Is Prague expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Prague is mid-priced for Europe: noticeably cheaper than Vienna, Paris or London, but no longer the bargain it was, and about as expensive as Budapest in the centre. A realistic day costs about 2,200 CZK per person on a budget and about 4,100 CZK mid-range. Beds take the biggest share, while pub food, beer and public transport stay good value as long as you eat away from the Old Town Square.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | CZK1,100 | CZK2,000 | CZK4,000 |
| Food & drink | CZK600 | CZK1,200 | CZK2,500 |
| Sights & tickets | CZK400 | CZK800 | CZK1,300 |
| Local transport | CZK120 | CZK120 | CZK500 |
| Per person, per day | CZK2,220 | CZK4,120 | CZK8,300 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Prague day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Half-litre of beer in a local pub | 55–90 CZK (100–150 CZK+ on Old Town Square) |
| Svíčková (beef in cream sauce) in a pub | roughly 220–380 CZK |
| Chlebíček open sandwich | 30–70 CZK |
| Public transport 24-hour ticket | about 120 CZK |
| Prague Castle main circuit ticket | roughly 450–500 CZK |
| Taxi from the airport to the centre | roughly 600–900 CZK (check the fixed fare first) |
| Mid-range dinner for two with beer or wine | roughly 1,300–2,000 CZK |
| 3★ double room, high season (Old Town) | roughly 3,000–5,000 CZK |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation is the largest cost: a bed in a shared double runs about 1,100 CZK a night on a budget, 2,000 CZK mid-range and 4,000 CZK in comfort, and Old Town and Malá Strana hotels cost far more than Žižkov or Vinohrady. Food and drink come next, at about 600 CZK a day on a budget (bakery breakfast, pub lunch menu, chlebíčky and beer) to 1,200 CZK mid-range. Sights add about 400–800 CZK a day, mostly the Castle circuit and the Jewish Museum. Transport is cheap at about 120 CZK for a 24-hour ticket. A city tax of about 50 CZK per person per night is added at the hotel.
When it is cheaper
January, February and early March are the cheapest months, when hotel prices can be roughly a third to half lower than in May, June or September. Late November and December are busy and pricier because of the Christmas markets.
How to spend less
- Eat the weekday lunch menu (polední menu) in a pub: soup and a main often cost much less than the same dishes at dinner.
- Drink in neighbourhood pubs in Vinohrady, Žižkov or Karlín, where a half-litre is about 55–90 CZK instead of 100–150 CZK+ on Old Town Square.
- Always pay in koruna (CZK) and refuse the offer to charge you in euros or your home currency on card terminals and ATMs.
- Withdraw cash from bank ATMs, not the independent machines and '0% commission' exchange booths around the Old Town.
- Buy a 24-hour or 72-hour public transport ticket instead of taxis; trams reach almost every sight.
- Ask the price of Prague ham on the Old Town Square spits before it is cut, as it is sold per 100 g and bills climb quickly.
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Common questions
Is Prague expensive compared with Vienna?
No. Rooms, restaurant meals and especially beer are clearly cheaper in Prague, though prices in the Old Town have risen and are not far below Western Europe.
How much is a beer in Prague?
About 55–90 CZK for half a litre in a neighbourhood pub, and 100–150 CZK or more around the Old Town Square.
Should I pay in euros or koruna?
In koruna. Euros are accepted in some places at a poor rate, and card terminals that offer to charge in euros use a bad exchange rate. Always choose CZK.