How Much Does It Cost to Live In Kosice?
Košice is the second largest city in Slovakia.
It’s a great place for students to live in because it’s rather cheap compared to other European university cities and it’s also filled with bars and pubs so the city is alive during weekends and holidays.
As for the cost of living in this city – it obviously depends. On an average local salary, you can live fine but you won’t save much, whereas if you’re working for a foreign company you’ll be very free to spend.
In general, the cost of living here is pretty balanced.
Slovakia : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
There’s plenty of restaurants in Aupark and Optima shopping malls, where you can eat cheap food. You can also walk down Hlavná which is the main street in town and find so many places to eat that the only way you’re not going to find something that fits your taste is if you actually aren’t hungry. There are also many inexpensive restaurants where you can eat for only 5$. Alcohol in general is cheap.
MARKETS
Groceries are relatively cheap. However, there have been cases where Slovaks actually crossed the border into Austria to buy groceries as it’s cheaper and the groceries are of a better quality. Ingredients are local, seasonal and cheap and do not cost as much as they do in many other European cities. You can also try shopping for fresh produce in Kosice’s open markets.
TRANSPORTATION
Kosice has a small and compact city center, and all the main sights of the city are within walking distance. If you are staying outside the center and have to use public transport, the tram system is cheap and efficient. You can get practically anywhere and fast using public transport since it is very convenient and affordable. You can get an electronic ticket card which will make it more convenient for you to use it.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are very expensive, especially in comparison with other European cities, and in Kosice it’s even more expensive than in Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava. All the basic ones like gas, electricity, heating and cooling, for a larger apartment (if you have a family) of about 85m2, will cost around 240$. Internet, in turn, is very cheap in most households, costing only around 20$.
SPORTS & LEISURE
There are plenty of opportunities to practice sports in Kosice – the city is small and surrounded by well kept forests suitable for hiking, walking, running and cycling. You should know that Slovaks actually love to run to the mountains during weekends. However, if you’re more into exercising indoors, a fitness club membership will cost you around 30$.
CLOTHING & SHOES
You won’t need to go for a long trip to anywhere if you want to go shopping in Košice. There are quite a few shopping malls in Košice and they’re all around its center, and you may also find many historical center buildings that have interesting and chick boutiques hidden inside them. The prices are relatively on par with the European standard: quality jeans like Levi’s cost around 60$, while running sneakers are around 66$.
RENT PER MONTH
Renting an apartment in Kosice might cost you around 400$ for a one-bedroom apartment outside of the city center and might cost you well over 700$ if you are looking for a nice, modern and bigger apartment located in the center or some of the premium areas. The location is usually the most important part of the cost, apart from that it is quite flexible and you can choose what you prefer.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Kosice
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $5.10 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.59 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.08 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.75 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.97 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.62 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.68 |
| Monthly Pass | $22.68 |
| Gasoline | $1.50 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $237.88 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.09 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $21.39 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $33.41 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $8.50 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $7.37 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $60.94 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $34.00 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $66.00 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $502.64 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $394.76 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $775.12 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Kosice?
The single biggest expense in this city is going to be food although that’s pretty much relative and depending on your personal lifestyle.
The next expense is rent which is pretty high throughout Slovakia.
After rent and food, the biggest expenses are restaurants and transportation.
Transportation is necessary and everyone uses it daily, so it’s normal that 12% of one’s entire income gets spent on it.
Utilities have a much higher percentage than in most European cities, which goes to show how expensive they are in Slovakian cities.
Average Costs Breakdown
Kosice: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The good thing about living in Kosice is that there seems to be quite a lot of job positions in IT industry (companies like T-Systems, Global Logic etc.), so those who live here are actually pretty optimistic.
Taking into consideration the prices in this city, it can be said that the wages are low and many think it’s because people around Slovakia don’t have strong unions.
With a minimum wage of 590$ many can’t cover their expenses, especially if they’re renting an apartment.
Average monthly net salary is over 800$ so it’s safe to say that those who are smart about managing their salaries can earn enough for a decent living.
Cost of Living by City in Kosice
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Bratislava | 48.64 |
