Hi Christina. Overall, the cost of living in CZ is cheaper than in the US in most ways, though in a few not so much. We are renting, not homeowners anymore, but for the size house we rent, the cost is low. Plus, we no longer have HOA fees or the astronomically high New Jersey property taxes.

Food prices kind of vary here. For some things, they are about the same. Things like seafood are slightly pricier here. However, if you go to a pub restaurant, you could get roast duck with sauerkraut and dumplings for the equivalent of $7. Add a half liter of beer (17 oz) for only $2 more. And it's excellent beer! A really nice bottle of wine can easily be had for $8 to $10.

Gas is expensive in Europe. Much more so than in the US. The price right now is about 35 czk/liter. That is about $6.11 per gallon. The US has never seen those high prices. However, many Czechs use public transportation and it's very very available and inexpensive. Public transport in the US is a comparative joke.

Health insurance prices in Czech Republic are basically nothing compared to the US. Copays are often non existent, or so low that an American would be in disbelief. Every citizen is covered, no matter what.

Car insurance is a lot cheaper in CZ than in the US. Auto repairs are slightly cheaper.

Clothes and other product prices vary. Some are cheaper, some aren't.

Like in the US, home prices depend on where you buy. Perhaps they're slightly less expensive here, but not a lot. Sometimes more, if they are older or historic buildings. Keep in mind there is a construction difference. US homes are not necessarily built to last hundreds of years, like they were/are in CZ. Brick/concrete in CZ (sometimes Art Nouveau or quaint old village style) vs. often plywood and sheetrock in US, with no elaborate design and possibly vinyl siding. However, old communist block housing is cheap, but still concrete, in CZ.

If you like, see the comparison between costs of living in Nashville, TN vs. Brno, Czech Republic (CZ's second largest city). Cost of Living Comparison Between Nashville, TN, United States And Brno, Czech Republic Again, most things are a lot cheaper in CZ, but not all. The salaries are a lot lower in CZ, on average, but if you are collecting SSDI from the US, the amount goes further in the CZ. If you are an American and retire with a US 401K and US Social Security, that money goes much further in CZ. And yes, an American can still collect US Social Security in CZ. Such auto deposits can easily be transferred from a US-based bank account to a Czech (or almost any European country) bank account.