Moving to Czech Republic from Illinois
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Illinois to Czech Republic — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Illinois to Czech Republic, you would find that Czech Republic is 24.8% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly CZK1,356,322 in Czech Republic to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Czech and Slovak.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Illinois to Czech Republic.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CZK1,356,322
To maintain the same standard of living in Czech Republic
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 27.3% less
Groceries
pay 27.4% less
Transportation
pay 3.5% more
Housing
pay 29.3% less
Childcare
pay 68.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 29.8% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Czech Republic cost about 21% less than cities in Illinois.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Illinois to Czech Republic, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from United States to Czech Republic · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
How Illinois and Czech Republic stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Czech Republic performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Illinois performs better than Czech Republic across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Czech Republic generally does better on employment & economy, though Illinois leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Czech Republic performs significantly better than Illinois across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Springfield | Prague |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 42°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 67°/48°F (19°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 74°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Prague |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 37°/28°F (2.6°/-2.4°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 40°/29°F (4.4°/-1.8°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 48°/35°F (9.1°/1.5°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 59°/41°F (15.1°/5.1°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 69°/49°F (20.3°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 73°/55°F (22.8°/12.7°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 78°/58°F (25.3°/14.5°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 77°/58°F (25.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.5°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 58°/44°F (14.2°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 45°/36°F (7.2°/2.1°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Czech Hydrometeorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Czech Republic. To live, work, or study long-term in Czech Republic, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Czech Republic's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Czech Republic
Visa Free
Czech Republic passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Czech Republic than Illinois?
Generally yes: Czech Republic runs about 15% cheaper than Illinois on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Czech Republic?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around CZK339,080 in Czech Republic for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Czech Republic?
Working remotely from Czech Republic's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Czech Republic.
How is healthcare in Czech Republic compared to Illinois?
Czech Republic performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Czech Republic compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Prague is 57°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Prague receives around 17.1 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Czech Republic?
The official languages in Czech Republic are Czech and Slovak. In Illinois, the official language is English.
