CostTrek

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Boston 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.

Boston, MA vs Prague, CZ at a glance — Prague, CZ is 27% cheaper than Boston, MA overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $950/mo versus $3,000/mo. Top income tax: 23% vs 37%.

$/ year

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

$54,420 / year

Prague, CZ is 27% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Prague, CZ vs Boston, MA)

  • Housing-42%
  • Food & groceries-13%
  • Transport-34%
  • Utilities+5%
  • Healthcare-34%
  • Goods & services-15%

◎ How Boston, MA and Prague, CZ compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Boston, MAPrague, CZ

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

▤ Full comparison

Boston, MAPrague, CZ
Cost of living
Overall cost index11181
Housing15288
Food9078
Transport9160
Utilities95100
Healthcare9865
Goods & services9682
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$3,000/mo$950/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$2,300/mo$720/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$5,500/mo$1,800/mo
Buy price / m² centre$11,000$5,500
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$897$1,236
Inexpensive meal$22$9
Monthly transit pass$90$25
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%23%
VAT / sales tax0%21%
Social security (employee)7.7%—
Corporate tax21%21%
Capital gains20%—
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$1,400/mo
Avg annual wage (OECD, PPP)$86,977✓$43,607✓
Minimum wage$1,257/mo✓$1,070/mo✓
GDP per capita$90,027✓$31,368✓
Inflation (annual)—2.4%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoYes
English proficiencyNativeModerate
Coworking spaces8040
Time zoneUTC-5UTC+1
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)7373
Safety index6275
Healthcare index8575
Pollution index3540
Internet speed200 Mbps150 Mbps
Walkability8382
Public transport7585
Family-friendly6570
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$460/mo—
Life expectancy79 yr✓80 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighModerate
Climate
January avg-1 °C0 °C
July avg+23 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year200170
Rainfall / year1,100 mm500 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1 h

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

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

Cost of living: Boston vs Prague — in your currency

BostonPrague
1-bed rent, city centre$3,000$950
1-bed rent, outside centre$2,300$720
Inexpensive meal$22$9
Monthly transit pass$90$25
Utilities (monthly)$200$200

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

Good to know before you move to Boston

Historic, walkable and a global university and biotech hub — winters are long and rents are steep.

Currency
US dollar ($ USD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC-5
Internet
200 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
62/100
Climate
❄ -1°C · ☀ 23°C · 200 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 120V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Back Bay · Cambridge · South End

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 Boston to Prague: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Boston to Prague, your cost of living will be roughly 27% cheaper. Prague’s cost-of-living index is 81 versus 111 for Boston (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Boston cheaper than Prague?

Prague is about 27% cheaper than Boston overall — its cost-of-living index is 81 versus 111 for Boston.

Which is more expensive, Boston or Prague?

Boston is more expensive than Prague. Its cost-of-living index is 111 vs 81 (US = 100) — about 37% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Boston or Prague?

Rent is cheaper in Prague — about $950/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $3,000 in Boston.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Boston is worth about $54,420 in Prague. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Prague?

Czech Republic has the lower top income-tax rate — 23% versus 37% in United States.

◷ More comparisons from Boston

How we calculate these figures →

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