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Berlin vs Prague

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Berlin, DE vs Prague, CZ at a glance — Prague, CZ is 26% cheaper than Berlin, DE overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $950/mo versus $1,400/mo. Top income tax: 23% vs 45%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Prague, CZ, you'd need

$55,228 / year

Prague, CZ is 26% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Prague, CZ vs Berlin, DE)

  • Housing-28%
  • Food & groceries-28%
  • Transport-29%
  • Utilities-24%
  • Healthcare-32%
  • Goods & services-23%

◎ How Berlin, DE and Prague, CZ compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Berlin, DEPrague, CZ

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Berlin, DEPrague, CZ
Cost of living
Overall cost index11081
Housing12288
Food10878
Transport8560
Utilities132100
Healthcare9565
Goods & services10682
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,400/mo$950/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,000/mo$720/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$2,800/mo$1,800/mo
Buy price / m² centre$8,500$5,500
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$910$1,236
Inexpensive meal$15$9
Monthly transit pass$55$25
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)45%23%
VAT / sales tax19%21%
Social security (employee)20%—
Corporate tax30%21%
Capital gains26.4%—
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$2,900/mo$1,400/mo
Avg annual wage (OECD, PPP)$76,285✓$43,607✓
Minimum wage$2,716/mo✓$1,070/mo✓
GDP per capita$60,496✓$31,368✓
Inflation (annual)2.2%✓2.4%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoYes
English proficiencyHighModerate
Coworking spaces12040
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+1
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)6973
Safety index6075
Healthcare index7875
Pollution index5540
Internet speed120 Mbps150 Mbps
Walkability8882
Public transport9085
Family-friendly6870
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Life expectancy81 yr✓80 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighModerate
Climate
January avg+1 °C0 °C
July avg+19 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year60170
Rainfall / year570 mm500 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1.5 h1 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Germany vs Czech Republic. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (OECD (PPP), Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Berlin vs Prague — in your currency

BerlinPrague
1-bed rent, city centre$1,400$950
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,000$720
Inexpensive meal$15$9
Monthly transit pass$55$25
Utilities (monthly)$250$200

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Berlin

Germany's creative and startup magnet — still the cheapest major Western-European capital, though rents are climbing fast.

Currency
Euro (€ EUR)
Languages
German
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
120 Mbps
English
Widely spoken
Safety
60/100
Climate
❄ 1°C · ☀ 19°C · 60 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
F · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Kreuzberg · Mitte · Neukölln

Good to know before you move to Prague

A fairy-tale capital of Gothic spires and Baroque squares that doubles as one of Central Europe's biggest expat and IT hubs — Western-quality living at noticeably lower prices, though rents have climbed fast.

Currency
Czech koruna (Kč CZK)
Languages
Czech
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
150 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
75/100
Climate
❄ 0°C · ☀ 19°C · 170 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
E · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Vinohrady · Žižkov · Karlín · Malá Strana

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Berlin to Prague: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Berlin to Prague, your cost of living will be roughly 26% cheaper. Prague’s cost-of-living index is 81 versus 110 for Berlin (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Berlin cheaper than Prague?

Prague is about 26% cheaper than Berlin overall — its cost-of-living index is 81 versus 110 for Berlin.

Which is more expensive, Berlin or Prague?

Berlin is more expensive than Prague. Its cost-of-living index is 110 vs 81 (US = 100) — about 36% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Berlin or Prague?

Rent is cheaper in Prague — about $950/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $1,400 in Berlin.

How much do you need to earn in Prague to live like in Berlin?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Berlin is worth about $55,228 in Prague. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Berlin or Prague?

Czech Republic has the lower top income-tax rate — 23% versus 45% in Germany.

◷ More comparisons from Berlin

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.