✦ Cost of living
Prague
Prague, Czech Republic
US = 100
In plain terms: Prague is about 19% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $950/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing88−12%
- Food & groceries78−22%
- Transport60−40%
- Utilities100−0%
- Healthcare65−35%
- Goods & services82−18%
Is Prague expensive?
No — Prague indexes at 81 against a US average of 100, about 19% below it. Rent is the line that moves most, and a US or Western European salary stretches noticeably further here.
Of the 87 cities we track, Prague ranks #66 by overall cost — 21 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Prague costs
One person
$2,110/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$2,990/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$5,220/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $720 | $950 | $1,800 |
| Food & groceries | $360 | $520 | $870 |
| Transport | $360 | $530 | $890 |
| Utilities | $200 | $300 | $500 |
| Healthcare | $180 | $270 | $450 |
| Goods & services | $290 | $420 | $710 |
| Total per month | $2,110 | $2,990 | $5,220 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
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
About
“The City of a Hundred Spires”
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 · CZK
- Languages
- Czech
- Coordinates
- 50.08, 14.44
- Emergency
- 112
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
23%
Income tax
progressive
21%
VAT / sales
21%
Corporate
$1,400
Avg net salary
per month
15% base, 23% above ~3× average wage.
Visas & residency
EU Blue Card and the Employee Card; the živnostenský list (trade licence) is the classic freelancer/nomad route.
✈ Schengen 90/180 for many passports.
Employer-tied residence + work permit.
Self-employment route used by nomads.
2023 program for select nationalities in IT.
Permanent residence after ~5 yrs. Citizenship after ~5 yrs.
Quality of life
Quality of life
73/100
Safety
75/100
Healthcare
75/100
Pollution
40/100
Internet
150 Mbps
Jan avg
0 °C
Jul avg
+19 °C
Sunny days
170/yr
Walkability
82/100
Public transit
85/100
Family-friendly
70/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Moderate
- Expat community
- Large
- Coworking spaces
- 40
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Prague without a car?
83/100
Car-free score
82/100
Walkability
85/100
Public transport
Yes — Prague scores 83/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Prague indexes at 60 against a US average of 100 — about 40% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Prague ranks #18 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Prague — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$950
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$720
- Inexpensive meal$9
- Monthly transit pass$25
- Utilities (monthly)$200
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Prague, CZ expensive to live in?
Prague, CZ's cost-of-living index is 81 (US average = 100) — about 19% cheaper than a typical US city — and it ranks #66 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $2,110 a month and a family of four around $5,220, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Prague, CZ?
Prague, CZ's cost-of-living index is 81 (US average = 100) — about 19% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $950 per month.
What are the average living costs in Prague, CZ?
Living costs in Prague, CZ are about 19% cheaper than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 81 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $950. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Prague, CZ?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $950 per month, and around $720 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Czech Republic?
Czech Republic has a top income-tax rate of 23% and a VAT or sales tax of 21%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Prague, CZ?
Prague, CZ averages around 0 °C in January and +19 °C in July, with roughly 170 sunny days a year.
Is Prague, CZ safe?
Prague, CZ scores 75 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Prague, CZ without a car?
Prague, CZ scores 83/100 on our car-free score — 82/100 for walkability and 85/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
❖ Compare Prague with…
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.