😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,813 in Plzen versus $1,514 in Novo Mesto.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,556 in Plzen versus $2,255 in Novo Mesto.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,299 in Plzen versus $2,996 in Novo Mesto.
🌍Living in Plzen is roughly 20% more expensive than in Novo Mesto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen33% above, Novo Mesto11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.74Kč 249
$11.68€10.18
0.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8Kč 1,205
$35.50€30.95
60.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.37Kč 199
$9.31€8.12
0.64%
Cappuccino
$3.25Kč 68.9
$1.91€1.67
70.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10Kč 44.41
$2.30€2.00
-8.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83Kč 38.74
$1.64€1.43
11.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.89Kč 61.3
$3.28€2.86
-11.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94Kč 62.3
$2.92€2.55
0.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15Kč 24.30
$1.32€1.15
-12.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68Kč 35.60
$1.83€1.60
-8.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.07Kč 65.0
$2.98€2.60
3.02%
Eggs
$4.35Kč 92.2
$3.96€3.45
9.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.35Kč 304
$13.71€11.95
4.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.62Kč 225
$10.03€8.74
5.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.68Kč 354
$9.20€8.02
81.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Kč 48.74
$1.72€1.50
33.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94Kč 41.10
$1.74€1.52
11.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33Kč 49.32
$2.04€1.78
14.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67Kč 77.8
$3.50€3.05
4.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31Kč 27.75
$1.15€1.00
13.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36Kč 28.77
$1.58€1.38
-13.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64Kč 34.70
$1.30€1.13
26.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85Kč 17.95
$0.76€0.67
11.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.28Kč 154
$6.05€5.27
20.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.94Kč 147
$7.11€6.20
-2.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44Kč 30.61
$1.48€1.29
-2.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76Kč 37.31
$1.81€1.58
-2.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.35Kč 28.71
$1.36€1.18
-0.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.31Kč 600
$31.71€27.64
-10.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.16Kč 45.89
$1.72€1.50
25.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.42Kč 30.01
$1.37€1.20
3.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.39Kč 305
$29.33€25.57
-50.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84Kč 39.09
$1.73€1.51
6.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KKč 679.2K
$30.0K€26.2K
6.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KKč 647.8K
$26.1K€22.7K
17.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$279Kč 5,912
$302€263
-7.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.90Kč 379
$11.54€10.06
55.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.25Kč 366
$39.72€34.62
-56.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.5Kč 1,347
$54.2€47.24
17.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.41Kč 327
$34.22€29.83
-54.97%
Cinema Ticket
$12.05Kč 255
$8.20€7.15
46.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336Kč 7,121
$517€451
-35.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KKč 232.4K
$11.5K€10.0K
-4.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.0Kč 1,760
$93.8€81.8
-11.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.42Kč 963
$38.32€33.40
18.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.7Kč 1,923
$126€110
-27.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116Kč 2,463
$150€130
-22.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765Kč 16.2K
$518€452
47.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712Kč 15.1K
$435€379
63.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$965Kč 20.4K
$855€745
12.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$936Kč 19.8K
$770€671
21.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,165Kč 109.5K
$2,939€2,562
75.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,140Kč 87.8K
$3,398€2,962
21.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Novo Mesto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,966Kč 41.7K
$1,493€1,301
31.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.73
3.29
43.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Plzen: September 14, 2026
Last update for Novo Mesto: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $765 in Plzen and $518 in Novo Mesto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Plzen pays 32% 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: $57.0 in Plzen vs $35.00 in Novo Mesto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $269 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 20% in total monthly costs ($1,813 vs $1,514 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 32% 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: $765 in Plzen versus $518 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 13% 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 $57.0 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 $1,514 in Novo Mesto versus $1,813 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 20% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.