Prague prices guide: what is fixed, what floats and where to check

Neither the headline about a cheap pint nor the one about an expensive flat tells you what you will spend on a Tuesday. And any price table you find today will be wrong in a year.

So this reference works differently. It sorts prices by who sets them, because that decides how stable they are and where to look. For the budget those prices feed into, see how the budget is built; for the verdict on the city overall, is Prague expensive.

Three kinds of price

Set by rule

A few figures are fixed in law or regulation, and they anchor the rest.

The minimum wage sets the floor for pay (how it works). The deposit cap matters to every renter (who pays what). The vignette is for motorways only, is sold online, and is not needed for city streets. Court and cadastre fees when buying a home, and the health insurance minimum for self-payers, are regulated too; check the office before budgeting for them.

Set by one operator

Public transport is the clearest case. Fares and passes come from the PID system and the Prague Public Transit Company and change on announced dates; children and some groups travel free or at reduced fares (as of 2026; check PID). Prague public transport tickets explains which ticket suits which trip, and the PID apps show current prices on your phone.

Utilities work the same way: your supplier publishes its tariff. Museum tickets belong here too, and the venue's own site is the only reliable price. Visitors weighing a city pass should read the Prague Card and city passes.

Set by the market

Rent, food, drinks and services float with district, season and who is asking. Price them by sampling.

• Rent: read live listings for the size and district you want and record five (rent by district).
• Groceries: compare the shelf's unit price in two supermarkets (weekly shop).
• Eating out: read the menu posted outside and note whether lunch is cheaper than dinner (what meals cost).
• Drinks: pubs post their price lists; compare two near you.
• Services: ask for a written quote and compare three.

Sampling also protects you from tourist pricing. A cafe on a main square and one two streets away can charge very different amounts for the same coffee, and locals use the second.

Is the price fair?

The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) supervises sellers and handles complaints. A restaurant should display its menu with prices; if the bill does not match, ask for the menu and a receipt before paying. Tourist traps and scams and changing money cover the usual offenders, and ATMs in Prague explains why to pay in koruna.

Some prices also have a season. Accommodation and attractions rise around Christmas, Easter and summer, rents tend to move when students and new hires arrive together in early autumn, and heating shows up in winter bills. Write the date next to every number you note.

If the long game is a home of your own, the mortgage calculator on Hypoteky.com models monthly repayments for a given loan, rate and term. It is a calculator, not advice. For habits that cut the bills, see how to save money in Prague.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a fixed price list for Prague?

Only for regulated items such as the minimum wage and the vignette. Rent, food and services float, so check live sources.

Where do I find current public transport fares?

On the PID website and in the PID apps. Fares change on announced dates.

What if a restaurant charges more than the menu?

Ask to see the menu and a proper receipt before paying. Complaints can go to the Czech Trade Inspection Authority.

Write down the three prices you pay most often and check them again in a month.