Most of the Czech Republic’s remote workers live in Prague, which has the coworking spaces, flights and international community. Brno is the main alternative, and the country’s smaller cities and castle towns are cheaper and calmer but have far fewer foreigners and less English. All are linked by frequent trains, so it’s easy to try more than one. This page compares five bases.
The costs below are ballpark figures in US dollars for a comfortable month for one person: a furnished one-bedroom flat on a monthly rate, eating out often, transport and a social life. They move with the koruna.
The Bases at a Glance#
| Base | Comfortable month | Best months | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prague | $2,000 to $2,600 | May to June, September to October | City life, coworking, community |
| Brno | $1,500 to $1,900 | May to September | Tech scene, students, lower rents |
| Olomouc | $1,300 to $1,700 | May to September | Small city, slow pace, low costs |
| Plzeň | $1,400 to $1,800 | May to September | Easy reach of Prague, beer, students |
| Český Krumlov | $1,300 to $1,700 | May to June, September | Quiet month, castle town, nature |
Prague#
The capital spreads along the Vltava, with the castle and Malá Strana on one bank and the Old Town on the other. Few nomads live in the touristy centre: Vinohrady is elegant and full of cafes and parks, Karlín is modern with new flats and offices, Žižkov is cheaper and livelier, and Holešovice is a creative former industrial area. Prague has the country’s coworking spaces, best hospitals, biggest English-speaking community and most flights, and a monthly transport pass is very cheap. Rents are the highest in the country. See the Prague digital nomad guide.
Brno#
The Czech Republic’s second city is the capital of Moravia, a young, relaxed place with several universities, a growing tech and startup sector and plenty of cafes and bars. Rents are well below Prague’s, the centre is walkable with a good tram network, and Vienna is about an hour and a half away by train, with its airport within easy reach. It has a smaller airport of its own. English is common among younger people, and the international community is growing.
Olomouc#
A baroque university city in central Moravia, with grand squares, fountains, a UNESCO-listed column and a large student population that keeps it lively in term time. Costs are low, life is calm and walkable, and trains reach Prague in about two hours and Brno in about an hour and a half. It suits people who want a quiet, cheap base with character. Fewer people speak English than in Prague or Brno.
Plzeň#
The home of Pilsner beer is a lively western city with a university, a compact centre and good-value rents. Trains reach Prague in about an hour, so you can live cheaply and visit the capital for meetups and flights, and Bavaria is close for weekend trips. It’s a working city rather than a showpiece, with a small foreign community.
Český Krumlov#
A small castle town wrapped around a bend of the Vltava in South Bohemia, with one of Europe’s best-preserved old centres. It’s lovely for a quiet month in spring or early autumn, with hiking, cycling and canoeing nearby, but busy with day-trippers in summer and very quiet in winter. Services are limited and there’s little community, so it suits a writing or deep-work stint rather than a long stay. České Budějovice, half an hour away, has more services and rentals.
Choosing Your Base#
- Start in Prague or Brno to sort your address registration, SIM, bank account and visa paperwork, then decide.
- Visit in spring or early autumn. May, June, September and October are the most comfortable everywhere.
- Check heating costs before you sign a lease for the winter, especially in older flats.
- Think about language. Outside Prague and Brno, everyday life is in Czech, so learn the basics.
Where to Base FAQs#
Where do most digital nomads live in the Czech Republic?
Most live in Prague, which has the coworking spaces, flights and largest international community. Brno has the second-biggest group of remote workers and expats.
What is the cheapest place in the Czech Republic for digital nomads?
Olomouc and Český Krumlov are among the cheapest bases, at about $1,300 to $1,700 a month for a comfortable life. Brno and Plzeň are a little more but still well below Prague.
Is Brno good for digital nomads?
Yes. Brno is cheaper and less touristy than Prague, with a young population, a growing tech scene and Vienna about an hour and a half away. It has fewer coworking spaces and a smaller international community.
Is Český Krumlov good for digital nomads?
For a quiet month, yes, especially in May, June or September. It has limited services and little community, and it’s crowded in summer and very quiet in winter, so it isn’t ideal for a long stay.
Can I live in a smaller Czech city and still get to Prague easily?
Yes. Plzeň is about an hour from Prague by train and Olomouc about two hours, with frequent departures, so you can live cheaply and travel in for flights and meetups.