70€0.60
15.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10Kč 148
$6.12€5.23
16.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.88Kč 144
$6.84€5.85
0.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17Kč 24.43
$1.39€1.19
-15.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59Kč 33.20
$1.83€1.57
-13.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18Kč 24.62
$1.72€1.47
-31.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.94Kč 541
$31.37€26.85
-17.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05Kč 42.78
$1.72€1.48
19.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27Kč 26.59
$1.21€1.04
4.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.00Kč 292
$28.95€24.78
-51.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67Kč 34.80
$1.61€1.38
3.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KKč 589.8K
$26.4K€22.6K
7.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KKč 611.8K
$29.1K€24.9K
0.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$263Kč 5,486
$305€261
-13.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.35Kč 529
$11.75€10.06
115.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.14Kč 420
$33.80€28.94
-40.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.0Kč 1,335
$29.20€24.99
119.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.31Kč 298
$34.16€29.24
-58.11%
Cinema Ticket
$10.30Kč 215
$8.25€7.06
24.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$324Kč 6,768
$522€447
-37.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,774Kč 183.0K
$8,510€7,285
3.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.7Kč 1,746
$92.8€79.5
-9.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.10Kč 899
$34.03€29.13
26.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5Kč 1,867
$121€104
-26.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Kč 2,363
$153€131
-25.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$652Kč 13.6K
$530€454
22.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$608Kč 12.7K
$429€367
41.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$889Kč 18.6K
$853€731
4.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$825Kč 17.2K
$739€632
11.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,682Kč 97.7K
$2,908€2,489
61.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,659Kč 76.3K
$3,355€2,872
9.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,013Kč 42.0K
$1,467€1,255
37.27%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Novo Mesto: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $652 in Plzen and $530 in Novo Mesto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Plzen pays 37% 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: $47.00 in Plzen vs $35.00 in Novo Mesto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 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 10% in total monthly costs ($1,643 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 37% 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: $652 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 $47.00 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 $1,643 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 10% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.