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Cost of Living: Graz vs Prague (2026)

Austria vs Czech Republic — relocation comparison

TL;DRGraz is 37% cheaper on rent ($772/mo vs $1228/mo). Graz is safer — homicide rate 0.9 vs 2.0 per 100k. Both cities require a personal relationship with your winter coat.
77
Livability Score
🇦🇹 Graz
Austria
Full profile
77
Livability Score
🇨🇿 Prague
Czech Republic
Full profile
Graz and Prague are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
Graz
Prague
$772/mo
Rent
$1228/mo
8.3/10
Democracy
8.1/10
0.9/100k
Safety
2.0/100k
74/100
English
57/100
Time to PR
5 yr
💰
Cost of Living
Graz
$456/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Graz
0.9 homicides per 100k
🗣️
English
Graz
higher proficiency score
Graz
Metric
Prague
$772/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1228/mo
$909/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$722/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$6,230
0.9 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
2.0 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
25 / 100
25°C
☀️
Summer high
23°C
-3°C
❄️
Winter low
-2°C
Internet speed
137 Mbps
15.1 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
12.1 μg/m³
8.3 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.1 / 10
74/100
🗣️
Street English
57/100
$74k
💼
GDP per capita
$57k
2.9% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
2.4% · Boringly steady
77 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
77 / 100
Grid reliability
72/100 — Mostly stable
🗽
Freedom House
95/100
📋
Time to PR
5 years

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend
improving
Industries
cybersecuritytravel-techenterprise-softwareai
Startup ecosystem
active
Grid reliability
72/100
Time to PR
5 yrs
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Easy

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 37% cheaper in Graz ($772/mo vs $1228/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Graz (25°C vs 23°C).
  • Graz is safer by homicide rate (0.9 vs 2.0 per 100k).
  • Street-level English is easier in Graz (74/100 vs 57/100).

Graz vs Prague — Common Questions

Is Graz cheaper than Prague?

Graz is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $772/month in Graz vs $1228/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Graz or Prague?

Graz is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Graz has a rate of 0.88 per 100,000 and Prague has 1.99 per 100,000.

Should I move to Graz or Prague?

Graz and Prague are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Graz or Prague?

Graz: no specific remote work visa. Prague: Czech Trade License (Živnostenský list) (moderate requirements, Ongoing). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Can I live in Graz or Prague without speaking the local language?

Graz is easier for street-level English (74/100) than Prague (57/100). That's the score that matters for doctors, landlords, and bureaucracy. Office English can still run higher than street English in both cities.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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