How to choose a flat to rent in Prague
From your budget and choice of neighbourhood to signing the agreement: what to look at so the flat suits you and your wallet, and you don't lose your deposit.
1. Work out your budget
Typical rent in Prague is CZK 15 100 for a 1+kk, CZK 19 300 for a 2+kk (two rooms plus a kitchenette) and CZK 23 600 for a 3+kk a month, plus advances for service charges and energy. Many people set a limit of a third of the household's net income for housing in total.
Typical rent in Prague by flat size
| Flat | Monthly | Kč/m² |
|---|---|---|
| 1+kk, 1+1 · 35 m² | 15 100 Kč | 431 |
| 2+kk, 2+1 · 53 m² | 19 300 Kč | 365 |
| 3+kk, 3+1 · 71 m² | 23 600 Kč | 332 |
| 4 rooms or more · 88 m² | 28 300 Kč | 322 |
Source: Ministry of Finance, rent price map (Act No. 151/1997 Coll., Decree No. 456/2024 Coll.), data up to 6/2026.
2. Choose the neighbourhood before the flat
You can swap a flat after a year, but the neighbourhood decides your daily journeys, the noise under your windows and your catchment school. Before you start browsing listings, narrow your search to a few neighbourhoods:
- Commute to work or school. On a neighbourhood's page, enter your address and see how long the journey takes by public transport.
- Noise. For every neighbourhood we show how many addresses are above the health limit for traffic noise.
- Schools and nurseries. The catchment school depends on the address of your permanent residence, not on the neighbourhood. Check it by address.
- Price. Rents differ between neighbourhoods by thousands of crowns a month.
3. The viewing
Go to the viewing with a list of questions ready, ideally in daylight and at a time when there is traffic in the street. Ask about the service charge advances and the last annual statement, who owns the flat, and the house rules. The full list is in the flat viewing checklist.
4. The agreement and handover
- Ask for the agreement in writing and read it calmly at home before signing.
- Check that it is signed by the owner of the flat or someone with their power of attorney (you can check the owner for free in the land registry, katastr nemovitostí).
- At handover, write up a handover report recording the state of the flat, its furnishings and the meter readings, and photograph everything. Without a report, disputes over the deposit are hard to settle.
What can and cannot be in the agreement, how big the deposit may be and how notice works are summed up in the guide to tenancy agreements.
5. After moving in
Register your permanent residence if you want your children to be entitled to a place at the catchment school. Transfer the electricity and gas into your name, take out home contents insurance and find a GP nearby.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to start renting?
Budget for the first month's rent, the deposit (at most three times the rent, often one to two months) and, with an estate agent, their commission. For a 2+kk (two rooms plus a kitchenette) at CZK 19 300, that can add up to more than CZK 60,000.
What should I check at a viewing?
Damp and mould, the windows, the state of the wiring and appliances, street noise, the size of the service charge advances, and who actually owns the flat. There is a detailed list in our viewing checklist.
Can I register permanent residence in a rented flat?
Yes, the tenancy agreement serves as proof that you are entitled to use the flat. A child's permanent residence also decides their catchment primary school and nursery school.