Easy Transit & a Tough Language for Expats in Czechia in 2026

Czechia offers expats superb transport, strong work-life balance, and safe streets. But a difficult language and cold locals slow the welcome.

➡️You’re welcome to use these 2026 Expat Insider results. Please remember to credit InterNations as the source, and where possible, include a link to www.internations.org.

In this article:

In Brief
Transport, Safety & Nightlife
Balance & Job Security
A Cold, Reserved Welcome
A Hard Language & Slow Admin
The Typical Expat in Czechia
Further Reading

In Brief

Czechia ranks 25th out of 31 destinations in the Expat Insider 2026 survey. Its strengths are the Quality of Life (13th) and Working Abroad (13th) Indices, with a mid-table result in the Personal Finance Index (17th).

However, it’s not all easy going: Czechia places only 27th in the Ease of Settling In Index and second-to-last for the Expat Essentials Index (30th).

All in all, about seven in ten expats (72%) are happy with life there, mostly in line with the global average of 70%

Transport, Safety & Nightlife

Czechia ranks 13th in the Quality of Life Index, led by a great 6th place for Travel & Transit (6th). Expats particularly appreciate the affordability (3rd) and availability (3rd) of public transport as well as the opportunity to travel (3rd). In fact, nearly every respondent (97%) is satisfied with the latter factor (vs. 84% globally).

Opinion

It is clean, safe, easy to get around using public transport. Public services really do work well. Plus, it is very well located in Europe to make most destinations very accessible. (South African expat in Prague)

Opinion

Safety is another strength: the country ranks 5th for personal safety, with 63% even giving the factor the best possible rating (vs. 46% globally). Leisure Options (15th) are helped by a 7th-place finish for both culture and nightlife as well as recreational sports, but the culinary variety and dining options (23rd) keeps Czechia from a better result in the subcategory.

And while about seven in ten expats (72%) are satisfied with the affordability of healthcare (vs. 61% globally), its availability (23rd) and quality (22nd) are less of a delight.

Balance & Job Security

Czechia cinches another 13th place in the Working Abroad Index, with its best result in the index a 6th place in the Work & Leisure Subcategory. Three in four expats (75%) are satisfied with their work-life balance (vs. 62% globally), with the country placing 6th for working hours. The average full-time week is a short 40.6 hours against the 42.2-hour global norm.

Expats also regard their job security (62% feel secure vs. 54% globally) and the Czech job market (45% vs. 38%) more positively than respondents worldwide.

The catch is fair pay, which ranks 30th — only Norway receives a worse result for this factor. Fewer than half (48%) feel fairly compensated (vs. 58%). Still, Czechia places 12th for overall job satisfaction and 13th for personal career opportunities, a respectable picture beyond the weak pay.

A Cold, Reserved Welcome

Czechia ranks 27th in the Ease of Settling In Index. According to expats, the Local Friendliness (29th) is nothing to write home about: less than a third of expats (31%) find that the population is friendly towards foreign residents, 30 percentage points less than the global average of 61%.

Consequently, it seems hardly surprising that only 43% feel welcome in the country (vs. 64%), and around three in five (59%) struggle to make local friends (vs. 40%). When asked about their friends and acquaintances, about half of expats (53%) say they’re mostly other expats, above the 37% global share, reflecting a community that leans on its own early on.

A Hard Language & Slow Admin

Czechia receives its worst result in the Expat Essentials Index (30th). Only Germany receives an even worse result.

The language is the chief obstacle: Czechia places last in regard to how easy expats consider the local language to learn, with over three-quarters (77%) disagreeing with this factor (vs. 40% globally). In fact, the language barrier was the top pre-move worry, named by about three in five respondents (62%).

Opinion

The negativity towards people who don't speak the Czech language in bureaucratic situations can be very demeaning. (British expat in Prague)

Opinion

Admin Topics rank 22nd, dragged down by a 27th-place result for bureaucracy. The one bright spot of the index can be find in its Digital Life Subcategory: Czechia ranks 4th for unrestricted online access.