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Money, Costs and Budget in Prague

Is Prague an expensive city to visit?

Apart from accommodation prices, city centre restaurants and other tourist attractions, Prague is still quite cheap compared to other EU countries. For luxury goods shopping like electrical appliances, cosmetics and fashion, prices are higher here than elsewhere.

An average tourist will spendĀ around 2500 CZK (100 EUR) per person per day. The lowest daily budget can be as low as 900 CZK if you stay at hostels, eat takeaways and use public transport. If you stay in private accommodation, eat at average restaurants but control your budget, you can get by on 2500 CZK a day. On the other hand, if you stay at top hotels, eat at top-end restaurants and use cabs you could easily spend 10.000 CZK a day. Please do not expect Prague to be extremely cheap and remember that only some products are much cheaper here (like beer, food in supermarkets, transport remain relative bargains compared to other European capitals, but the gap is closing). In general, Prague is getting more expensive every year. One reason for this is that since the Czech Republic joined the EU, everything tends to be more expensive than before. Another recent factor making Prague more expensive is large gains in the value of Czech currency. Attractive hotels range between 3500 CZK and 6000 CZK for a double room. Dinner for two with some drinks at a fancier restaurant can cost around 2000 CZK. Hotels in Prague suburbs can cost as low as 700 CZK for a single room. Staying in a hostel dormitory room for one costs 400 CZK (but can be found for as low as 250 CZK). A beer in a pub outside the centre will cost around 25 CZK (though in the heart of the city, this will cost up to 80 CZK), and a special lunch menu can cost from 60 to 100 CZK. A pack of Marlboro cigarettes costs 84 CZK, a 0.5 L bottle of water 15 CZK, a loaf of bread 22 CZK, a litre of petrol costs around 32 CZK, and a cup of coffee in a city cafeteria is 45 CZK. Cinema tickets cost up to 200 CZK.

If you want to lower your expenses, you should avoid city centre hotels, restaurants, night clubs and shops, or ask locals where theyā€™re going out. Visiting galleries and museums is not expensive, and some of them are admission free.

Price Examples

Restaurants
Dinner in a midrange restaurant ā€“ 600 CZK
Lunch in a pub ā€“ 150 CZK
Local beer (0,5litre draught) ā€“ 30 to 80 CZK
Soft drinks ā€“ 35 CZK

Transportation
Taxi Airport to City centre ā€“ 600 CZK
Taxi within the city centre ā€“ 180 to 250 CZK
One day pass public transport ticket ā€“ 110 CZK

Accommodation
Room in the flatshare city centre ā€“ 7000 CZK/month
Room in flatshare outside the city centre ā€“ 5500 CZK/month
Flat (2 rooms + kitchen) city centre ā€“ 20000 CZK/month
Hostel (dormitory) ā€“ 300 to 600 CZK/night

The average monthly salary in Prague

is about 30.000 CZK (around 1300 US$ or Ā£1000). This is not enough for locals to live comfortably in the city centre, but you can manage quite well if you live in the suburbs. The minimum wage in the Czech Republic is around 8000 CZK (or 48 CZK per hour / 1.70 GBP), but if you earn this in Prague, you would be unable to survive unless you stay with your parents! The cost of living in some villages in poorer regions can be as little as one-fifth of the capital cost.

Czech currency

is called Koruna (Kc or CZK). Banknotes are in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 CZK. Coins are of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 CZK. Koruna is then divided into 100 halers (h). The Czech crown has been fully convertible since 1991. Czech Republic (Prague) do not use the Euro currency yet.

Cash and travellerā€™s cheques are possible to change in all banks, hotels and exchange offices.

Exchange offices
most often offer a more convenient exchange rate but charge a rather high exchange fee – check ft first. Do not change money on streets – you run a risk to obtain invalid or false banknotes.

Exchange rates

For 1 EUR you will get approx. 25 CZK, for 1 USD approx. 19 CZK, for 1 GBP approx. 30 CZK. You can also check today exchange rates at the most recommended exchange office website in Prague.Ā 

Entrance fees

Entrance fees to the Prague historical places of interest, museums and galleries are usually between 80 to 150 CZK. Some of the private museums are more expensive. The admission fee charged at some of the largest and most significant historical sites, such as the Prague Castle (350 CZK) and the Jewish Museum (300 CZK), appears to be rather high. However, the ticket is valid for visits to several places, and it makes it quite cheap. All the fees can be reduced because of the system discounts etc. and cards. Some of the places allow free admission on one of the days in a month.

Prague Economy

Prague is the wealthiest city in Central and Eastern Europe and wealthier than many in Western Europe, with a per-capita GDP (PPP) of EUR 32,357, which is 153% of the EU average. The GDP per capita of Prague is more than double that of the Czech Republic as a whole (this not reflect the whole country). Life in Prague, as you, as a visitor, will experience it, is still out of reach to many working-class Praguers.Ā  Food and transport remain relative bargains compared to other European capitals, but the gap is closing.

Money tips

– Don’t carry a large amount of cash
– When you’re going to a place where you know you can pay with a credit card, take one and limit the cash.
– Try not to show how much money you have in your wallet.
– Never leave your wallet lying free on a table or anywhere else. Best to keep it is in a closed pocket. Those secret pockets like I have seen once (in underpants or a bra) are maybe a little exaggerated.
– If you know a little Czech, don’t worry about asking more times when you don’t understand the exact sum at the counter. And if you don’t, try to pretend you do.
– If you go through or to a hazardous place, divide your money into two halves and store them in two different places. Then if you are mugged, there is a chance that the second half will pass unnoticed.

Despite all this frightening advice, the crime in Prague is no worse than in any other big city. For instance, the editor of this article is living downtown his whole life, and it never occurred to him that he would have to face any criminals. But still, pick-pocketing exists, and it is advised to be aware of it.Ā 

Hotels values

Sometimes we see disappointed travellers coming to Prague for a romantic break when they booked so-called 3* hotels for an excellent price. Remember, if you find a very attractive special deal for a double room for 500 CZK, and it claims to be a luxury hotel – do some TripAdvisor.com check before booking (unless the price is top priority).

Tourist High Season

As a rule, the tourist season begins April 1st and ends October 31st. During this period, most monuments are open. Outside the season (except for the Christmas and New Years’ holidays), accommodation and some tourist services tend to be cheaper.

Tip: Visit other cities outside of Prague – It’s true about the prices, the further off the beaten path and away from the touristy streets, the better the prices.

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24 COMMENTS

  1. I will be studying in Prague from September to December this year. I am trying to budget for this semester, what do you suggest the right amount to bring during those 4 months? – I do not pay for accomodation just food, transportation, and exploring.

    Also, what type of clothing should I bring for this time? What is the weather like?

    Thanks for your help!

  2. Thanks for the interesting article, I live in Prague and must say, I definitely agree that it can be travelled very easily on budget, unlike many European cities. When I lived abroad and tried to explore other cities of Prague’s size and history, I often had to spend much more money – and I was on a budget all the time. If you are looking for a cheap way to get in, check out the offers at https://www.flights-to-prague.com/ šŸ™‚ I always found the best deals there.

    • Hi Karla,
      We will be in Prague for 3 days reach at 17.35 on 14thJune. Is there anything we can see that evening or will it be closed. Do we need to booths attractions in advance or can be done on the day. Is it cheaper to buy train tickets from Prague to Vienna at the train station or should we buy in advance. We will leave mid day 17th June to Vienna so I do not think we will be able to visit any cities outside Prague.

      Thank you for your advise.

  3. prague is still good value for money. go just outside the tourist areas to places like zizkov and you can drink and eat very cheap compared to blighty…ie a pint of czech beer just over a pound,eat in a good vietnamese/chinese restaurant for under a fiver..lots of wonderful parks and old buildings every where,,as for crime,in twenty odd years of going there i,ve never felt threatened..the only down side i,m wary about is pickpockets on trams from a certain minority ethnic group…also if you like your football,ice hockey or watching bands..it still costs a fraction of western europe..

  4. I strongly believe by the information from this post is that the idea of working, studying, and living in Prague is not such a good idea. Just by reading this article and the statistics you can clearly see that the so called luxury life of Prague is such an illusion and the reality contradicts the truth like some sort of contrast. But I think I’ll die either by being bored to death, robbed, or depressed like a brainless jellyfish.

  5. Please can you give me some addresses of relatively cheap restaurant in prage and environs. I will be travelling to prague in the month of july.

  6. Hello, I am arranging a stag dooooo for next March. Please can you tell me the kind of temperature to expect. Also can you tell me if the beer prices listed in the guide are true to todays prices? Paul

    • It is hard to say. Most travellers from the UK to Prague change money to Euros, which is not really necessary. The Czech Republic still uses the local currency Koruna. Probably the best choice is to exchange pounds in an exchange office which caters to the locals (www.exchange8.cz or http://www.exchange.cz), where there is a very small margin between the selling and buying rates. This is better value than buying currency in the UK or taking money from an ATM. But this is true only if you exchange more than a certain amount – say around 200 GBP, when the rate is more favourable.

    • Your monthly spending mainly depends on the area and type of accommodation you will rent. The closer to the centre your location, the more you can expect to pay. For food also it depends whether you will do self-catering or will eat out at restaurants. Foreign students are able to get by on as little as 7000 CZK / month if you share a flat to 20,000 CZK if you are more demanding and living in a private flat.

  7. Hey, I intend to live in Prague for the next year. Could you please tell me approximately how much you think it would cost per month for accommodation and food? And whether itā€˜s hard to find a place to live? Thanks

  8. Really interesting blog post about costs in Prague. I visited three times last year (2010/2011) and noticed the prices rise every single time on beer and spirits and food. I have started a blog about Smichov Hotels Prague because I think it represents much better value than the centre, and as costs are spiralling up for everything else, you need to save something on the hotel. As you say 4 star boutiques in the centre are about 100 a night (euro), you can pay half that just across the Vltava in Smichov, so in effect, you eat and drink for free all day.

  9. I might be going to live in prague for my university, I live in Central America so logically my cost of living is lower than that of the average Czech, that being said… about how much money do you spend on a night out?

  10. Am visiting Prague for the weekend in 2 weeks time and would like to know what is the best currency to take to spend whilst there?

    • Always withdraw local currency using your ATM card. Never buy from the exchange places as the fees are too high. Check with your bank as to what your daily limit on withdrawals is and withdraw that limit to minimize the bank fee. The exchange rate that you will get while withdrawing local cash will be the best possible.

  11. Thanks for the info, it’s a world more expensive then when I last visited in 96, then one of the appeals was how cheap it was. Ah! the price of ‘progress’.

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