😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,591 in Plzen versus $1,502 in Pardubice.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,308 in Plzen versus $2,133 in Pardubice.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,025 in Plzen versus $2,764 in Pardubice.
😐Living in Plzen is roughly 6% more expensive than Pardubice, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen19% above, Pardubice12% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.25Kč 192
$8.08Kč 168
14.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.92Kč 956
$36.73Kč 764
25.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42Kč 175
$9.14Kč 190
-7.88%
Cappuccino
$3.16Kč 65.8
$2.55Kč 53.0
23.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91Kč 39.72
$1.66Kč 34.55
15.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Kč 34.82
$1.18Kč 24.53
41.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77Kč 57.6
$2.17Kč 45.22
27.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74Kč 57.0
$2.09Kč 43.45
31.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Kč 24.52
$1.07Kč 22.31
10.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56Kč 32.38
$1.15Kč 23.86
35.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33Kč 48.45
$2.51Kč 52.3
-7.17%
Eggs
$3.21Kč 66.9
$3.06Kč 63.8
4.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.57Kč 262
$13.39Kč 279
-6.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.14Kč 190
$7.54Kč 157
21.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.24Kč 296
$15.05Kč 313
-5.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72Kč 35.84
$1.30Kč 27.09
32.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77Kč 36.76
$1.68Kč 35.02
5.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25Kč 46.87
$2.13Kč 44.35
5.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71Kč 77.2
$3.01Kč 62.5
23.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31Kč 27.25
$1.29Kč 26.78
1.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23Kč 25.64
$0.91Kč 18.95
35.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45Kč 30.20
$1.55Kč 32.19
-6.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 16.95
$0.92Kč 19.11
-11.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.95Kč 145
$6.89Kč 143
0.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.04Kč 146
$5.96Kč 124
18.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16Kč 24.14
$0.97Kč 20.25
19.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56Kč 32.38
$2.11Kč 43.86
-26.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22Kč 25.45
$1.19Kč 24.86
2.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.44Kč 550
$25.38Kč 528
4.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06Kč 42.79
$3.14Kč 65.3
-34.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22Kč 25.41
$1.42Kč 29.64
-14.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.92Kč 290
$20.96Kč 436
-33.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73Kč 36.05
$1.74Kč 36.29
-0.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KKč 587.3K
$28.0KKč 582.6K
0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KKč 626.5K
$31.1KKč 646.7K
-3.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260Kč 5,412
$288Kč 5,993
-9.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.48Kč 530
$30.23Kč 629
-15.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.43Kč 425
$21.43Kč 446
-4.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.0Kč 1,331
$40.52Kč 843
57.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36Kč 299
$18.46Kč 384
-22.21%
Cinema Ticket
$10.23Kč 213
$11.63Kč 242
-12.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$328Kč 6,824
$357Kč 7,420
-8.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,886Kč 184.9K
$4,222Kč 87.9K
110.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6Kč 1,740
$97.6Kč 2,030
-14.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.33Kč 902
$36.82Kč 766
17.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.1Kč 1,895
$73.6Kč 1,531
23.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114Kč 2,362
$106Kč 2,198
7.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$671Kč 14.0K
$634Kč 13.2K
5.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$607Kč 12.6K
$532Kč 11.1K
14.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$876Kč 18.2K
$1,104Kč 23.0K
-20.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$850Kč 17.7K
$801Kč 16.7K
6.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,838Kč 100.7K
$4,123Kč 85.8K
17.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,939Kč 82.0K
$3,086Kč 64.2K
27.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,989Kč 41.4K
$1,533Kč 31.9K
29.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
5.68
-3.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Plzen: June 1, 2026
Last update for Pardubice: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $671 in Plzen and $634 in Pardubice. 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 $37.00 in Pardubice for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $252 per month, with Pardubice 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 Pardubice: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Plzen and Pardubice?
Plzen and Pardubice differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($1,591 vs $1,502 including rent). Pardubice is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Plzen or Pardubice?
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 Pardubice?
Rent for a central apartment: $671 in Plzen versus $634 in Pardubice. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Plzen and Pardubice?
A monthly transit pass in Pardubice runs roughly 4% less than in Plzen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Plzen and Pardubice?
Childcare runs $328 in Plzen versus $357 in Pardubice. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,502 in Pardubice versus $1,591 in Plzen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pardubice but tight or insufficient in Plzen. The gap between the two cities makes Pardubice the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Plzen and Pardubice?
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 Pardubice safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Plzen and Pardubice 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 Pardubice?
Expats usually find Pardubice gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.