😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,631 in Plzen versus $1,541 in Pardubice.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Plzen versus $2,147 in Pardubice.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,940 in Plzen versus $2,752 in Pardubice.
🌍Living in Plzen is roughly 6% more expensive than in Pardubice, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen22% above, Pardubice15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.54Kč 202
$8.32Kč 176
14.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.28Kč 981
$37.30Kč 790
24.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.33Kč 176
$9.28Kč 197
-10.24%
Cappuccino
$3.02Kč 64.1
$2.55Kč 54.0
18.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01Kč 42.62
$1.74Kč 36.93
15.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68Kč 35.49
$1.18Kč 25.01
42.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73Kč 57.8
$2.29Kč 48.56
19.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Kč 60.5
$2.12Kč 44.96
34.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Kč 24.89
$1.07Kč 22.73
9.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59Kč 33.69
$1.11Kč 23.48
43.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.44Kč 51.7
$2.51Kč 53.2
-2.79%
Eggs
$3.26Kč 69.1
$3.04Kč 64.3
7.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.66Kč 268
$13.41Kč 284
-5.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.99Kč 190
$7.68Kč 163
17.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39Kč 305
$14.97Kč 317
-3.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77Kč 37.42
$1.36Kč 28.72
30.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74Kč 36.80
$1.68Kč 35.70
3.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16Kč 45.85
$2.15Kč 45.55
0.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62Kč 76.8
$2.99Kč 63.3
21.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25Kč 26.56
$1.35Kč 28.57
-7.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22Kč 25.85
$0.84Kč 17.79
45.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51Kč 32.09
$1.52Kč 32.27
-0.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82Kč 17.34
$0.84Kč 17.90
-2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91Kč 146
$6.98Kč 148
-1.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.06Kč 150
$5.63Kč 119
25.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12Kč 23.71
$0.98Kč 20.73
14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62Kč 34.42
$2.15Kč 45.47
-24.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23Kč 26.03
$1.20Kč 25.33
2.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.32Kč 558
$26.17Kč 554
0.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.07Kč 43.86
$3.08Kč 65.2
-32.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26Kč 26.73
$1.43Kč 30.26
-11.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.28Kč 303
$21.18Kč 449
-32.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66Kč 35.17
$1.68Kč 35.62
-1.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KKč 600.6K
$28.7KKč 608.7K
-1.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KKč 634.6K
$30.0KKč 636.3K
-0.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$254Kč 5,377
$295Kč 6,241
-13.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.33Kč 537
$30.07Kč 637
-15.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.43Kč 433
$21.39Kč 453
-4.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.1Kč 1,337
$40.14Kč 850
57.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.14Kč 300
$18.91Kč 401
-25.22%
Cinema Ticket
$10.38Kč 220
$11.81Kč 250
-12.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326Kč 6,917
$349Kč 7,392
-6.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,778Kč 186.0K
$4,144Kč 87.8K
111.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.5Kč 1,726
$98.3Kč 2,083
-17.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.59Kč 924
$37.06Kč 785
17.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.8Kč 1,924
$73.5Kč 1,557
23.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Kč 2,392
$105Kč 2,233
7.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645Kč 13.7K
$649Kč 13.8K
-0.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606Kč 12.8K
$520Kč 11.0K
16.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$885Kč 18.7K
$1,100Kč 23.3K
-19.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$841Kč 17.8K
$807Kč 17.1K
4.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,107Kč 108.2K
$4,047Kč 85.7K
26.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,091Kč 86.7K
$3,075Kč 65.2K
33.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Pardubice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,934Kč 41.0K
$1,489Kč 31.5K
29.93%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Pardubice: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $645 in Plzen and $649 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 $268 vs $250 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 6% in total monthly costs ($1,631 vs $1,541 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 30% 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: $645 in Plzen versus $649 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 1% 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 $326 in Plzen versus $349 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 $1,541 in Pardubice versus $1,631 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.