CITY / CITYVerified city comparison
KrakówvsPrague.
Kraków is stronger on 5 of 8 headline facts; Prague on 3. Cost of living (single, excl. rent): Kraków $753/mo, Prague $785/mo. Freelancer tax burden: Kraków 23.6%, Prague 13%. Climate comfort: Kraków 6/12 mo, Prague 5/12 mo.
VerifiedUpdated
14 compared criteria · 27 sources · country-level facts are clearly inherited
pl / cz · SettleMetric
01
The key differences
The key numbers head-to-head — the stronger side is marked. The overall score stays decoration; what matters is which facts fit you.
Headline result
Kraków leads on 5 of 8
Kraków
5
Prague
3
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
02
Which city fits your plan?
Each lens weighs only the facts that matter to that plan, and names the side it favours.
Remote IT / freelancer
Contract or freelance in tech, billing clients abroad.
Kraków fits better — 3 of 5
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Family
Relocating with a partner and school-age children.
Prague fits better — 3 of 5
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Money & crypto
Optimising tax, banking and crypto rules.
Prague fits better — 2 of 3
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Calm lifestyle
Prioritising safety, air, and an easy daily life.
Kraków fits better — 3 of 4
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
03
The full comparison
Open any fact to see what it measures, how fresh it is and the complete source trail for both cities.
01
Taxes
01+−Freelancer tax burden% effective burden at €60k/year self-employed profileKraków23.6Praguestronger13
What this measures
Effective total burden (income tax + mandatory social and health contributions) for a solo IT freelancer with €60,000/year revenue and 10% deductible expenses, using the most favourable eligible scheme in the country's tax-schemes data. Computed by the SettleMetric tax engine; recorded as a curated value with the winning scheme id in method.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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.
02
Legalization
01+−Remote-work legalization easeKrakówLong stay pathPragueLong stay path
What this measures
Best available legalization route for a location-independent earner with a median (non-EU, non-US) passport, classified from this country's legalization-paths data: dedicated digital-nomad visa; general freelance/self-employment permit; realistic long-stay path (e.g. renewable temporary residence); only short visa-free/tourist stays; effectively none.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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.
03
Cost of living
01+−Cost of living (single, excl. rent)USD/month, single person, excluding rentKrakówstronger753Prague785
What this measures
Monthly cost of a defined single-person basket (food, transport, utilities, mobile+internet, modest leisure) excluding rent, curated from national statistics office price data and large local retailers' published prices, converted to USD at the ECB rate recorded in fx-rates. The method field of each value itemizes the basket inputs.
Kraków
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).
Prague
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.
Monthly spending by category (excl. rent)
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.
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 ~$785/mo cost-of-living aggregate (small housing sub-lines within 04.4 rounded).
04
Housing
Rent by apartment type
Asking rent, central price with outside-centre in parentheses ($/mo).
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.
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.
05
Safety
01+−Homicide rateintentional homicides per 100,000/yearKrakówstronger0.7Prague0.8
What this measures
Intentional homicide victims per 100,000 population, latest available year. Country level: UNODC national series. City level: official municipal/police statistics where published; otherwise null (country value shown as country-level).
Kraków
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.
Prague
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.
06
Climate
01+−Climate comfortpleasant months/yearKrakówstronger6Prague5
What this measures
Number of months whose 1991–2020 climate normals satisfy: mean daily maximum between 15°C and 28°C and monthly precipitation under 150mm. Computed from the city's climate-normals indicator; the raw normals are stored alongside so users can judge by their own taste.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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).
02+−Air quality (PM2.5)µg/m³, annual mean PM2.5Kraków19.5Praguestronger12
What this measures
Annual mean fine-particulate (PM2.5) concentration for the city, latest available year. Anchors follow the WHO 2021 guideline (5 µg/m³ → 10) through the EU limit value territory (25 µg/m³ → 2). Preferred source: European Environment Agency city-level air quality data; outside Europe: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database or the national monitoring network.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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.
07
Healthcare
01+−Private healthcare costUSD/year, comprehensive private insurance premium, healthy 35-year-oldKraków1,600Praguestronger1,186
What this measures
Median of at least three publicly quoted annual premiums for comprehensive private medical insurance (outpatient + inpatient, ~$100k coverage, small deductible) for a healthy 35-year-old resident foreigner, from local and international insurers. Method field lists the insurers quoted.
Kraków
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).
Prague
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.
08
Money & crypto
01+−Crypto regulationKrakówLegal regulatedPraguestrongerLegal friendly
What this measures
Own classification of the legal status of holding, trading and cashing out cryptocurrency for individuals: legal-friendly (legal with clear, favourable rules or explicit tax exemptions), legal-regulated (legal under standard licensing/AML and taxation), restricted (partial bans: payments or banking access prohibited), banned (holding/trading prohibited). Classified from national regulators' and central banks' official positions.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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'.
02+−Financial control levelKrakówLowPragueLow
What this measures
Own composite of state control over personal money flows: currency/capital controls (IMF AREAER), restrictions on foreign accounts and transfers, mandatory income declaration scope for residents, cash payment limits, banking access for foreigners. Low = free movement of personal funds and easy non-resident banking; very-high = strict capital controls and pervasive reporting. Method field on each value lists the inputs used.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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.
09
Infrastructure
01+−Domestic delivery qualityKrakówExcellentPragueExcellent
What this measures
Quality of in-country parcel delivery. excellent = nationwide next-day widely available, dense parcel-locker network, real-time tracking standard; good = 1–3 day delivery, lockers in major cities; basic = reliable but slow (3–7 days), mostly to-door or post-office pickup; poor = unreliable delivery, street addresses often unusable, informal workarounds common. Classified from official service/coverage data of the national postal operator and the two largest private carriers; inputs itemized in each value's method field.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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.
02+−International delivery easeKrakówMinor frictionPragueMinor friction
What this measures
Ease of receiving goods from abroad. seamless = major international carriers deliver door-to-door, meaningful duty-free de-minimis threshold, customs clearance predictable in days; minor-friction = carriers present but low de-minimis, extra paperwork or routine delays; significant-friction = frequent customs holds, high brokerage fees, some marketplaces refuse to ship; unreliable = parcels regularly lost or blocked, informal import channels dominate. De-minimis thresholds and clearance rules from the national customs authority (official source, cite the regulation); carrier presence from carriers' official pages.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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.
03+−Internet speedMbps, median fixed downloadKrakówstronger41.7Prague30.1
What this measures
Median fixed-broadband download speed over the trailing 6 months from M-Lab NDT open data (CC0), aggregated at country or city level. Not comparable with Ookla figures (different test methodology) — do not mix sources within this criterion.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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.
10
Language
01+−English proficiencyKrakówstrongerVery highPragueHigh
What this measures
Own banding of how far English gets a resident in daily life (government offices, healthcare, housing, services). Informed by EF EPI band (research source, cited with attribution, not republished) plus official language status and service-sector realities. Values are our bands, not EF scores.
Kraków
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.
Prague
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.
11
Education
01+−International schoolsaccredited international schools, countKraków7Praguestronger9
What this measures
Count of international schools in the metro area accredited by or member of IB, CIS, COBIS, or an equivalent national-curriculum-abroad body (verified against the accreditor's public registry, not aggregator sites).
Kraków
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.
Prague
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).