So, you’re thinking of moving to Prague? I can confirm that you are making a great choice. However, there are a few mistakes you want to avoid upon doing so. I’ve now lived in Prague for over 9 months, and these are all personal accounts from my own experience moving to Prague.
For a little background, I am an American citizen with experience as an ESL Teacher (South Korea). I am currently working for two different schools here in Prague and moved in August of 2022. My brother moved to Prague the same week I did, had no experience teaching English, and found a job at an Irish pub. I plan to create a detailed blog post about moving to Prague including how I found a job, flat, bank account, and more!
For now, here are 10 mistakes to avoid when moving to Prague – enjoy!
1. Riding public transpiration without paying
Listen, I am not one to cut corners or take advantage of a system. When I first arrived to Prague, I downloaded the PID Lítačka app on my phone, purchased individual tickets, and activated them before hopping on the tram or metro. I soon assumed no one was checking these tickets, as I was never asked to present my ticket. And I was using public transpiration A LOT. Simply put, I got lazy.
A few weeks after moving to Prague, I rode the tram to an interview and lost my breath when I noticed two men walking down the aisle. They weren’t wearing uniforms, but had small badges and were holding electronic card readers. I knew in that moment I was done for. I hadn’t activated a ticket on this 10 minute tram ride, because I mean, it was only 10 minutes. What could happen?
When the ticket validator asked me for my ticket, I showed him my un-activated ticket and tried to play the dumb tourist card, “I have a ticket, but I didn’t realize it needed to be activated”. Don’t judge me. He wasn’t buying it and I was hit with a 1000 CZK ($40 USD) fine. From that moment on, I’ve purchased an unlimited monthly ticket pass each month. I have since been stopped multiple times, and I’m pleased to present them with my valid pass each time.
2. Purchasing the wrong phone plan
In Prague, there are a few different phone providers available including T-Mobile, O2, and Vodafone. Personally, I went with Vodafone because it was familiar to me after living abroad previously, and I read a couple good reviews of them online. When I initially went to Vodafone, I wanted some data to get me through the month. After moving to Prague, I didn’t know how long I would actually stay in Prague so didn’t want to sign up for a year long contract. I went to the shop in Palladium since I figured they would have some English-speaking employees.
While I did find someone that spoke English, he could have spoken Czech to me and I would probably have the same results.
The man wanted nothing to do with me and acted offended that I was in his shop to begin with. I explained my situation and he briefly presented a brochure in Czech outlining a few options. I didn’t see any that offered more than about 8 GB of data, and I only knew this because “8 GB” was about the only thing I could understand in the brochure. The service agent scoffed at me and continued to roll his eyes as I asked questions.
I went with 5 GB for about 150 CZK ($7 USD) just to give me something and get me out of there. It lasted me about a week. I was discouraged and nervous to go back. When I did go a second time, I was met with a lovely Czech agent (who also spoke English) and he set me up with a monthly phone plan which included unlimited data for 800 CZK ($36 USD) per month. There were no strings attached, I could cancel at any point, and I could pay my monthly bill using the Vodafone app on my phone.
All I am saying is, if at first you do not succeed (and pay $7 for 5 GB of data) try, try again and get a monthly phone plan with unlimited data. The people in Prague can be cold and unwilling to help at times, but they can also be gems and it’s always worth another shot. I currently use the “Unlimited Super” tariff here in the Czech Republic so ask for this if you are stuck!
3. Buying water bottles
This one is pretty simple, but as a girlie pop living in Southern California I always had a BRITA filter in my fridge. Happy to report that the water in Prague is safe to drink from the tap. It may not be as tasty as bottled water, but it does the job and is a fool-proof way to help the planet just a tad. Plus you’ll avoid spending money on water bottles.
4. Holding the doors open on the Metro as they close
I was lucky enough to spend a year living in New York City. Anyone will agree that on the subway in New York, it’s a free for all when it comes to boarding a train. Meaning, if those doors are closing but you are able to get a fingertip in there to stop them from closing completely – YOU’LL DO IT. Patience is not a virtue in Manhattan. And no one has time to wait for the next train.
Simply put, that’s NOT the case in Prague. One afternoon I head down to the Metro with a coworker of mine. As we approached the platform, we saw the train hadn’t left so we rushed towards the closest door. As we were face to face with the door, the conductor began closing the doors on us. Rude, but whatever. Regardless, I stuck my arm out, stopped the doors from closing and boarded the train. New York style.
When I tell you this man got out of the conductor car and entered the passenger car to yell at me… He made the entire train wait even longer as he waved his finger at me and started screaming in Czech. I could tell what he wanted from me without understanding a word he said. That red face and angry scowl said enough. I was shook, but I got off the train.
Use this as a cautionary tale and avoid holding the doors open on the Metro – plain and simple.
Related: The Secret to Mastering the New York City Subway System
5. Bringing a bunch of basics
Try saying that five times fast. I was under the impression that everything in the Czech Republic was much more expensive than in the states. And I guess with the currency exchange rate, it is. So I packed too many tampons (once again – let’s not forget South Korea) and hairspray. Unfortunately, those extra pounds in your suitcase will cost you more than buying Batiste dry shampoo from DM here in Prague. Prices are very similar to home, though you are paid significantly less. But you can find a big bottle of Batiste for around $5 USD. I recently picked up Maybelline Colossal mascara for under $10 USD. Bring your expensive perfume and the face wash you can’t live without, but leave the rest at home.
6. Using Apple Maps (instead of Google Maps)
Unclear if I am the last one to discover Google Maps is superior to Apple Maps, but here we are. I almost missed my visa appointment in Vienna, Austria because of Apple Maps. Apple Maps dropped me off at a residential apartment complex instead of the Czech embassy. The only reason I still made my appointment was because I popped into the closest pharmacy and asked the local women for some help. Luckily, one of them provided me with an accurate address that happened to be about 10-15 minutes away. I entered the embassy with 30 seconds to spare.
After this, I downloaded Google Maps and laughed at myself for about an hour. What a fool. While Apple Maps has a simple, user-friendly look about it, Google Maps brings the accuracy and detail Apple cannot. I will never go back.
7. Packing light in September
I moved to Prague in August 2022. The sun was high in the sky, people rented boats on the river, beer gardens were aplenty, and my wardrobe consisted of dresses and linen pants that came with me from Morocco. Within a matter of weeks, I was in need of a winter coat. That is not an exaggeration.
Upon moving abroad, I packed a large box of winter clothes for my parents to send me once I found a flat. I needed a place to live before welcoming wool coats and fleece lined leggings at my temporary doorstep. Plus, I was unsure I was even allowed to stay through the winter. But alas, with September came brutal wind chills and icy afternoons. The warmest item I had with me was a denim jacket, and that was no match to a winters day.
Luckily, my parents sent my package immediately after I secured a flat later that month. I did end up purchasing an ankle length winter coat because I simply couldn’t handle the cold. And before you call me a dramatic expat from California, I’ve lived in London, New York, and South Korea. Each of these destinations prepared me for snowy, icy winters.
8. Writing off the local cuisine for being too “heavy”
When I first arrived in Prague, I had preconceived ideas about the Czech cuisine. “It’s too heavy”, “It’s full of carbs”, “Meat, meat, meat!”, “Cabbage? Ew.” So on and so forth. Then I tried it. And guess what? It was heavy, and carb-loaded, and included meat and cabbage. And it was also delicious. Think of your most cherished comfort food – that’s what you can expect with Czech cuisine. I wouldn’t recommend it for every single meal, of course. But you cannot miss out on the food while you are here!
Some of my favorites include, Bread Knedliky (dumplings used to soak up gravy, etc.), Goulash (a rich, meaty stew), and Halušky (the Czech version: potato dumplings/gnocci with sauerkraut and ham/bacon). Keep in mind, I was a (new) vegetarian before moving to Prague, and that kind of went down the drain upon my arrival. However, I have now learned how to grocery shop (it’s harder than you think) and never eat meat at home.
9. Attempting to navigate the visa process alone
The Czech Republic visa process… yikes. I don’t have many positive things to say about it to be honest. I applied for the Zivnostensky (freelance visa). It was a stressful, complicated, contradictory process and one I hope I never have to endure again. And I actually hired someone to help me. After I saw the fee for hiring an agency, I almost wanted to give up on the move altogether (in true dramatic fashion). They come with hefty prices. But now that I’m on the other side, with visa in hand, I know I couldn’t have done it alone.
The Czech government is, for lack of a better word, slimy. They make up rules, have contradictory expectations, and make you pay a lot of money to run around like a clown trying to get this visa. The paperwork, interviews, and appointments are typically in Czech and you’ll require someone that “knows the system” to ensure you get a visa in a timely manner.
Let’s just say, my brother and I applied for the same visa, through the same visa agency, on the same day, at the same embassy in Vienna, Austria. I got my visa within a month (unheard of) and was allowed to stay in the country for a year (from the day I received the visa). My brother’s visa was approved after three months, but he was only allowed to stay in the country for a year from the day he arrived in the Schengen zone. Essentially I was given 12 months and he was awarded only 8. To this day we have no idea why. For an extremely helpful blog post about navigating the visa process please check this out.
Related: 5 Things I Regret After Teaching English in South Korea
10. Arriving without savings in the bank
Moving to Prague simply isn’t as affordable as it used to be. Sure, comparatively, it may be more reasonable than other destinations in Europe. However, the wages are low in Prague and the costs are significantly more expensive. To give you an example, I make between 250 – 400 CZK an hour (between two jobs). That translates to approximately $10 – 18 USD an hour. My rent (+utilities) comes to 16,000 CZK (approximately $722 USD). My public insurance and social security costs approximately 6000 CZK ($270 USD) each month. I can absolutely live on this salary in Prague. But I am not saving a cent.
A huge reason behind moving to Prague for me, was to explore and travel this part of the world (and beyond). When I fail to save money each month, it limits my ability to travel the world. To get a visa in Prague you need at least $6000 USD in you bank account. Additionally, there are tons of up front costs when you move to Prague (first month rent, deposits, visa agency fees, visa fees, furniture, etc.) It’s also very hard (basically impossible) to open a bank account in Prague until you are granted a visa. This makes it tricky because you will literally need your bank account from home to pay for things online, on apps (Uber, etc.) until you can start using a Czech bank. Luckily I came prepared with plenty of money in savings. But I couldn’t imagine what life would look like in Prague without it.
Overall, (so far) I have no regrets about moving to Prague. In terms of things that could go wrong, the list is slim. That being said, it’s important to keep these mistakes in mind if you choose to make the big move in 2023! Do you have anything to add to this list?
