Skip to content
SettleMetric.

Kraków (Poland) vs Prague (Czechia)

Kraków (Poland) vs Prague (Czechia): rent, cost of living, climate, safety and country-level context (taxes, visas) side by side — every figure with its source.

Verified

Scoreboard

The key numbers head-to-head — the stronger side is marked. The overall score stays decoration; what matters is which facts fit you.

Kraków leads on 5 of 8
KrakówPrague
Cost of living (single, excl. rent)$753/mo
i

GUS — Household Budget Survey 2024 (one-person households), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
May 31, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
GUS one-person household consumer spending 2,888.89 PLN/mo (2024) minus actual-rentals line 235.10 → 2,653.79 PLN; uplifted by CPI (+3.6% 2025 avg, +3.1% y/y May 2026) → ≈2,835 PLN; converted at 3.7635 PLN/USD (ECB 2026-07-02). Cross-checked against Eurostat price-level indices (PL ≈ 72% of EU27).
$785/mo
i

ČSÚ — Household Consumption Expenditures 2024 (per-capita CZ-COICOP), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jun 30, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
ČSÚ 2024 all-households per-capita consumption 212,569 CZK/yr minus actual rentals (04.1) 19,621 CZK → 192,948 CZK/yr = 16,079 CZK/mo excluding rent; uplifted by CPI to mid-2026 (2025 avg +2.5%, +~1.1% into 2026 → ×1.037) → ≈16,674 CZK/mo; converted at 21.244 CZK/USD (ECB 2026-07-02, EUR/CZK 24.216 ÷ EUR/USD 1.1399) → ≈$785. All-households per-capita basis (single-person basket not separately published in this release); city living runs somewhat higher.
Rent: 1-bedroom (city avg)$816/mo
i

Otodom Analytics via Bankier.pl rental report, June 2026

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
May 31, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Average asking rent, 40–59 m² units, Kraków city-wide, May 2026: 3,072 PLN ≈ $816 at 3.7635 PLN/USD (−1.5% y/y). Studios: 2,445 PLN.
Notes
City-wide average — central districts run higher.
$1,031/mo
i

Deloitte Czech Rent Index Q1 2026 (Prague)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Mar 31, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Deloitte offered-rent index Prague 466 CZK/m²/mo (Q1 2026) × ~47 m² (1-bedroom class) = 21,902 CZK ≈ $1,031 at 21.244 CZK/USD (ECB EUR/CZK 24.216 ÷ EUR/USD 1.1399, 2026-07-02).
Notes
City-wide average; central districts (Prague 1 ~505 CZK/m²) run higher. Deloitte publishes offered/asking rents.
Freelancer tax burden23.6%
i

SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (biznes.gov.pl)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Best eligible scheme pl-ryczalt-it-12 at €60,000 revenue = 257,400 PLN (ECB 4.29): ZUS social 21,459.48 + health 9,966.96 + Labor Fund 1,661.64 + 12% lump-sum tax 27,714.84 = 60,802.92 PLN → 23.6%. Expenses don't reduce ryczałt.
13%
i

SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (Finanční správa, ČSSZ, VZP)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Best eligible scheme cz-osvc-pausal-60 at €60,000 revenue = 1,452,960 CZK (ECB EUR/CZK 24.216): 60% expense lump-sum → profit 581,184; social 29.2%×55% = 93,338.15; health 13.5%×50% = 39,663.27 (min floor); PIT (581,184 − 205,600 allowance) × 15% = 56,337.60; total levies 189,339.02 → 13.03%. The paušální-daň Band 2 (200,940 CZK fixed) gives 13.83%, so the 60% lump-sum wins at this income. Expenses are the statutory 60% flat rate, not actual costs.
Homicide rate0.69/100k
i

Eurostat — police-recorded intentional homicide (ICCS 0101)

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2024
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Completed homicides. UNODC latest (2023): 0.80 per 100k. Polish police's ~503 'zabójstwa' (2024) includes attempts.
0.77/100k
i

UNODC / World Bank — intentional homicides per 100,000 (Czechia, 2023)

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
UNODC series via World Bank: 0.768 per 100,000 in 2023 (down from 0.815 in 2022). Rounded to 0.77. 2024 not yet published at the national series level on checked sources.
Internet speed42 Mbps
i

M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Poland

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Median of 343 daily country medians, 563,348 tests (2023 — latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API; 2025/2026 files not yet published).
Notes
M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below Ookla-style figures — comparable only within this criterion.
30 Mbps
i

M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Czechia

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Median of 343 daily country medians, 957,549 download tests (2023 — latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API; 2025/2026 files not yet published).
Notes
M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below Ookla-style figures (Czech fixed broadband commonly markets 100–1000 Mbps) — comparable only within this criterion.
English proficiencyVery high
i

EF EPI 2025 (rank 15/123, score 600 — Very High band)

Research

Data as of
Nov 1, 2025
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Own band informed by EF EPI (attribution: EF Education First); English is broadly workable in cities and the service sector, less so in offices/government.
High
i

EF EPI 2025 (rank 23/123, score 582 — High band)

Research

Data as of
Nov 1, 2025
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Czechia rank 23/123, score 582, EF 'High'/B2 band. English is broadly workable in Prague/Brno and the service and tech sectors, thinner in smaller towns and public offices. Czech is the sole official language.
Private healthcare cost$1,600/yr
i

LuxMed / Medicover / Signal Iduna comprehensive (with-inpatient) plans — market midpoint; insurers quote on request

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 3, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Comprehensive private plans that include inpatient/hospital cover — top-tier LuxMed/Medicover subscriptions (own or partner hospitals) and standalone health insurance (Signal Iduna, Allianz Zdrowie, PZU) — run ≈400–700 PLN/month. Healthy-35-year-old midpoint ≈ 500 PLN/mo ≈ 6,000 PLN/yr ≈ $1,595 at 3.7635 PLN/USD (range ≈ $1,275–$2,230). Premiums are quoted on request, so this is a curated market midpoint, not a public engine quote.
Notes
Residents are covered by mandatory public insurance (NFZ); private cover is optional. Most people buy only a cheaper OUTPATIENT subscription (LuxMed/Medicover ≈150–250 PLN/mo ≈ $600/yr) and use the public system for hospital care. This figure is the with-inpatient comprehensive tier, chosen to be comparable with other countries' comprehensive plans (the earlier $603 was an outpatient-only subscription mislabelled as comprehensive).
$1,186/yr
i

PVZP Comprehensive medical insurance (EXCLUSIVE) + UNIQA/Slavia/Maxima comprehensive foreigner plans — market midpoint; insurers quote on request

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 4, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Comprehensive (outpatient + inpatient/hospital, benefit limit 1.8–10 million CZK/event, ~EUR 400,000) commercial medical insurance for foreigners — PVZP Comprehensive EXCLUSIVE and comparable UNIQA/Slavia/Maxima/Ergo products — runs ≈1,700–2,500 CZK/month for a healthy 35-year-old. Midpoint ≈2,100 CZK/mo ≈ 25,200 CZK/yr ≈ $1,186 at 21.244 CZK/USD (range ≈ $960–$1,412). Premiums are quoted on request, so this is a curated market midpoint.
Notes
Residents with a residence permit and local work/business are covered by mandatory public health insurance (VZP etc.) at 13.5% of the assessment base — comprehensive commercial cover is mainly for those not yet in the public system (long-stay visa holders must carry it). This figure is the comprehensive with-inpatient tier, chosen to be comparable with other countries' comprehensive plans; a cheaper 'basic' (urgent-care-only) foreigner plan starts around 900 CZK/mo.
Air quality (PM2.5)19.5 µg/m³
i

EEA European city air quality viewer

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
EEA urban-background city value, 2-year average (2022–2023). Corroborated by GIOŚ 2024 single-year annual mean at the Bujaka urban-background station (17 µg/m³).
Notes
Nearly 4× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³); within the current EU limit (25) but above the 2030 EU limit (10). Kraków's winter smog is a well-known problem — heating-season readings run far higher than the annual mean.
12 µg/m³
i

SZÚ / ČHMÚ — outdoor air quality assessment, Prague 2023

Official source

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
SZÚ/ČHMÚ report: 2023 annual PM2.5 means at Prague's seven monitoring stations ranged 9.5–14.5 µg/m³ (urban-background midpoint ≈ 12 µg/m³). 2023 was an unusually clean year; the limit (20 µg/m³) was not exceeded.
Notes
About 2.4× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³) but well under the EU limit (20–25). A 2024 traffic station (Praha 2-Legerova) reached 15.5 µg/m³; winter heating and traffic are the main sources.

Verdict

Each lens weighs only the facts that matter to that plan, and names the side it favours.

Contract or freelance in tech, billing clients abroad.

Kraków fits better — 3 of 5

KrakówPrague
Freelancer tax burden23.6%
i

SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (biznes.gov.pl)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Best eligible scheme pl-ryczalt-it-12 at €60,000 revenue = 257,400 PLN (ECB 4.29): ZUS social 21,459.48 + health 9,966.96 + Labor Fund 1,661.64 + 12% lump-sum tax 27,714.84 = 60,802.92 PLN → 23.6%. Expenses don't reduce ryczałt.
13%
i

SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (Finanční správa, ČSSZ, VZP)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Best eligible scheme cz-osvc-pausal-60 at €60,000 revenue = 1,452,960 CZK (ECB EUR/CZK 24.216): 60% expense lump-sum → profit 581,184; social 29.2%×55% = 93,338.15; health 13.5%×50% = 39,663.27 (min floor); PIT (581,184 − 205,600 allowance) × 15% = 56,337.60; total levies 189,339.02 → 13.03%. The paušální-daň Band 2 (200,940 CZK fixed) gives 13.83%, so the 60% lump-sum wins at this income. Expenses are the statutory 60% flat rate, not actual costs.
Internet speed42 Mbps
i

M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Poland

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Median of 343 daily country medians, 563,348 tests (2023 — latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API; 2025/2026 files not yet published).
Notes
M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below Ookla-style figures — comparable only within this criterion.
30 Mbps
i

M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Czechia

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Median of 343 daily country medians, 957,549 download tests (2023 — latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API; 2025/2026 files not yet published).
Notes
M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below Ookla-style figures (Czech fixed broadband commonly markets 100–1000 Mbps) — comparable only within this criterion.
English proficiencyVery high
i

EF EPI 2025 (rank 15/123, score 600 — Very High band)

Research

Data as of
Nov 1, 2025
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Own band informed by EF EPI (attribution: EF Education First); English is broadly workable in cities and the service sector, less so in offices/government.
High
i

EF EPI 2025 (rank 23/123, score 582 — High band)

Research

Data as of
Nov 1, 2025
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Czechia rank 23/123, score 582, EF 'High'/B2 band. English is broadly workable in Prague/Brno and the service and tech sectors, thinner in smaller towns and public offices. Czech is the sole official language.
Cost of living (single, excl. rent)$753/mo
i

GUS — Household Budget Survey 2024 (one-person households), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
May 31, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
GUS one-person household consumer spending 2,888.89 PLN/mo (2024) minus actual-rentals line 235.10 → 2,653.79 PLN; uplifted by CPI (+3.6% 2025 avg, +3.1% y/y May 2026) → ≈2,835 PLN; converted at 3.7635 PLN/USD (ECB 2026-07-02). Cross-checked against Eurostat price-level indices (PL ≈ 72% of EU27).
$785/mo
i

ČSÚ — Household Consumption Expenditures 2024 (per-capita CZ-COICOP), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jun 30, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
ČSÚ 2024 all-households per-capita consumption 212,569 CZK/yr minus actual rentals (04.1) 19,621 CZK → 192,948 CZK/yr = 16,079 CZK/mo excluding rent; uplifted by CPI to mid-2026 (2025 avg +2.5%, +~1.1% into 2026 → ×1.037) → ≈16,674 CZK/mo; converted at 21.244 CZK/USD (ECB 2026-07-02, EUR/CZK 24.216 ÷ EUR/USD 1.1399) → ≈$785. All-households per-capita basis (single-person basket not separately published in this release); city living runs somewhat higher.
Domestic delivery qualityExcellent
i

InPost official news / carrier service pages (composite)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Dec 31, 2025
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
InPost >28,000 parcel lockers (end-2025) with 98% next-day delivery and 763M parcels/yr; ORLEN Paczka ~14k pickup points; Poczta Polska 7.6k offices + 14.3k parcel points; DPD/DHL/GLS/UPS/FedEx nationwide. Next-day is the domestic norm.
Excellent
i

Packeta/Zásilkovna official news + Czech Post / carrier service pages (composite)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Dec 31, 2025
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Packeta/Zásilkovna: ~6,200 Z-BOX lockers + ~4,000 staffed pickup points (≈10,000 points in Czechia), 184 million parcels delivered in 2025; Czech Post (Česká pošta) nationwide with Balíkovna pickup; PPL, DPD, GLS, DHL nationwide with next-day standard. Dense locker + PUDO network; next-day delivery is the norm.

Relocating with a partner and school-age children.

Prague fits better — 3 of 5

KrakówPrague
International schools7
i

IB World Schools directory (find-an-ib-school)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 3, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
IB finder results for country=PL, keyword 'Krakow': British International School of Cracow, International School of Krakow, Open Future, Kolegium Europejskie, VI LO, VIII PALO, Da Vinci's.
Notes
±1 uncertainty; CIS/COBIS-only schools not yet counted.
9
i

Accreditor registries (IB World Schools, AEFE, German ZfA, CIS/COBIS/BSO, Cambridge International) — per-school verification

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 4, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Count of Prague-metro schools each individually confirmed against a qualifying accreditor: (1) International School of Prague — CIS + NEASC, IB continuum (ibo.org/en/school/000889); (2) The English College in Prague — IB DP (ibo.org/en/school/000821); (3) Prague British International School / Nord Anglia — IB DP (ibo.org/en/school/001042); (4) Park Lane International School — IB PYP/MYP/DP (ibo.org/en/school/052209); (5) Nový PORG — IB DP + Cambridge (ibo.org/en/school/004534); (6) Riverside School — CIS + IB + COBIS + BSO (school accreditation page); (7) Lycée français de Prague — AEFE-homologated, all levels (aefe.gouv.fr); (8) Deutsche Schule Prag — German ZfA-recognized Auslandsschule, 'Excellent German School Abroad' seal; (9) Meridian International School — British Schools Overseas (ISI BSO report), Cambridge International pathway. Aggregator sites were used only to find candidates, not as the recorded source.
Notes
Verified FLOOR of 9 (±2). The IB find-an-ib-school finder and some accreditor registries returned 403 to automated fetches, so each school was confirmed via its own IB school-detail page, accreditor report, or accreditor's official listing rather than a single directory pull. Additional Prague schools may hold qualifying accreditation but were not each individually verified this cycle (e.g. Christian International School of Prague is ACSI/MSA-accredited — a US regional/faith accreditor, not on the IB/Cambridge/AEFE/German/CIS/COBIS list — so it is excluded from this strict count).
Homicide rate0.69/100k
i

Eurostat — police-recorded intentional homicide (ICCS 0101)

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2024
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Completed homicides. UNODC latest (2023): 0.80 per 100k. Polish police's ~503 'zabójstwa' (2024) includes attempts.
0.77/100k
i

UNODC / World Bank — intentional homicides per 100,000 (Czechia, 2023)

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
UNODC series via World Bank: 0.768 per 100,000 in 2023 (down from 0.815 in 2022). Rounded to 0.77. 2024 not yet published at the national series level on checked sources.
Private healthcare cost$1,600/yr
i

LuxMed / Medicover / Signal Iduna comprehensive (with-inpatient) plans — market midpoint; insurers quote on request

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 3, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Comprehensive private plans that include inpatient/hospital cover — top-tier LuxMed/Medicover subscriptions (own or partner hospitals) and standalone health insurance (Signal Iduna, Allianz Zdrowie, PZU) — run ≈400–700 PLN/month. Healthy-35-year-old midpoint ≈ 500 PLN/mo ≈ 6,000 PLN/yr ≈ $1,595 at 3.7635 PLN/USD (range ≈ $1,275–$2,230). Premiums are quoted on request, so this is a curated market midpoint, not a public engine quote.
Notes
Residents are covered by mandatory public insurance (NFZ); private cover is optional. Most people buy only a cheaper OUTPATIENT subscription (LuxMed/Medicover ≈150–250 PLN/mo ≈ $600/yr) and use the public system for hospital care. This figure is the with-inpatient comprehensive tier, chosen to be comparable with other countries' comprehensive plans (the earlier $603 was an outpatient-only subscription mislabelled as comprehensive).
$1,186/yr
i

PVZP Comprehensive medical insurance (EXCLUSIVE) + UNIQA/Slavia/Maxima comprehensive foreigner plans — market midpoint; insurers quote on request

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 4, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Comprehensive (outpatient + inpatient/hospital, benefit limit 1.8–10 million CZK/event, ~EUR 400,000) commercial medical insurance for foreigners — PVZP Comprehensive EXCLUSIVE and comparable UNIQA/Slavia/Maxima/Ergo products — runs ≈1,700–2,500 CZK/month for a healthy 35-year-old. Midpoint ≈2,100 CZK/mo ≈ 25,200 CZK/yr ≈ $1,186 at 21.244 CZK/USD (range ≈ $960–$1,412). Premiums are quoted on request, so this is a curated market midpoint.
Notes
Residents with a residence permit and local work/business are covered by mandatory public health insurance (VZP etc.) at 13.5% of the assessment base — comprehensive commercial cover is mainly for those not yet in the public system (long-stay visa holders must carry it). This figure is the comprehensive with-inpatient tier, chosen to be comparable with other countries' comprehensive plans; a cheaper 'basic' (urgent-care-only) foreigner plan starts around 900 CZK/mo.
Air quality (PM2.5)19.5 µg/m³
i

EEA European city air quality viewer

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
EEA urban-background city value, 2-year average (2022–2023). Corroborated by GIOŚ 2024 single-year annual mean at the Bujaka urban-background station (17 µg/m³).
Notes
Nearly 4× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³); within the current EU limit (25) but above the 2030 EU limit (10). Kraków's winter smog is a well-known problem — heating-season readings run far higher than the annual mean.
12 µg/m³
i

SZÚ / ČHMÚ — outdoor air quality assessment, Prague 2023

Official source

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
SZÚ/ČHMÚ report: 2023 annual PM2.5 means at Prague's seven monitoring stations ranged 9.5–14.5 µg/m³ (urban-background midpoint ≈ 12 µg/m³). 2023 was an unusually clean year; the limit (20 µg/m³) was not exceeded.
Notes
About 2.4× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³) but well under the EU limit (20–25). A 2024 traffic station (Praha 2-Legerova) reached 15.5 µg/m³; winter heating and traffic are the main sources.
English proficiencyVery high
i

EF EPI 2025 (rank 15/123, score 600 — Very High band)

Research

Data as of
Nov 1, 2025
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Own band informed by EF EPI (attribution: EF Education First); English is broadly workable in cities and the service sector, less so in offices/government.
High
i

EF EPI 2025 (rank 23/123, score 582 — High band)

Research

Data as of
Nov 1, 2025
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Czechia rank 23/123, score 582, EF 'High'/B2 band. English is broadly workable in Prague/Brno and the service and tech sectors, thinner in smaller towns and public offices. Czech is the sole official language.

Optimising tax, banking and crypto rules.

Prague fits better — 2 of 3

KrakówPrague
Crypto regulationLegal regulated
i

Polish tax authority — disposal of virtual currencies (PIT-38, 19%)

Official source

Data as of
Jul 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Holding/trading legal for individuals; 19% flat tax on disposal gains (crypto-to-crypto swaps untaxed). EU MiCA applies; Poland's domestic implementing act was vetoed (latest 2026-06-11), so local CASP licensing is stalled — EU-passported providers serve the market.
Legal friendly
i

Finanční správa — exemption of income from transfer of crypto-assets (§4 Income Tax Act, from 15 Feb 2025)

Official source

Data as of
Feb 15, 2025
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
Holding and trading are legal. From 15 Feb 2025 individuals enjoy two explicit exemptions: a value test (crypto income up to 100,000 CZK/year is tax-free) and a time test (crypto held over 3 years before sale is exempt, up to 40 million CZK/year). Otherwise gains are taxed as other income (§10) at 15%/23%. EU MiCA applies. The explicit exemptions and the 3-year 0% rule make this 'legal-friendly' (clear favourable rules), a notch above standard 'legal-regulated'.
Financial control levelLow
i

biznes.gov.pl — cash payment limits (art. 19 Prawo przedsiębiorców)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
May 3, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Composite: no currency/capital controls for EU/OECD flows (Prawo dewizowe, Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1131); PLN fully convertible; B2B cash cap 15,000 PLN per transaction, no consumer cash limit; no FBAR-style foreign-account disclosure (NBP statistical reporting only above 7M PLN of foreign assets); standard EU CRS via banks.
Low
i

Ministry of Finance — Act No. 254/2004 Coll. on restriction of cash payments (limit 270,000 CZK/day)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Composite: CZK is fully convertible with no capital/exchange controls (EU/OECD member; free movement of capital under EU law); cash-payment limit 270,000 CZK/day per payer-recipient pair (Act 254/2004), no limit on card/transfer payments; no FBAR-style foreign-account disclosure beyond EU CRS exchange via banks; free non-resident banking. Low state control over personal money flows.
Freelancer tax burden23.6%
i

SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (biznes.gov.pl)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Best eligible scheme pl-ryczalt-it-12 at €60,000 revenue = 257,400 PLN (ECB 4.29): ZUS social 21,459.48 + health 9,966.96 + Labor Fund 1,661.64 + 12% lump-sum tax 27,714.84 = 60,802.92 PLN → 23.6%. Expenses don't reduce ryczałt.
13%
i

SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (Finanční správa, ČSSZ, VZP)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Best eligible scheme cz-osvc-pausal-60 at €60,000 revenue = 1,452,960 CZK (ECB EUR/CZK 24.216): 60% expense lump-sum → profit 581,184; social 29.2%×55% = 93,338.15; health 13.5%×50% = 39,663.27 (min floor); PIT (581,184 − 205,600 allowance) × 15% = 56,337.60; total levies 189,339.02 → 13.03%. The paušální-daň Band 2 (200,940 CZK fixed) gives 13.83%, so the 60% lump-sum wins at this income. Expenses are the statutory 60% flat rate, not actual costs.

Prioritising safety, air, and an easy daily life.

Kraków fits better — 3 of 4

KrakówPrague
Homicide rate0.69/100k
i

Eurostat — police-recorded intentional homicide (ICCS 0101)

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2024
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Completed homicides. UNODC latest (2023): 0.80 per 100k. Polish police's ~503 'zabójstwa' (2024) includes attempts.
0.77/100k
i

UNODC / World Bank — intentional homicides per 100,000 (Czechia, 2023)

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
UNODC series via World Bank: 0.768 per 100,000 in 2023 (down from 0.815 in 2022). Rounded to 0.77. 2024 not yet published at the national series level on checked sources.
Air quality (PM2.5)19.5 µg/m³
i

EEA European city air quality viewer

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
EEA urban-background city value, 2-year average (2022–2023). Corroborated by GIOŚ 2024 single-year annual mean at the Bujaka urban-background station (17 µg/m³).
Notes
Nearly 4× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³); within the current EU limit (25) but above the 2030 EU limit (10). Kraków's winter smog is a well-known problem — heating-season readings run far higher than the annual mean.
12 µg/m³
i

SZÚ / ČHMÚ — outdoor air quality assessment, Prague 2023

Official source

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
SZÚ/ČHMÚ report: 2023 annual PM2.5 means at Prague's seven monitoring stations ranged 9.5–14.5 µg/m³ (urban-background midpoint ≈ 12 µg/m³). 2023 was an unusually clean year; the limit (20 µg/m³) was not exceeded.
Notes
About 2.4× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³) but well under the EU limit (20–25). A 2024 traffic station (Praha 2-Legerova) reached 15.5 µg/m³; winter heating and traffic are the main sources.
Cost of living (single, excl. rent)$753/mo
i

GUS — Household Budget Survey 2024 (one-person households), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
May 31, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
GUS one-person household consumer spending 2,888.89 PLN/mo (2024) minus actual-rentals line 235.10 → 2,653.79 PLN; uplifted by CPI (+3.6% 2025 avg, +3.1% y/y May 2026) → ≈2,835 PLN; converted at 3.7635 PLN/USD (ECB 2026-07-02). Cross-checked against Eurostat price-level indices (PL ≈ 72% of EU27).
$785/mo
i

ČSÚ — Household Consumption Expenditures 2024 (per-capita CZ-COICOP), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jun 30, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
ČSÚ 2024 all-households per-capita consumption 212,569 CZK/yr minus actual rentals (04.1) 19,621 CZK → 192,948 CZK/yr = 16,079 CZK/mo excluding rent; uplifted by CPI to mid-2026 (2025 avg +2.5%, +~1.1% into 2026 → ×1.037) → ≈16,674 CZK/mo; converted at 21.244 CZK/USD (ECB 2026-07-02, EUR/CZK 24.216 ÷ EUR/USD 1.1399) → ≈$785. All-households per-capita basis (single-person basket not separately published in this release); city living runs somewhat higher.
Climate comfort6/12 mo
i

SettleMetric computation over climate-normals

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Dec 31, 2020
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Months with mean daily max 15–28°C and precipitation < 150mm: Apr (15.1°C), May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep = 6.
5/12 mo
i

SettleMetric computation over climate-normals

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Dec 31, 2020
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Months with mean daily max 15–28°C and precipitation < 150mm: May (18.9), Jun (22.2), Jul (24.5), Aug (24.4), Sep (19.1) = 5 (April misses at 14.5°C).

Details

Taxes

CriterionKrakówPrague
Freelancer tax burden% effective burden at €60k/year self-employed profile23.6
i

SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (biznes.gov.pl)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Best eligible scheme pl-ryczalt-it-12 at €60,000 revenue = 257,400 PLN (ECB 4.29): ZUS social 21,459.48 + health 9,966.96 + Labor Fund 1,661.64 + 12% lump-sum tax 27,714.84 = 60,802.92 PLN → 23.6%. Expenses don't reduce ryczałt.
6.3
13
i

SettleMetric tax engine over official 2026 rules (Finanční správa, ČSSZ, VZP)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Best eligible scheme cz-osvc-pausal-60 at €60,000 revenue = 1,452,960 CZK (ECB EUR/CZK 24.216): 60% expense lump-sum → profit 581,184; social 29.2%×55% = 93,338.15; health 13.5%×50% = 39,663.27 (min floor); PIT (581,184 − 205,600 allowance) × 15% = 56,337.60; total levies 189,339.02 → 13.03%. The paušální-daň Band 2 (200,940 CZK fixed) gives 13.83%, so the 60% lump-sum wins at this income. Expenses are the statutory 60% flat rate, not actual costs.
8.4

Legalization

CriterionKrakówPrague
Remote-work legalization easeLong stay path
i

Wielkopolska Voivodeship Office — business-activity residence permit

Official source

Data as of
Jul 3, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
No digital nomad visa (verified absent on gov.pl); Poland Business Harbour suspended since Jan 2024. Realistic long-stay route: temporary residence via business activity (renewable, up to 3 years) — but sole-proprietorship registration is limited to specific statuses, so most non-EU/non-US freelancers route through a company.
6.0
Long stay path
i

Ministry of the Interior — long-term residence for the purpose of business (podnikání / živnostenské oprávnění)

Official source

Data as of
Jul 4, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
Czechia has no dedicated digital-nomad visa (the earlier special programme for selected nationalities was a labour scheme, not a nomad visa). The realistic long-stay route for a location-independent earner is the long-term residence/long-stay visa for the purpose of business, held on a Czech trade licence (živnostenské oprávnění); renewable and a path toward permanent residence. Classified 'long-stay-path' (renewable temporary residence), not a dedicated nomad visa.
6.0

Cost of living

CriterionKrakówPrague
Cost of living (single, excl. rent)USD/month, single person, excluding rent753
i

GUS — Household Budget Survey 2024 (one-person households), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
May 31, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
GUS one-person household consumer spending 2,888.89 PLN/mo (2024) minus actual-rentals line 235.10 → 2,653.79 PLN; uplifted by CPI (+3.6% 2025 avg, +3.1% y/y May 2026) → ≈2,835 PLN; converted at 3.7635 PLN/USD (ECB 2026-07-02). Cross-checked against Eurostat price-level indices (PL ≈ 72% of EU27).
8.7
785
i

ČSÚ — Household Consumption Expenditures 2024 (per-capita CZ-COICOP), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jun 30, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
ČSÚ 2024 all-households per-capita consumption 212,569 CZK/yr minus actual rentals (04.1) 19,621 CZK → 192,948 CZK/yr = 16,079 CZK/mo excluding rent; uplifted by CPI to mid-2026 (2025 avg +2.5%, +~1.1% into 2026 → ×1.037) → ≈16,674 CZK/mo; converted at 21.244 CZK/USD (ECB 2026-07-02, EUR/CZK 24.216 ÷ EUR/USD 1.1399) → ≈$785. All-households per-capita basis (single-person basket not separately published in this release); city living runs somewhat higher.
8.6
Monthly spending by category (excl. rent)
CategoryKraków
i

GUS Household Budget Survey 2024 (one-person households), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
May 31, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
GUS 2024 one-person household spending by COICOP category, minus the actual-rentals line, CPI-uplifted to mid-2026 (×1.068) and converted at 3.7635 PLN/USD. Categories sum to the ~$753/mo cost-of-living aggregate. National average — city living runs somewhat higher.
Prague
i

ČSÚ Household Consumption Expenditures 2024 (per-capita CZ-COICOP), CPI-uplifted

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jun 30, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
ČSÚ 2024 all-households per-capita annual spending by CZ-COICOP division (Kč/yr): food 37,888; housing excl. rent 35,314 (04 total 54,935 − 04.1 rent 19,621); transport 21,063; recreation 18,904; restaurants 15,574; furnishings 12,680; info & communication 11,887; clothing 8,373; alcohol & tobacco 6,652; insurance & finance 6,689; health 6,880; education 1,665. Each ÷12, ×1.037 CPI uplift, ÷21.244 CZK/USD. Categories approximate the ~$785/mo cost-of-living aggregate (small housing sub-lines within 04.4 rounded).
Food & non-alcoholic drinks$205
Food & non-alcoholic beverages$154
Utilities (electricity, gas, water)$147
Transport$59$86
Housing utilities (energy, water, maintenance) excl. rent$144
Health (out-of-pocket)$55$28
Other (alcohol, tobacco, misc.)$77
Recreation, sport & culture$77
Restaurants & accommodation$63
Clothing & footwear$26$34
Restaurants & eating out$59
Recreation & culture$55
Furnishings & household equipment$52
Information & communication$48
Household goods$38
Communications$32
Alcohol & tobacco$27
Insurance & financial services$27
Education services$7
Total (excl. rent)$753/mo$747/mo

Housing

Rent by apartment type

Asking rent, central price with outside-centre in parentheses ($/mo).

ApartmentKraków
i

ZnajdzNajem Kraków report (by room + district), Otodom Analytics cross-check

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 3, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
City-wide asking rent by room count (ZnajdzNajem, 2026-07-03: studio 2,206, 1-2rm 2,883, 3rm 3,778, 4rm 5,125 PLN) split into central vs outside using ZnajdzNajem district multipliers (central Stare Miasto/Kazimierz/Zwierzyniec ×1.216; outside Nowa Huta/Prądnik Biały ×0.860), converted at 3.7635 PLN/USD. Cross-checked against Otodom Analytics by-size brackets (May 2026).
Notes
Central/outside cells are DERIVED (city room-average × district multiplier). City-wide-by-room and district averages are directly observed. Central = Stare Miasto and adjacent districts; outside = Nowa Huta, Prądnik Biały, etc.
Prague
i

Deloitte Czech Rent Index Q1 2026 (Prague, per-m² offered rents by district)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Mar 31, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Deloitte Q1 2026 offered-rent per-m² figures — Prague city-wide 466 CZK/m²/mo; central Prague 1 505 CZK/m² (×1.084 vs city); outer-district factor 429 CZK/m² (×0.92, below Prague 5's 459) — applied to standard sizes by room class (studio/1+kk 30 m², 1BR/2+kk 47 m², 2BR/3+kk 68 m², 3BR/4+kk 90 m²), converted at 21.244 CZK/USD (ECB EUR/CZK 24.216 ÷ EUR/USD 1.1399, 2026-07-02). The 1BR city-wide figure (466×47 ≈ $1,031) matches the scored rent-1br-center value.
Notes
DERIVED matrix: Deloitte publishes offered rent per m² by district, not a room-count × center/outside table. Cells = district per-m² rate × typical unit size for each room class. Center = Prague 1 (top published district); outside = outer residential districts (≈0.92 of city mean). Prague's district rent spread is narrower than in some capitals, so the center/outside gap here is modest. Room sizes are conventional Czech class midpoints.
Studio$712 ($505)$713 ($606)
1-bedroom$930 ($659)$1,117 ($949)
2-bedroom$1,220 ($864)$1,616 ($1,373)
3-bedroom$1,655 ($1,172)$2,139 ($1,817)

Safety

CriterionKrakówPrague
Homicide rateintentional homicides per 100,000/year0.7
i

Eurostat — police-recorded intentional homicide (ICCS 0101)

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2024
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Completed homicides. UNODC latest (2023): 0.80 per 100k. Polish police's ~503 'zabójstwa' (2024) includes attempts.
9.6
0.8
i

UNODC / World Bank — intentional homicides per 100,000 (Czechia, 2023)

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
UNODC series via World Bank: 0.768 per 100,000 in 2023 (down from 0.815 in 2022). Rounded to 0.77. 2024 not yet published at the national series level on checked sources.
9.5

Climate

CriterionKrakówPrague
Climate comfortpleasant months/year6
i

SettleMetric computation over climate-normals

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Dec 31, 2020
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Months with mean daily max 15–28°C and precipitation < 150mm: Apr (15.1°C), May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep = 6.
6.0
5
i

SettleMetric computation over climate-normals

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Dec 31, 2020
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Months with mean daily max 15–28°C and precipitation < 150mm: May (18.9), Jun (22.2), Jul (24.5), Aug (24.4), Sep (19.1) = 5 (April misses at 14.5°C).
5.0
Air quality (PM2.5)µg/m³, annual mean PM2.519.5
i

EEA European city air quality viewer

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
EEA urban-background city value, 2-year average (2022–2023). Corroborated by GIOŚ 2024 single-year annual mean at the Bujaka urban-background station (17 µg/m³).
Notes
Nearly 4× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³); within the current EU limit (25) but above the 2030 EU limit (10). Kraków's winter smog is a well-known problem — heating-season readings run far higher than the annual mean.
4.2
12
i

SZÚ / ČHMÚ — outdoor air quality assessment, Prague 2023

Official source

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
SZÚ/ČHMÚ report: 2023 annual PM2.5 means at Prague's seven monitoring stations ranged 9.5–14.5 µg/m³ (urban-background midpoint ≈ 12 µg/m³). 2023 was an unusually clean year; the limit (20 µg/m³) was not exceeded.
Notes
About 2.4× the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³) but well under the EU limit (20–25). A 2024 traffic station (Praha 2-Legerova) reached 15.5 µg/m³; winter heating and traffic are the main sources.
7.2

Healthcare

CriterionKrakówPrague
Private healthcare costUSD/year, comprehensive private insurance premium, healthy 35-year-old1,600
i

LuxMed / Medicover / Signal Iduna comprehensive (with-inpatient) plans — market midpoint; insurers quote on request

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 3, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Comprehensive private plans that include inpatient/hospital cover — top-tier LuxMed/Medicover subscriptions (own or partner hospitals) and standalone health insurance (Signal Iduna, Allianz Zdrowie, PZU) — run ≈400–700 PLN/month. Healthy-35-year-old midpoint ≈ 500 PLN/mo ≈ 6,000 PLN/yr ≈ $1,595 at 3.7635 PLN/USD (range ≈ $1,275–$2,230). Premiums are quoted on request, so this is a curated market midpoint, not a public engine quote.
Notes
Residents are covered by mandatory public insurance (NFZ); private cover is optional. Most people buy only a cheaper OUTPATIENT subscription (LuxMed/Medicover ≈150–250 PLN/mo ≈ $600/yr) and use the public system for hospital care. This figure is the with-inpatient comprehensive tier, chosen to be comparable with other countries' comprehensive plans (the earlier $603 was an outpatient-only subscription mislabelled as comprehensive).
7.0
1,186
i

PVZP Comprehensive medical insurance (EXCLUSIVE) + UNIQA/Slavia/Maxima comprehensive foreigner plans — market midpoint; insurers quote on request

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 4, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Comprehensive (outpatient + inpatient/hospital, benefit limit 1.8–10 million CZK/event, ~EUR 400,000) commercial medical insurance for foreigners — PVZP Comprehensive EXCLUSIVE and comparable UNIQA/Slavia/Maxima/Ergo products — runs ≈1,700–2,500 CZK/month for a healthy 35-year-old. Midpoint ≈2,100 CZK/mo ≈ 25,200 CZK/yr ≈ $1,186 at 21.244 CZK/USD (range ≈ $960–$1,412). Premiums are quoted on request, so this is a curated market midpoint.
Notes
Residents with a residence permit and local work/business are covered by mandatory public health insurance (VZP etc.) at 13.5% of the assessment base — comprehensive commercial cover is mainly for those not yet in the public system (long-stay visa holders must carry it). This figure is the comprehensive with-inpatient tier, chosen to be comparable with other countries' comprehensive plans; a cheaper 'basic' (urgent-care-only) foreigner plan starts around 900 CZK/mo.
8.0

Money & crypto

CriterionKrakówPrague
Crypto regulationLegal regulated
i

Polish tax authority — disposal of virtual currencies (PIT-38, 19%)

Official source

Data as of
Jul 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Holding/trading legal for individuals; 19% flat tax on disposal gains (crypto-to-crypto swaps untaxed). EU MiCA applies; Poland's domestic implementing act was vetoed (latest 2026-06-11), so local CASP licensing is stalled — EU-passported providers serve the market.
8.0
Legal friendly
i

Finanční správa — exemption of income from transfer of crypto-assets (§4 Income Tax Act, from 15 Feb 2025)

Official source

Data as of
Feb 15, 2025
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
Holding and trading are legal. From 15 Feb 2025 individuals enjoy two explicit exemptions: a value test (crypto income up to 100,000 CZK/year is tax-free) and a time test (crypto held over 3 years before sale is exempt, up to 40 million CZK/year). Otherwise gains are taxed as other income (§10) at 15%/23%. EU MiCA applies. The explicit exemptions and the 3-year 0% rule make this 'legal-friendly' (clear favourable rules), a notch above standard 'legal-regulated'.
10.0
Financial control levelLow
i

biznes.gov.pl — cash payment limits (art. 19 Prawo przedsiębiorców)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
May 3, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Composite: no currency/capital controls for EU/OECD flows (Prawo dewizowe, Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1131); PLN fully convertible; B2B cash cap 15,000 PLN per transaction, no consumer cash limit; no FBAR-style foreign-account disclosure (NBP statistical reporting only above 7M PLN of foreign assets); standard EU CRS via banks.
10.0
Low
i

Ministry of Finance — Act No. 254/2004 Coll. on restriction of cash payments (limit 270,000 CZK/day)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jan 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Composite: CZK is fully convertible with no capital/exchange controls (EU/OECD member; free movement of capital under EU law); cash-payment limit 270,000 CZK/day per payer-recipient pair (Act 254/2004), no limit on card/transfer payments; no FBAR-style foreign-account disclosure beyond EU CRS exchange via banks; free non-resident banking. Low state control over personal money flows.
10.0

Infrastructure

CriterionKrakówPrague
Domestic delivery qualityExcellent
i

InPost official news / carrier service pages (composite)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Dec 31, 2025
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
InPost >28,000 parcel lockers (end-2025) with 98% next-day delivery and 763M parcels/yr; ORLEN Paczka ~14k pickup points; Poczta Polska 7.6k offices + 14.3k parcel points; DPD/DHL/GLS/UPS/FedEx nationwide. Next-day is the domestic norm.
10.0
Excellent
i

Packeta/Zásilkovna official news + Czech Post / carrier service pages (composite)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Dec 31, 2025
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Packeta/Zásilkovna: ~6,200 Z-BOX lockers + ~4,000 staffed pickup points (≈10,000 points in Czechia), 184 million parcels delivered in 2025; Czech Post (Česká pošta) nationwide with Balíkovna pickup; PPL, DPD, GLS, DHL nationwide with next-day standard. Dense locker + PUDO network; next-day delivery is the norm.
10.0
International delivery easeMinor friction
i

European Commission — removal of the €150 customs duty exemption (Reg. EU 2026/382)

Official source

Data as of
Jul 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Intra-EU shipping is frictionless (single market, all major carriers). Non-EU imports: the €150 duty-free threshold was removed on 2026-07-01 — a temporary flat €3/item duty applies to ≤€150 IOSS consignments (until the 2028 Customs Data Hub); VAT collected at checkout via IOSS. Predictable but no longer duty-free.
7.0
Minor friction
i

European Commission — temporary flat fee on low-value imports (applies from 1 July 2026, EU-wide incl. Czechia)

Official source

Data as of
Jul 1, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
Intra-EU shipping is frictionless (single market, all major carriers). Non-EU imports: the EU removed the €150 duty-free threshold and from 1 July 2026 a temporary flat €3/item duty applies to ≤€150 consignments (until 2028); VAT is collected at checkout via IOSS. Predictable but no longer duty-free — same EU regime as other member states.
7.0
Internet speedMbps, median fixed download41.7
i

M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Poland

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
Median of 343 daily country medians, 563,348 tests (2023 — latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API; 2025/2026 files not yet published).
Notes
M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below Ookla-style figures — comparable only within this criterion.
4.0
30.1
i

M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Czechia

Open data

Data as of
Dec 31, 2023
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Median of 343 daily country medians, 957,549 download tests (2023 — latest full year in M-Lab's public stats API; 2025/2026 files not yet published).
Notes
M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below Ookla-style figures (Czech fixed broadband commonly markets 100–1000 Mbps) — comparable only within this criterion.
2.5

Language

CriterionKrakówPrague
English proficiencyVery high
i

EF EPI 2025 (rank 15/123, score 600 — Very High band)

Research

Data as of
Nov 1, 2025
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Notes
Own band informed by EF EPI (attribution: EF Education First); English is broadly workable in cities and the service sector, less so in offices/government.
9.0
High
i

EF EPI 2025 (rank 23/123, score 582 — High band)

Research

Data as of
Nov 1, 2025
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Notes
Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Czechia rank 23/123, score 582, EF 'High'/B2 band. English is broadly workable in Prague/Brno and the service and tech sectors, thinner in smaller towns and public offices. Czech is the sole official language.
7.0

Education

CriterionKrakówPrague
International schoolsaccredited international schools, count7
i

IB World Schools directory (find-an-ib-school)

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 3, 2026
Verified
Jul 3, 2026
Method
IB finder results for country=PL, keyword 'Krakow': British International School of Cracow, International School of Krakow, Open Future, Kolegium Europejskie, VI LO, VIII PALO, Da Vinci's.
Notes
±1 uncertainty; CIS/COBIS-only schools not yet counted.
6.6
9
i

Accreditor registries (IB World Schools, AEFE, German ZfA, CIS/COBIS/BSO, Cambridge International) — per-school verification

Curated by SettleMetric

Data as of
Jul 4, 2026
Verified
Jul 4, 2026
Method
Count of Prague-metro schools each individually confirmed against a qualifying accreditor: (1) International School of Prague — CIS + NEASC, IB continuum (ibo.org/en/school/000889); (2) The English College in Prague — IB DP (ibo.org/en/school/000821); (3) Prague British International School / Nord Anglia — IB DP (ibo.org/en/school/001042); (4) Park Lane International School — IB PYP/MYP/DP (ibo.org/en/school/052209); (5) Nový PORG — IB DP + Cambridge (ibo.org/en/school/004534); (6) Riverside School — CIS + IB + COBIS + BSO (school accreditation page); (7) Lycée français de Prague — AEFE-homologated, all levels (aefe.gouv.fr); (8) Deutsche Schule Prag — German ZfA-recognized Auslandsschule, 'Excellent German School Abroad' seal; (9) Meridian International School — British Schools Overseas (ISI BSO report), Cambridge International pathway. Aggregator sites were used only to find candidates, not as the recorded source.
Notes
Verified FLOOR of 9 (±2). The IB find-an-ib-school finder and some accreditor registries returned 403 to automated fetches, so each school was confirmed via its own IB school-detail page, accreditor report, or accreditor's official listing rather than a single directory pull. Additional Prague schools may hold qualifying accreditation but were not each individually verified this cycle (e.g. Christian International School of Prague is ACSI/MSA-accredited — a US regional/faith accreditor, not on the IB/Cambridge/AEFE/German/CIS/COBIS list — so it is excluded from this strict count).
7.1