😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,813 in Plzen versus $1,530 in Pardubice.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,556 in Plzen versus $2,199 in Pardubice.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,299 in Plzen versus $2,869 in Pardubice.
🌍Living in Plzen is roughly 19% more expensive than in Pardubice, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen33% above, Pardubice12% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.74Kč 249
$10.29Kč 218
14.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8Kč 1,205
$38.82Kč 823
46.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.37Kč 199
$9.35Kč 198
0.21%
Cappuccino
$3.25Kč 68.9
$2.63Kč 55.8
23.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10Kč 44.41
$1.81Kč 38.40
16.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83Kč 38.74
$1.17Kč 24.72
56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.89Kč 61.3
$2.15Kč 45.52
34.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94Kč 62.3
$2.34Kč 49.56
25.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15Kč 24.30
$1.17Kč 24.70
-1.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68Kč 35.60
$1.11Kč 23.54
51.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.07Kč 65.0
$2.69Kč 56.9
14.13%
Eggs
$4.35Kč 92.2
$2.96Kč 62.8
46.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.35Kč 304
$13.63Kč 289
5.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.62Kč 225
$8.50Kč 180
24.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.68Kč 354
$14.88Kč 315
12.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Kč 48.74
$1.37Kč 29.14
67.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94Kč 41.10
$1.69Kč 35.74
14.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33Kč 49.32
$2.14Kč 45.31
8.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67Kč 77.8
$3.15Kč 66.8
16.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31Kč 27.75
$1.34Kč 28.34
-2.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36Kč 28.77
$0.90Kč 19.11
51.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64Kč 34.70
$1.63Kč 34.60
0.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85Kč 17.95
$0.91Kč 19.39
-6.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.28Kč 154
$7.13Kč 151
2.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.94Kč 147
$5.82Kč 123
19.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44Kč 30.61
$0.99Kč 21.06
45.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76Kč 37.31
$2.10Kč 44.42
-16.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.35Kč 28.71
$1.17Kč 24.74
15.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.31Kč 600
$26.18Kč 555
8.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.16Kč 45.89
$3.30Kč 70.0
-34.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.42Kč 30.01
$1.62Kč 34.40
-12.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.39Kč 305
$21.75Kč 461
-33.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84Kč 39.09
$1.78Kč 37.83
3.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KKč 679.2K
$29.4KKč 623.1K
9.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KKč 647.8K
$30.9KKč 654.3K
-0.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$279Kč 5,912
$304Kč 6,441
-8.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.90Kč 379
$30.87Kč 654
-42.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.25Kč 366
$22.62Kč 479
-23.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.5Kč 1,347
$40.86Kč 866
55.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.41Kč 327
$19.13Kč 406
-19.45%
Cinema Ticket
$12.05Kč 255
$11.99Kč 254
0.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336Kč 7,121
$353Kč 7,475
-4.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KKč 232.4K
$4,313Kč 91.4K
154.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.0Kč 1,760
$99.1Kč 2,100
-16.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.42Kč 963
$38.10Kč 808
19.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.7Kč 1,923
$73.8Kč 1,563
22.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116Kč 2,463
$107Kč 2,274
8.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765Kč 16.2K
$660Kč 14.0K
15.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712Kč 15.1K
$535Kč 11.3K
32.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$965Kč 20.4K
$1,130Kč 24.0K
-14.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$936Kč 19.8K
$825Kč 17.5K
13.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,165Kč 109.5K
$4,049Kč 85.8K
27.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,140Kč 87.8K
$3,053Kč 64.7K
35.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,966Kč 41.7K
$1,481Kč 31.4K
32.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.73
5.68
-16.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Plzen: September 14, 2026
Last update for Pardubice: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $765 in Plzen and $660 in Pardubice. 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: $57.0 in Plzen vs $39.00 in Pardubice for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $259 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 in Pardubice?
Plzen and Pardubice differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,813 vs $1,530 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?
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 Pardubice?
Rent for a central apartment: $765 in Plzen versus $660 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 in Pardubice?
A monthly transit pass in Pardubice runs roughly 8% 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 $336 in Plzen versus $353 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 $1,530 in Pardubice versus $1,813 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 19% less than in Plzen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.