The cost of living in Prague in 2026 comes to roughly 27,000–37,000 Kč a month per person, rent included. A couple needs about 42,000–55,000 Kč, a family with a child around 56,000–73,000 Kč, and a student in a dorm can get by on 13,500–19,000 Kč. Housing is by far the biggest expense, eating up about half the budget, while transport is almost symbolic by European standards — an annual Lítačka pass costs 3,650 Kč, or roughly 10 crowns a day. Below is a breakdown by category with 2026 prices, plus a comparison of Prague with Brno and smaller Czech towns.
These figures are approximate — everything depends on the district, your habits, and how good a deal you found on a flat. Still, these ranges are handy for planning a move or checking your own spending against the norm.
| Expense category | Single, 1+kk | Couple, 2+kk | Family 2+1, 3+kk | Student, koleje |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent + utilities | 18,500–23,500 Kč | 25,500–32,000 Kč | 33,000–41,000 Kč | 5,600–7,000 Kč |
| Groceries | 5,000–8,000 Kč | 10,000–14,000 Kč | 15,000–20,000 Kč | 5,000–7,000 Kč |
| Transport (Lítačka) | 304 Kč | 610 Kč | 610 Kč | 130 Kč |
| Phone and internet | 700–1,000 Kč | 1,100–1,400 Kč | 1,100–1,400 Kč | 400–600 Kč |
| Entertainment, sports, hobbies, misc. | 3,000–5,000 Kč | 5,000–8,000 Kč | 6,000–10,000 Kč | 2,000–4,000 Kč |
| Total per month | 27,000–37,000 Kč | 42,000–55,000 Kč | 56,000–73,000 Kč | 13,500–19,000 Kč |
According to 2026 rental price maps, the average rate in Prague is around 450 Kč per square metre a month, with small flats costing the most per metre: studio 1+kk units rose about 11% over the year and now average around 540 Kč/m². The prices below exclude utilities.
| Property type | City centre (Prague 1, 2, Vinohrady) | Residential districts (Prague 4, 8, 9, 10) |
|---|---|---|
| 1+kk (studio) | 18,000–22,000 Kč | 14,000–17,000 Kč |
| 2+kk | 24,000–28,000 Kč | 18,000–23,000 Kč |
| 3+kk | 32,000–40,000 Kč | 25,000–32,000 Kč |
| Room in a shared flat | 12,000–15,000 Kč | 9,000–13,000 Kč |
Landlords typically ask for a deposit equal to one or two months' rent. We've covered where and how to search in our guide to finding a flat in Prague, and before signing anything it's worth reading up on nájem vs. podnájem — or have the contract reviewed by a professional from our directory of lawyers. Lower-income families should also check their eligibility for příspěvek na bydlení (housing allowance).
On top of rent come building service charges (water, heating, waste collection, cleaning) plus advance payments (zálohy) for electricity and gas. 2026 benchmarks: 1+kk — 3,000–4,500 Kč a month, 2+kk — 4,000–6,000 Kč, 3+kk — 5,500–8,000 Kč. The spread is wide, since it all depends on the heating system and the building's condition. Rates keep shifting — for instance, Pražská energetika raised fixed tariffs for new contracts in May 2026, so it pays to review your provider and terms periodically. For tips on reading your billing statements and avoiding overpayment, see our article on utility bills and energy in Czechia.
If you cook at home and shop at chain supermarkets — Lidl, Kaufland, Albert, Billa — expect to spend 5,000–8,000 Kč a month on food. The good news for 2026: according to ČSÚ, grocery prices in June were down 3.4% year on year, though certain items like coffee and beef got noticeably more expensive. A weekday set lunch menu (polední menu) costs about 180–250 Kč, and dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant runs 900–1,500 Kč — so eating out regularly can easily double your food budget.
To save money, compare supermarket chains using our guide to cheaper groceries in Czechia, try money-saving apps, or order through Rohlík and Košík delivery. Household chemicals and cosmetics are cheaper at drugstores — see our comparison of dm, Rossmann, and Teta.
Since 1 January 2026, a new PID fare structure applies: single tickets got more expensive, but Prague travel passes stayed the same — the city is deliberately rewarding regular commuters and purchases through the PID Lítačka app.
| Ticket or pass | 2026 price |
|---|---|
| 30 minutes — app / paper | 36 / 39 Kč |
| 90 minutes — app / paper | 46 / 50 Kč |
| 24 hours — app / paper | 140 / 150 Kč |
| Monthly pass | 550 Kč |
| Annual pass | 3,650 Kč (about 304 Kč/month) |
| Monthly discounted pass (students 15–26) | 130 Kč |
| Annual discounted pass (students 15–26) | 1,280 Kč |
School-age children in Prague ride for free or at a large discount with a registered card — check current terms at pidlitacka.cz. A car is considerably pricier: petrol, povinné ručení (mandatory liability insurance), STK inspections, and paid parking in Prague's zones add several thousand crowns a month to your budget.
A SIM card with a reasonable data package costs 300–600 Kč a month, and home internet runs 400–600 Kč. For tips on picking the right plan without overpaying, see our guides to mobile carriers and home internet in Czechia.
For employees, health insurance is already deducted from salary, so it doesn't show up as a separate budget line. Self-employed people on a živnost pay their own OSVČ contributions, and anyone outside the public system needs comprehensive insurance for foreigners — another few thousand crowns a month. Our directory of doctors and dentists can help you find a specialist who speaks your language.
Based on 2026 comparisons, Brno is about 9% cheaper than Prague excluding rent, and around 15% cheaper including rent, with rental rates themselves nearly 29% lower (about 350 Kč/m² versus 450 Kč/m² in Prague). Groceries, services, and electronics cost roughly the same across the country — almost all the savings come from housing.
| Metric | Prague | Brno | Smaller towns (Ústí nad Labem, Ostrava) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average rent, Kč/m² | about 450 | about 350 | roughly 200–300 |
| 1+kk, Kč/month | 14,000–22,000 | 12,000–15,000 | 8,000–12,000 |
| Single-person budget with rent | 27,000–37,000 | 23,000–31,000 | 19,000–27,000 |
There's a flip side, though: salaries in the regions are lower and job openings are scarcer — so moving to a smaller town mainly pays off for people who work remotely.
The average gross salary in Prague in the first quarter of 2026 was 67,945 Kč (ČSÚ data), 35% above the national average, and up 8.2% year on year. The nationwide median at the end of 2025 was around 45,500 Kč gross. With the average Prague salary, take-home pay after taxes and contributions comes to roughly 52,000–53,000 Kč — enough to cover a single person's budget with room left over for savings, conveniently kept in a spořicí účet (savings account). A couple with two average incomes can comfortably manage the family scenario too. For a look at the job market, see our article on working in Czechia as a foreigner, and for a comparison of employment formats, check out živnost vs. employment contract. To work out your net income and taxes in your specific situation, our directory of accountants can help.
Around 12,000–17,000 Kč per person: groceries, transport, phone/internet, sports, and entertainment. Everything above that gets swallowed by housing — which is why finding a good flat matters far more for your budget than cutting back on coffee.
A studio 1+kk in a residential district runs 14,000–17,000 Kč a month excluding utilities, and 18,000–22,000 Kč in the city centre. A two-room 2+kk costs 18,000–28,000 Kč depending on the district. Per the price maps, the average rate in 2026 is around 450 Kč/m², with the smallest flats up about 11% over the year.
For one person, roughly 45,000–50,000 Kč gross is a good starting point: after tax, that leaves enough for rent on a 1+kk, food, and savings. For a family with a child, two incomes — or a combined gross of 90,000 Kč or more — provide a comfortable margin.
Including rent, life in Brno is roughly 15% cheaper. The main gap is in housing: rental rates in Brno are almost 29% lower, while groceries and services cost about the same.
No — it's one of the cheapest items in the budget: an annual Lítačka pass covering all of Prague costs 3,650 Kč, or about 10 crowns a day. For comparison, buying three single tickets a day would cost more than a hundred crowns.
With a dorm (koleje) spot at 5,600–7,000 Kč, a student can get by on roughly 13,500–19,000 Kč a month, including food, transport, and phone/internet. A travel pass for students under 26 costs just 130 Kč a month, which significantly cuts commuting costs.
Unevenly. Groceries in June 2026 were actually cheaper than a year earlier (down 3.4% per ČSÚ), while rent keeps climbing — small flats in Prague were up around 11% over the year. Before moving, check the latest rental price maps and energy provider tariffs.
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