Money & Payments in Prague (2026)

Local Currency: CZK

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: profee.com, atmfeesaver.com

Good to know

Good to Know

Contactless and mobile payment (Apple Pay/Google Pay) widely accepted where cards work
Use bank ATMs, not Euronet machines, to avoid inflated fees and DCC traps
Always decline dynamic currency conversion; request CZK charging
Major metro stations have at least one bank ATM branch
Prague still uses koruna (CZK), not euro—paying in EUR results in poor exchange rates
Tourist zone restaurants sometimes auto-add service charges; verify bill before tipping
When tipping by card on payment terminal, absence of tip option often leads locals to simply round up the bill
Rounding up the bill when paying cash is the easiest and most common tipping practice

Account Types

Basic Account
Features
Allows deposit and withdrawal at ATMs, no overdrafts permitted
Current Account
Features
Allows deposit, withdrawal at ATMs, transfers, and payments
Savings Account
Features
For saving purposes; note that interest rates in Czech Republic tend to be low

Documents Required

EU Citizens

Valid ID card or passport
Proof of link to Czech Republic (such as lease agreement, work contract, or student confirmation)

Non EU Citizens

Valid passport
Residence permit or visa valid for at least 90 days
Work contract, confirmation of study, or signed lease agreement as proof of long-term status
Proof of address
Information about source of funds (salary, payments, personal funds)

Expat Friendly Banks

UniCredit Bank
Features
International Clients Center at Náměstí Republiky with staff speaking English, German, French, Italian, and Russian. Specialized service for foreign clients.
Languages
English, German, French, Italian, Russian
Raiffeisenbank
Features
Foreign-owned bank with fully English-language app and strong expat focus
Komerční Banka
Features
Foreign-owned bank with fully English-language app
ČSOB
Features
Offers online account opening for some nationalities
Fio Bank
Features
Allows online account opening (may need Czech national ID number for full online process)
mBank
Features
Allows online account opening

ATM Fees

Recommended Banks: ČSOB, Česká spořitelna, Raiffeisenbank, Komerční banka, UniCredit
Czech Bank ATM Fee: CZK 125
Range: 125–239 CZK per transaction (Czech bank operator fee)
Independent ATM Machines: Euronet (yellow/orange machines in tourist areas) charge higher fees and aggressively push DCC; avoid
Withdrawal Limit Typical: 10,000–15,000 CZK per transaction; some ATMs allow up to 100,000 CZK
Dynamic Currency Conversion: Always decline DCC offers; accept 'charge in CZK' to avoid 3–8% markup on poor exchange rates

Tipping Norms

Important Notes: Tips never included in final bill price; Czech custom post-communism; tourist trap restaurants may try to auto-add tip—check bill carefully

Services

Taxi: 10% appreciated; not obligatory
Hotels: Budget hotels: no tipping expected; upscale hotels: 10–20% for porter/housekeeping
Hairdresser Wellness: 10% or round up; not mandatory but based on satisfaction

Restaurants

Standard Tip Percentage: 10%
Note: Not mandatory but polite if satisfied with food and service

Tour Guides

Private Tours: CZK 200
Half or full day per person; depends on quality
Free Walking Tours: CZK 250
Tips-based; typical 200–300 CZK per person or more if very satisfied

CaféS And Bars

Example: Bill of 95 CZK → leave 100 CZK
Practice: Round up to nearest significant amount

Local Currency

CZK

Card Acceptance

Overall Status: widely accepted, but cash still required in many locations

Details

Mid Range Venues: Cafés, mid-range restaurants, and pubs accept card at most venues; cash backup recommended
Public Transport: Card accepted at DPP ticket machines; contactless works fine
Networks Accepted: Visa and Mastercard widely accepted; Amex less common; Discover rarely accepted
Cash Only Locations: Street food stalls, market vendors, small kiosks often cash only
Major Establishments: Hotels, department stores, supermarkets accept cards almost universally

Online Banking

Many banks offer online and mobile banking services available in English, significantly easing everyday banking activities for expat account holders.

Setup Overview

Opening a bank account in Prague is relatively straightforward for both EU and non-EU citizens, though requirements vary by nationality and residence status.

Minimum Deposits

Some banks may require small deposits, typically ranging from CZK 200 to CZK 2,000.

Advantages Of Czech Account

Czech accounts allow you to avoid foreign transaction costs, cash withdrawal fees, and poor exchange rates. Many landlords require rent paid from Czech accounts, and many employers require local accounts for salary payments. Utilities, mobile services, and transit passes are easier to manage with local banking. Can simplify mortgage applications later.

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Prague

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.

Money & Payments in Prague

Good to know

Good to Know

Account Types

Basic Account

Current Account

Savings Account