Cost of living in Prague

Prague is relatively cheap when compared to other major European capitals; coming in 97th in the 2020 Mercer Cost of Living Survey. That said, it is a lot more expensive than other Czech cities, as it caters for the massive influx of tourists that walk its streets each year.

Although currently it can be considered relatively affordable, prices are on the rise and are catching up to other European countries in some areas.

Cost of accommodation in Prague

Accommodation is one such area where the costs are similar to the rest of Europe and are continuing to rise. Prague is becoming quite an attractive city for business and as foreign companies relocate to the city and demand for accommodation increases, so do the costs.

Expats can decrease these costs by living in one of the city’s outlying districts, as well as by choosing to live in an apartment or shared apartment as opposed to a house or villa.

Cost of food and eating out in Prague

While eating out can cost just as much in Prague as in the rest of Europe, expats can save money by going to the cheaper local restaurants, as opposed to those with an English menu that cater to tourists. There are also food carts and fast-food restaurants that serve good food at a fraction of the price.

Groceries are extremely affordable in Prague and the majority of expats will save money by shopping for local produce and cooking at home. Expats will also be able to find delicious local Czech beer at reasonable prices all over the city.

Cost of transport in Prague

The public transport networks in Prague are efficient and inexpensive. While taxis can be rather costly, the metro, tram and bus services are cheap to use. Even Uber is more affordable than the local taxi companies.

The city centre is extremely walkable, and most expats will only need to resort to public transport when travelling outside of Prague 1. Cycling is also an option, as bike-lanes have been incorporated into many of the sidewalks.

Cost of education and schools in Portland

Although public schools are free to all residents, including expats, Czech is the language of instruction at the majority of these schools and, unless expats are planning on staying for the long term, this may not be a viable option. That said, there are a few schools in Prague that have programmes for bilingual or foreign language students.

Alternatively, there are a number of private bilingual schools that, although still costing a pretty penny, are much cheaper than the international schools in the city. The fees for international schools are exorbitant, but expats who do not plan on staying in Prague for an extended period may find these schools to be their best option. Expats should speak to their employer about a school allowance to assist with the costs if choosing to send their child to either a private or international school in Prague.