Budgeting Your First 90 Days in Prague

Every koruna counts when you’re setting up a new life

Moving to Prague is a bit like stepping onto one of the city’s famous trams: charming, affordable, occasionally squeaky—yet wonderfully efficient once you know which ticket to buy. I’ve coached dozens of newcomers through their first three months in the Czech Republic, and I’ve lived (and mis-spent) my own share of Czech crowns along the way.

This guide distils those lessons into a single budgeting blueprint so you can focus on soaking up Malá Strana sunsets instead of sweating over spreadsheets. We’ll cover:

• Current prices for housing, groceries, coffee, and the all-important Czech beer
• Hidden bureaucracy costs (think registration fees, visa paperwork, mandatory health insurance)
• How to hack Prague’s public-transport system like a local
• Weekend getaways that won’t torch your travel fund
• Pro tips from a coach who’s still learning how to pronounce “čtvrtek” (that’s Thursday)

Ready? Let’s start by answering the question every newcomer asks first: “How much should I budget for rent?”

1. Housing: What a Roof Really Costs

1.1 The 30-Second Snapshot

• Studio/1-bed flat outside the center: 18,000–24,000 CZK/month
• Same size in Prague 1 or Prague 2: 25,000–35,000 CZK/month
• Room in a shared flat: 9,000–13,000 CZK/month
• Utilities & internet: 3,000–4,500 CZK/month (winter is pricier)

“If the ad says poplatky extra, ask for a line-item breakdown. Surprises belong at birthday parties, not on your energy bill.”

1.2 Where to Look (and What Landlords Won’t Tell You)

1. Bezrealitky.cz – Direct-from-owner listings (lower fees, more DIY work).
2. Sreality.cz – Largest portal, but brace for agency fees equal to one month’s rent.
3. Facebook groups – Flats for Rent in Prague can be gold… or a minefield. Check photos for that tell-tale fisheye lens.

Personal anecdote: My first Czech landlord tried to charge me “window-washing tax.” Stand firm; only pay what’s in the lease and keep translations handy. Google Lens can be your free in-house lawyer.

1.3 Deposits & Fees: Cash You’ll Forget to Count

• Security deposit: 1–2 months’ rent (legally capped at three, but rare).
• Agency fee: If applicable, equal to 1 month’s rent + 21 % VAT.
• Furniture: Ikea in Černý Most will relieve you of ~10,000 CZK for a basic setup. Factor in 1,500 CZK for a Bolt van if you don’t own a magic carpet.

By the end of Month 1, most newcomers have spent 35,000–60,000 CZK just on housing-related outlays. Let’s soften that blow with cheaper nourishment.

2. Food & Drink: Living Large on Svíčková

2.1 Grocery Haul—What 1,000 CZK Buys

Weekly groceries for a single person: 1,200–1,600 CZK
Couple that with coffees and the odd pub night, and you’re staring at 6,000–8,000 CZK/month.

2.2 Dining Out Without Emptying Your Wallet

• Lunch menus (polední menu): 150–190 CZK gets you soup + main.
• Hipster brunch in Vinohrady: 320 CZK (don’t skip the turmeric latte).
• Authentic Czech dinner (goulash + beer): 300–380 CZK.
• High-end tasting menu: 1,800–2,800 CZK (save for anniversaries).

Pro tip: Many traditional restaurants still accept only cash. ATMs from major banks (ČSOB, Komerční) don’t charge extra; the glowing Euronet boxes do—avoid them like a stale trdelník.

2.3 The Beer Math

A pint at a locals’ pub: 38 CZK
Same beer in Old Town Square: 119 CZK

Three tourist pints = one weekly metro pass. Choose wisely.

3. Bureaucracy & Paperwork: The Hidden Price of Residency

If Czech paperwork were a video game, you’d need side quests for stamps. Most digital nomads breeze past this line item—and later message me in CAPS LOCK. Here’s what actually lands on your ledger.

3.1 Visa Fees & Health Insurance

• Long-term residence application: 2,500 CZK
• Biometric card issuance: 2,500 CZK
• Commercial health insurance (mandatory unless EU): 18,000–24,000 CZK/year (you can pay quarterly).

Tip from experience: If you’re juggling crypto investments, sort out cross-border estate planning before you sign insurance papers; our inheritance guide for crypto assets explains why.

3.2 Registration & Notary Fees

• Foreign police registration (if your landlord won’t do it): 300 CZK notarised form + 30 CZK revenue stamp.
• Trade licence (Živnostenský list): 1,000 CZK setup + 1,800 CZK quarterly social insurance (if self-employed).
• Official translations (per page): 350 CZK. Yes, your university diploma counts.

My average client spends 8,000–12,000 CZK on “paper-chasing” over three months. Budget it now; future-you will breathe easier.

4. Transport: Mastering Prague’s Metro, Trams & Trains

4.1 Local Commutes

Break-even: Ride more than 14 times a month? Get the pass. I once tried the “single tickets only” experiment; my wallet and patience both lost.

4.2 Getting From the Airport

• Airport Express bus: 120 CZK, 35 min to main station.
• Bolt/Uber: 450–550 CZK outside peak hours.
• Honest Prague Guide trick: Bus 119 + Metro A ticket (40 CZK). Total time: 45 min.

4.3 City Biking & Scooters

Nextbike has risen from 0 to 700 kč monthly unlimited rides. Consider it if you’re in Karlín or Holešovice. Lime scooters? Fun until you pop a pavement tile and pay 500 kč for “damage.”

5. Weekend Getaways: Beyond Charles Bridge Without Breaking the Bank

A sanity-saving weekend away is part of any 90-day plan. Here’s how to do it for under 3,000 CZK.

5.1 Český Krumlov (UNESCO Fairy Tale)

• RegioJet bus: 180 CZK each way.
• Hostel bed: 600 CZK/night (private double: 1,500 CZK).
• Canoeing the Vltava: 350 CZK including beer barrel (priorities).
• Weekend spend: ~2,300 CZK.

5.2 Dresden Day Trip (Germany)

• Return train: 780 CZK (book a fortnight ahead).
• Bratwurst & galleries: 600 CZK.
Pro tip: EU rail bargains appear in the Včasná jízdenka (early-bird) category. Book early, save big.

5.3 Alpine Teaser via Vienna

• Flixbus: 430 CZK each way.
• 48-h city pass: 17 EUR (440 CZK).
• Viennese coffee + cake: 9 EUR (235 CZK).
Borrow from my rule: One museum ticket = two fewer beers. Decide your culture level accordingly.

If your remote-work visa bucket list includes Iceland, peek at our Iceland remote-work long-stay visa cheatsheet to compare costs; suddenly, Prague’s trams feel like a bargain.

6. Sample 90-Day Budget (Solo Professional)

Adjust up or down for dual incomes, lavish tastes, or monk-like minimalism. Couples often share rent/utilities, slicing roughly 18 % off combined budgets.

7. Money-Saving Hacks From a Prague Relocation Coach

1. Open a multi-currency account (Wise/Monese) before arrival. Czech banks charge for incoming foreign wires.
2. Pay annual gym memberships up front—some offer 20 % discounts. Just be sure you’ll actually sweat there.
3. Skip “tourist SIMs.” T-Mobile’s eSIM Můj Tarif is 390 CZK/month for 4 GB—plenty if you embrace café Wi-Fi.
4. Learn the phrase “Můžu prosím slevu?” (May I have a discount?) Works at farmers’ markets nearing closing time.
5. Cap your taxi fare by setting a destination in Bolt. Prague’s street-hailed cabs are costlier than rooftop cocktails.

8. Frequently Asked Crowns (FAQs)

Q: Is cash still king?
A: Sort of. Most places take cards, but pubs in Žižkov still worship paper. Carry 2,000 CZK cash to avoid ATM scavenger hunts at midnight.

Q: How cold does it get in winter—and does heating blow the budget?
A: January averages −1 °C, but 2024 energy caps limit drastic price spikes. Expect utilities to rise by ~700 CZK/month in Dec–Feb.

Q: Any tax pitfalls for freelancers?
A: The Czech 60 % expense allowance can slash taxes, but mind international treaties. Our Tax optimisation guide dives deeper.

Q: Is tipping expected?
A: Round up or add 10 %. Hand cash directly to servers; leaving it on the table sometimes vanishes into the void.

Final Thoughts: Put Your Korunas Where Your Dreams Are

Prague rewards the prepared. Nail down realistic housing costs, respect the hidden fees, buy that 90-day transport pass, and you’ll still have enough left to chase castles and chimney cakes each weekend.

When you’re ready for a plan tailored to your timeline, visa type, and appetite for dumplings, pop over to BorderPilot and build your free relocation roadmap. I’ll be here—coffee in one hand, tram pass in the other—cheering you on.