Cost of living in Prague: let’s analyze costs of food, real estate, entertainment and transport in Prague, Czech Republic
Are you considering moving to Prague, Czech Republic? Check below the data for the cost of living in Prague, the capital and the biggest city in the Czech Republic.
Cost of Living in Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic. It is also one of the most visited cities in the old continent, and famous for its gothic architecture, scenic cafés and the iconic Charles’ Brigde.
Apart from that, Prague is also becoming one of the most attractive cities in Europe for expats. It enjoys high standards of living, a tax burden well below the average for Western Europe, and one of the best transport links in Central Europe.
The attractiveness of Prague is on the rise, benefiting from a favorable geographic location and business climate. Its business infrastructure plays a major role, driving foreign individuals and companies to relocate their primary location to Prague.
The cost of living in Prague is on the rise. The city has been known for many years as an inexpensive Central European city, but prices in the city are constantly rising. While food and transport still quite affordable, the housing prices in the Czech capital is comparable to many Western European cities.
Let’s check some data for the cost of living in Prague, Czechia below:
The currency in the Czech Republic is the Czech Koruna. The conversion rate to the CZK is 1 dollar to 23.70 CZK as of April 20, 2024.
If you want to suggest your own values based on your experiences in this city, click on edit and insert the values. Upon moderation they will be calculated to make part of the average prices displayed below.
| Food | Price [EDIT] |
|---|---|
| 1 liter of milk | 1.10 USD |
| 1 loaf of bread | 1.30 USD |
| 1 kg of tomatoes | 3.00 USD |
| 1 kg of chicken | 6.50 USD |
| 1 single meal cheap restaurant | 7.00 USD |
| 1 single meal high-end restaurant | 32.00 USD |
| 1 cappuccino or latte | 2.70 USD |
| 1 big pizza delivery | 13.00 USD |
| Real Estate | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 bedroom flat (40 m2) rent per month | 800.00 USD |
| 1 bedroom flat (40 m2) utilities per month | 170.00 USD |
| 2 bedroom flat (80 m2) rent per month | 1,150.00 USD |
| 2 bedroom flat (80 m2) utilities per month | 300.00 USD |
| Price per square meter (city center) | 4,600.00 USD |
| Transport | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 single ride public transport | 1.30 USD |
| Monthly public transport ticket | 32.00 USD |
| 1 km taxi or similar transport app | 1.80 USD |
| 1 liter of gasoline (1/4 gallon) | 1.90 USD |
| Toyota Corolla (new) basic version | 22,000.00 USD |
| Salaries | Price [EDIT] |
| Minimum Salary | 750.00 USD |
| Average Salary (net) | 1,600.00 USD |
| Extras | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 ticket to the movies (adult price) | 9.60 USD |
| High speed internet per month | 32.00 USD |
| 1 month gym subscription | 40.00 USD |
Cost of Living for Students in Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is a great city for students. The cost of living for students in Prague is still below the rates for most Western European countries. However, there are almost no possibilities of free tuition in the city.
There are many higher education institutions in Prague. In most cases, undergraduate and graduate courses are offered in English or Czech. There are also intensive Czech courses for students considering to study in the local language.
Here are some of the main higher education institutions in Prague:
Czech Technical University in Prague
University of Economics Prague
Getting a Job in Prague
Prague has one of the most thriving job markets in Europe for expats. There is an astounding number of English speaking job positions. There are also many positions for French, German, and speakers of Nordic and Asian languages. Prague is one of the main hubs for IT and call centers in Europe.
Wages in Prague are pretty competitive. They are usually higher than other countries in Central Europe like Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, but lower than to countries bordering Czechia to the west like Germany and Austria.
Here are some websites for job hunting in Prague:
Quality of Life in Prague
Prague has a high quality of life, and is one of the most liveable cities in Central Europe. Among its positive aspects, we can highlight its transport infrastructure, cultural activities and events, and a thriving expat community.
The capital of the Czech Republic is also pretty safe. Prague has lower crimes rates than most big cities in Germany, UK or France.
English is widely spoken in Prague. As a very international city, the command of the English language among Prague residents is higher than the average in the European Union. Apart from the native Czech language, many of Prague’s residents speak German and Russian (mostly Ukrainian and Russian expats).
If you are visiting the Czech Republic soon you may want to check some of our other Czech guides. Check the where to stay in Prague and our article on the Prague tourism budget per day. You can also check the our article on trains from Prague. If you are traveling in the onwards from Prague, you can check how to travel from Prague to Dresden and from Prague to Warsaw.
Other Resources for Expats and Travelers
Salaries Worldwide: check our articles on wages worldwide and understand better the economics of the countries you may be considering to move or invest.
Retire Abroad: check our retirement guides and maximize your retirement income and quality of life.
Jetradar: compare and find the cheapest air fares worldwide.
Just simply Czechia who needs the clumsy formal name anyway.
I also think Czechia is a simpler, shorter, easier version. However, let’s see how long it will take for its adoption to take place. The literal translation from Czech and other Slavic languages might be confusing though, however even if Poland is Polska for Poles, it is not the Polish Rep. in English. For the time being I will use both names in this publication.