Deciding where to live in Czechia is not about coastline or climate. They choose it by job, school and rent. The three names that come up most are Prague, the capital, Brno, the second city, and Ostrava, the industrial city in the east that has reinvented itself. This guide to the best places to live in the Czech Republic compares them on the criteria that actually change your first year, and flags what stays the same wherever you land.
Why is Prague the default choice?
Prague is where the international employers, the embassies, the foreign schools and the English-speaking services are. EURES lists a studio at 18,000 to 22,000 CZK a month in 2026 there, the highest in the country. In return you get frequent public transport and a compact centre where you can live without a car.
Several international schools listed by the Ministry of Education are in Prague, including the Lycée français de Prague, the Deutsche Schule Prag, the International School of Prague and the Prague British International School. If you move with children and need a school in your own language, the capital is the simplest choice. See schools in the Czech Republic.
The trade-off is cost. Housing takes a large share of an average salary, and competition for flats is stiff. Compare districts, not just the city.
What is Brno like to live in?
Brno is the country's second city. EURES notes that demand for flats there is high, and gives no rent figure, so do not assume it is cheap. It has international schools: the Ministry's list includes the Brno International School and an American Academy campus. It suits people who want a large city with schools and services but are ready to compare rents district by district.
Check actual rents in the districts you like before assuming it is cheap. The national rules on residence, tax and health are identical to Prague; only the offices change. Brno has its own tax office, municipal authority and police department for your reports, and your address decides which.
Is Ostrava worth considering?
Ostrava lies in the Moravian-Silesian Region, which EURES names among the regions with lower housing costs. It has The Ostrava International School on the Ministry's list. It is a practical option for remote workers and for people whose job is in the region. Its appeal is mostly its price; judge the rest by visiting. Ask local people what a normal week looks like in your price range, and check the transport to the rest of the country.
Choosing a city is partly about numbers: your income, your rent budget, your school needs, the tax and insurance that follow. Moovy can compare two cities with your figures and point to the official page for each rule. It cannot tell you which city you will love, but it can tell you which one your budget supports.
What stays the same wherever you live in the Czech Republic?
Almost everything administrative. The Czech Republic has one set of rules for EU citizens: no visa, a police report within 30 days if you stay longer than 30 days, an optional registration certificate and a personal number via the Ministry of the Interior. The same tax rates, the same health insurance funds and the same licence exchange rules apply in every city. See moving to the Czech Republic.
What changes is the address-based part: which foreign police office and which Ministry office you deal with, which school catchment area (spádová škola) your children belong to, which municipality sets your waste fee, and which tax office receives your return. Check these on the portal of your city before you sign a lease.
What about daily life and language?
Czech is the only official language. English is widely understood in the big cities, German and Russian also often help, and a few words of Czech change the response of a shop assistant: Dobrý den for hello, Děkuji for thank you. In smaller towns, administration is in Czech, so bring a Czech speaker for the first visits.
The Ministry of the Interior funds integration centres across the country, offering Czech lessons and orientation courses for foreigners with legal stay. As an EU citizen living in the country, you are among their audience. Ask the centre of your region for its programme; see living in the Czech Republic.
How should you choose among the best places to live in the Czech Republic?
Ask yourself five questions.
- Where is the job, or where will it be if you work remotely?
- What rent can you carry once contributions and tax are out of the salary? See the cost of living.
- Do children need a school in a specific language?
- Do you need a car? In the centres of the three cities, probably not.
- Will you stay long enough to justify buying? See buying property.
If you are undecided, rent for a year in the city that fits best, then reassess. Renting protections are strong, and moving within the country does not reset your residence.
What about smaller towns and regions?
Not everyone wants a big city, and the Czech Republic has many towns where life is calmer and housing cheaper. EURES names the Ústí nad Labem Region, alongside the Moravian-Silesian Region, among those with lower housing costs. The trade-off is the usual one: fewer English speakers, fewer international schools, fewer public transport options and, often, lower salaries. For a remote worker with a foreign income, or a retiree, a smaller town can stretch a budget a long way. For an employee, check that the job is really there before you move, because changing region later means a new lease and new local registrations.
If you have children, look at the school first. State schools are free and each municipality sets school catchment areas, so the address you rent decides which school your child has priority for. International schools are concentrated in the three big cities. A family that needs an international school should choose the city before choosing the district.
A good way to test a place is to spend a week there outside the high season: shop for groceries, take the tram or bus to the area you might work in, visit the municipal office and ask what the local waste fee is. Those small errands tell you more than a ranking.
Which city suits which profile?
An employee at an international company will most likely end up in Prague, where the jobs are, and will accept the rent. A family with a child in an international school will choose a city with one: Prague, Brno or Ostrava all have schools on the Ministry's list. A remote worker with a salary from abroad has the most freedom and can compare all the best places to live in the Czech Republic on rent and lifestyle alone. A retiree with a foreign pension will care about health care, a quiet area and a manageable rent, and may be happy in a smaller town as long as a hospital is within reach. A student chooses the university first.
None of these is a rule. They are starting points for your own list of criteria.
What are the common mistakes?
- Choosing from a single price index. Districts differ enormously.
- Underestimating Czech. English opens the first door but not the second.
- Skipping the viewing. Never send money without visiting.
- Ignoring the commute. A cheaper flat farther out can cost time and money.
- Forgetting to report a change of address when you change city: according to the Ministry of the Interior's page on the obligations of EU citizens, a new address must be reported within 30 working days if you will live there more than 180 days.
Visit before you commit, ideally outside the tourist season.