EUR 1,200/month — still one of the cheapest EU capitals
Prague is 30-40% cheaper than Berlin or Vienna for daily expenses. The catch: rent has jumped since 2020 and keeps climbing. Budget EUR 1,200 for a comfortable solo month, EUR 900 if you’re frugal. Local currency is Czech koruna (CZK) — roughly 25 CZK = 1 EUR.
Monthly budget breakdown
| Category | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR, city center) | CZK 18,000-22,000 (EUR 720-880) | Vinohrady, Karlín, Žižkov. Expect bidding wars on Sreality.cz and Bezrealitky.cz |
| Rent (1BR, outside center) | CZK 13,000-17,000 (EUR 520-680) | Dejvice, Holešovice outskirts, Smíchov. 15-20 min tram to center |
| Coworking day pass | CZK 350-600 (EUR 14-24) | Impact Hub, Locus Workspace, K10 |
| Coworking monthly | CZK 4,000-6,500 (EUR 160-260) | Hot desk. Dedicated desk adds 30-50% |
| Groceries | CZK 4,500-6,000 (EUR 180-240) | Albert, Billa, Lidl. Farmers markets at Náplavka on Saturdays |
| Eating out (lunch) | CZK 180-280 (EUR 7-11) | Daily menu (polední menu) at local restaurants — soup + main |
| Eating out (dinner) | CZK 350-600 (EUR 14-24) | Mid-range restaurant. Lokál or Eska for Czech cuisine done well |
| Public transport (monthly) | CZK 550 (EUR 22) | Lítačka card — unlimited metro, tram, bus. 30-day pass |
| Mobile data (prepaid) | CZK 400-700 (EUR 16-28) | Vodafone or T-Mobile. 10-30 GB. Czech mobile data is pricey vs. EU average |
| Coffee (flat white) | CZK 95-130 (EUR 3.80-5.20) | Specialty cafes. Traditional Czech coffee (turecká) is CZK 40-60 |
| Beer (draft, 0.5L) | CZK 55-80 (EUR 2.20-3.20) | Local pubs. Tourist areas charge CZK 100+ |
| Gym membership | CZK 800-1,500 (EUR 32-60) | John Reed, Fitness Park, Gutfit |
How to save money
Accommodation: Use Bezrealitky.cz (no agent fees) instead of Sreality. Facebook groups “Flats in Prague” and “Prague Expats” list rooms from CZK 10,000/month. Avoid anything marketed as “digital nomad apartment” — 40-60% markup over local rates.
Food: The midday “polední menu” at local restaurants runs CZK 150-200 for soup + main course + drink. This is how Czechs eat lunch. Cook at home using Lidl or Albert for groceries — Rohlik.cz delivers same-day if you don’t want to carry bags.
Transport: The CZK 550 Lítačka monthly pass covers everything — metro, tram, bus, even the funicular to Petřín. Walking works too: Vinohrady to Old Town is 20 minutes on foot.
Currency tip: Always pay in CZK. Many tourist-area restaurants offer to charge your card in EUR — decline this. Their conversion rate is 5-10% worse than your bank’s. Use Wise or Revolut for the best CZK exchange rate.
Prague vs. other workation cities
| City | Monthly Budget | Rent (1BR center) | Meal out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prague | EUR 1,200 | EUR 720-880 | EUR 7-11 |
| Lisbon | EUR 1,500 | EUR 900-1,200 | EUR 8-12 |
| Berlin | EUR 1,600 | EUR 900-1,300 | EUR 10-14 |
| Budapest | EUR 1,000 | EUR 550-750 | EUR 6-9 |
| Chiang Mai | EUR 800 | EUR 300-500 | EUR 3-5 |
Payment and banking
Local currency is the Czech koruna (CZK). Czechia is not in the eurozone — do not pay in EUR, even where accepted. Contactless cards work everywhere, including trams and metro gates. ATMs from banks (Česká spořitelna, KB, ČSOB) are safe; avoid standalone “Euronet” ATMs — they push bad exchange rates.
Wise and Revolut are the best options for CZK spending. If staying 3+ months, a local Fio banka account is free and opens in 30 minutes with a passport.