Moving to Plzeň
A new job, studies or a home closer to nature: what to sort out when you move to Plzeň and how to pick a neighbourhood you will enjoy living in. A typical 2+kk here costs CZK 13 800 a month.
1. Pick a neighbourhood
Plzeň has 25 neighbourhoods and each lives differently: the historic centre around náměstí Republiky, Slovany and Petrohrad with their apartment buildings, the big housing estates of Lochotín, Doubravka and Skvrňany, and villages on the edge of the city. Start with what you need: the commute, a school, green space or low rent.
2. What it will cost
A typical 2+kk in Plzeň costs CZK 13 800 a month, a 1+kk CZK 10 500 and a 3+kk CZK 16 000 (September 2026). Add advance payments for energy and services, and a one-off deposit: under the Civil Code at most three months' rent.
Typical rent in Plzeň by flat size
| Flat | Monthly | Kč/m² |
|---|---|---|
| 1+kk, 1+1 · 36 m² | 10 500 Kč | 293 |
| 2+kk, 2+1 · 55 m² | 13 800 Kč | 250 |
| 3+kk, 3+1 · 70 m² | 16 000 Kč | 229 |
| 4 rooms or more · 84 m² | 18 300 Kč | 218 |
Data up to 9/2026.
- Net salary: what is left of the gross salary on offer before you start counting rent, in the net salary calculator.
- What rent you can afford: a sensible rent for your income, so that something is left to live on, in how much rent can I afford (in Czech).
- Rent or buy: monthly rent against a mortgage payment on a similar flat in the mortgage calculator.
- Waste fee: Plzeň charges it to people registered here for permanent residence. The amount for your household and the due date are in waste fee in Plzeň (in Czech).
In detail by neighbourhood in the guide how much rent costs in Plzeň.
3. Before the move
- Check the specific flat: a neighbourhood is an average; the street and the building decide. At an address we show stops and the trip to the centre, shops, doctors, parks, air quality and schools. Take the flat viewing checklist to the viewing.
- Tenancy agreement and deposit: before signing, go through the length of the lease, notice periods, service advances and the deposit; the guide tenancy agreement, deposit and notice helps. At handover, write a handover report with the meter readings.
- Space for the moving van: if the van has to stand in the street longer or you want a reserved space, you need a permit for special use of the local road. The road administration office issues it and has up to 30 days to decide, so apply a month ahead.
- Electricity and gas: transfer the supply points to your name on the move-in date and note the meter readings. You do not have to stay with the previous tenant's supplier; switching energy supplier (in Czech) shows what a change saves.
4. After the move
- Permanent residence: report the change in person at the registration office (ohlašovna); where and when it is open is on the website of your city district. Bring your ID card and proof that you may use the flat (the tenancy agreement or the owner's consent); the fee is CZK 50, children under 15 do not pay it. If your ID card has the address printed in it, the office cuts off a corner and the card stays valid for 45 more days; apply for a new one by then. The steps are on the Citizen Portal: reporting a change of permanent residence (in Czech). Permanent residence decides, among other things, your children's catchment school and nursery and where you pay the waste fee.
- Health insurer and others: VZP and ZP MV ČR take the address from the population register, so you do not have to report it (what to report to your insurer, in Czech). Give the new address to your employer, bank, home insurer and everyone who sends you post.
- Car: the vehicle register does not learn about the new address by itself; file the change (in Czech) within 10 working days: online through the Transport Portal for CZK 40, at the vehicle register for CZK 50.
- Doctor: registration does not end when you move, but it pays to have your GP, dentist and paediatrician close by. You will find practices by district and with insurer contracts in the doctors overview.
- School and nursery: the catchment area follows the address of permanent residence, the catchment areas are set by a city decree and are shared by whole city districts. Enrolment for year 1 runs from 15. 1. 2027 to 15. 2. 2027, for nurseries from 15. 3. 2027 to 15. 4. 2027. Each school sets its exact days; more in the guide schools and nurseries in Plzeň.
5. Public transport and cars
Plzeň has trams, trolleybuses and buses run by Plzeňské městské dopravní podniky in the IDP system, with night lines at night. From a typical Plzeň address it takes 16 minutes to náměstí Republiky, fastest from Východní Předměstí. Daily commuters save with a long-term ticket: load it onto the Plzeňská karta chip card. Try the commute before you sign the contract. Tips on living without a car are in the guide living without a car in Plzeň.
Plzeň neighbourhoods closest to the centre
- 8 min to the centre Východní Předměstí Plzeň 2-Slovany
- 9 min to the centre Jižní Předměstí Plzeň 3
- 12 min to the centre Lobzy Plzeň 4
- 12 min to the centre Severní Předměstí Plzeň 1
- 13 min to the centre Božkov Plzeň 2-Slovany
6. Coming from abroad?
The rules for foreigners are changing (a new act on the residence of foreigners is being prepared), so always check the current conditions at the links.
- EU citizens: if you stay longer than 30 days, report your place of stay to the foreign police within 30 days of arrival, unless a hotel or other accommodation did it for you. For stays over three months you can get a certificate of temporary residence (registration of residence of an EU citizen).
- Non-EU citizens: report your place of stay to the foreign police within 3 working days of arrival. Long-term visas and residence permits are handled by the Ministry of the Interior (OAMP); report your new address to it after moving (obligations after arrival).
- Health insurance: employees of a Czech employer are enrolled in public insurance by the employer; anyone outside it needs comprehensive commercial insurance (healthcare for foreigners).
- Self-employed: with a trade licence you can join the flat-rate regime and pay tax and contributions in one monthly advance (flat tax calculator).
- Free help: the Centre for the Support of Integration of Foreigners for the Plzeň Region is based in Plzeň: social and legal counselling, Czech courses and adaptation-integration courses.
7. Studying?
Plzeň is home to the University of West Bohemia and the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University. Where to live close to the faculties at a reasonable price is in the guide where to live in Plzeň as a student.
Frequently asked questions
How much is rent in Plzeň?
A typical 2+kk flat costs CZK 13 800 a month in Plzeň, a 1+kk CZK 10 500 and a 3+kk CZK 16 000 (the rent price map, September 2026). The cheapest neighbourhoods are Koterov, Božkov and Jižní Předměstí.
Where do I register my permanent residence in Plzeň?
At the registration office (ohlašovna) for the address you will live at; where and when it is open is on the website of your city district (městský obvod). You need your ID card and a document showing your right to use the flat (such as the lease), or the owner’s consent. The fee is CZK 50; children under 15 do not pay it.
Do I have to change doctors after moving?
No. Your registration with a GP, dentist or paediatrician does not end when you move. If you want a doctor closer to home, simply register with a new one; you can change once every three months.
How does public transport work in Plzeň?
Plzeň has trams, trolleybuses and buses run by Plzeňské městské dopravní podniky in the Integrated Transport of the Plzeň Region (IDP). From a typical Plzeň address it takes 16 minutes to náměstí Republiky, fastest from Východní Předměstí.
Where can foreigners get help in Plzeň?
The Centre for the Support of Integration of Foreigners for the Plzeň Region is based in Plzeň: social and legal counselling, Czech courses and adaptation-integration courses. EU citizens report their place of stay to the foreign police within 30 days, others within 3 working days of arrival.
