City guide

🇨🇿 Living in Prague

15% flat tax, 50-60% cheaper than Western Europe, heart of Europe with a thriving tech scene

At a glance

Population

1.3 million (metro: 2.7M)

Currency

CZK

Avg. salary

€25,000–€45,000

Effective tax

18–22%

Climate

Continental

Tax regime

15% flat (23% above ~€77k)

Nomad visa

Yes

Net salary calculator

Calculate your take-home pay in Prague with our detailed tax calculator.

Calculate net salary →

Cost of living

Rent (1-bed, center)	€800/mo
Rent (1-bed, suburb)	€600/mo
Groceries (single)	€250/mo
Groceries (family)	€550/mo
Transport pass	€25/mo
Restaurant (2 people, mid-range)	€35
Coffee	€2.50
Gym membership	€30/mo
Healthcare	Public system via mandatory insurance, ~€50/month

Frugal

€1,100

/month

Moderate

€1,600

/month

Comfortable

€2,400

/month

Budget calculator

Build a detailed monthly budget for Prague based on your lifestyle.

Build your budget →

Why choose Prague?

15% flat tax on most incomes — one of the lowest in the EU

Cost of living 50-60% lower than Paris, London, or Amsterdam

Heart of Europe — 2h flight to Paris, London, Berlin, Vienna

Thriving startup scene: Avast, Rohlik, Productboard, JetBrains office

UNESCO World Heritage old town, 1,000 years of history, world-class culture

Cheapest beer in Europe (~€2), vibrant nightlife and food scene

Živnostenský list — freelance/trade license popular with digital nomads

Quality of life

Overall

7.5

Safety

8.5

Healthcare

7.5

Education

Air Quality

6.5

Culture

9.5

Expat Community

8.5

English Proficiency

Moving to Prague : checklist

1 Research visa (EU: register, non-EU: employee card or Živnostenský list)
2 Calculate net salary (15% flat + 11% social contributions)
3 Find accommodation (Sreality.cz, Bezrealitky.cz)
4 Register with Foreign Police within 30 days
5 Get rodné číslo (birth number) for tax and admin
6 Open bank account (Fio Banka, Raiffeisenbank, Revolut)
7 Register with health insurance (VZP, ČPZP)
8 Learn basic Czech (Ahoj, Děkuji, Prosím) — locals appreciate it

Frequently asked questions

What is the cost of living in Prague? +

Prague is very affordable. A single person needs €1,100–1,600/month. Rent for a 1-bed in the center averages €800 — about half of what you'd pay in Paris or Amsterdam. Beer costs ~€2, dining out is incredibly cheap.

How much tax will I pay in Prague? +

Czech Republic has a near-flat 15% income tax on most incomes (23% above ~€77,400). Employee social contributions are 11% (6.5% pension + 4.5% health). Effective total rate is typically 18-22% — very competitive in the EU.

Is Prague good for expats? +

Very good — Prague has a large and growing expat community, excellent quality of life for the price, and a central European location. The younger generation speaks English well. The Živnostenský list makes freelancing easy.

What is the average salary in Prague? +

Average gross salary in Prague is CZK 55,000–65,000/month (€2,200–2,600). Tech roles pay CZK 80,000–120,000/month (€3,200–4,800). Combined with low costs, savings potential is comparable to Western Europe.

Do I need to speak Czech? +

For most tech and international jobs, English is sufficient. However, Czech is needed for daily life (shops, offices, healthcare). The younger generation (under 35) generally speaks good English. Learning basic Czech phrases is highly recommended.