How to Teach English in Czech Republic on a Budget

It seems like everyone is teaching abroad in the Czech Republic these days. And why not? It’s a beautiful country with an intriguing history and an incredibly affordable cost of living. Plus, there’s a huge demand for English teachers, which means jobs are available year-round. But despite all the upsides, you may find yourself worrying about one major factor — budget.

These streets look priceless though, right?

If you’re finding yourself strapped for cash lately and can’t fathom making the move to the Czech Republic, don’t worry! We’ve got some great advice for teaching English in the Czech Republic on a budget. From properly managing startup costs, to shopping smart, to stretching your salary, there’s a lot of factors that are within your financial control...and it’ll all help you realize your dream of being an English teacher in the Czech Republic!

5 startup costs for teach English in Prague jobs

Some of the best advice for teaching English in the Czech Republic on a budget is to manage your startup costs the best you can! There aren’t many, but they can add up fast if you’re not paying attention and considering all your options.

1. TEFL

The first thing you’ll need to teach English in Prague (or in the Czech Republic in general) is a TEFL certificate. These certificates can be pricey, and unfortunately there’s no getting around this requirement.

The good news is that some providers of teach English in Prague jobs include a TEFL certificate with their program! CIEE’s Teach in the Czech Republic program is one of them. This means that if you’re not already certified, but you want to go abroad and start making money NOW, you won’t be shelling out $1000 or more to get certified first. It’ll be a one-stop shop!

2. Degree

Do you need a degree to teach English in the Czech Republic? Yup. Another requirement to teach English in the Czech Republic is a bachelor’s degree, in any field. If you’re American, then you know a degree is more than just a “startup cost”, but it’s still something you’re going to need if you want to be considered for teach English in Prague jobs.

Hopefully you’re reading this because you’re near the end of your degree program and getting ready for a postgrad trip abroad; if not, and if you have no plans of getting yourself a degree before heading to the Czech Republic, you can look into volunteer teaching in Prague instead. It’s not as lucrative, but you’ll still be gaining experience — and that’s always worth something, right?

3. Program fees

It can be tricky to teach English in the Czech Republic without going through a program provider due to all the fine details involved, and most travelers opt to secure their English teaching job through a reputable organization that will deal with all the logistics for them.

If you’re one of those people, you can expect to pay ~$3000 or more for your program; however, price is ultimately dependent upon program inclusions and duration. Make sure to talk to potential providers about what their program fees include to determine if there are any other major startup factors that you’ll have to cover yourself.

4. Flight

If you want to teach English in the Czech Republic, you’ll most likely need a flight. Shop around!

You’ve gotta get to the Czech Republic somehow, right? More likely than not you’ll be flying into Prague (or maybe elsewhere in Europe and taking a train), which means you’ll be shopping around for airfare.

You can expect a one-way ticket from most major airports in the US to be between $300-$900, and significantly less than that if you’re headed to the Czech Republic from somewhere in Europe.

5. Accommodation

Most providers of teach English in Prague jobs don’t provide accommodation beyond orientation and your first few days in-country. Some (like CIEE), will provide you with accommodation if you give up a minor portion of your teaching salary. If you want to sort out your own accommodation, ask for help or advice from your program advisor on how to secure long-term accommodation in Prague or elsewhere in the Czech Republic before heading over.

Luckily, the cost of living in the Czech Republic is one of the lowest in Europe, so you won’t be expected to shell out the same amount for rent as you might in London or Paris. Comparatively speaking, accommodation in the Czech Republic will be quite affordable; plan to set aside ~$500 or more per month for your digs.

Advice for teaching English in the Czech Republic on a budget

Now that you have a general idea of your startup costs for teaching English in the Czech Republic, you could probably use some advice on keeping your budget as low as possible for the duration of your placement.

1. Choose an affordable provider

Remember what we said about program costs? This can be a hefty investment, even if it’s totally worth it! We recommend looking for providers who are on the affordable end of the spectrum, or who have a LOT included in their program price.

If you teach English in the Czech Republic with CIEE, your TEFL certification will be included, as well as accommodation (if you so choose), pre-departure support, international insurance, health insurance, cultural activities, and more.

Before choosing a provider, make sure to assess whether or not they can alleviate some of those aforementioned startup costs. If they can, you’ve got yourself a great deal.

Top advice for teaching English in the Czech Republic? Get a program with a lot of inclusions.

2. Shop around for flights

If you’re planning far enough in advance to teach English in the Czech Republic, set up flight alerts for your intended departure date. This will help you take advantage of deals that may otherwise go unnoticed. Websites like Skyscanner, StudentUniverse, and Orbitz will help you find crazy good flight deals so you can spend less on getting to the Czech Republic, and more on delicious goulash.

3. Get a roommate (or 50)

You can expect your salary for teaching English in the Czech Republic to be enough to live off of and save a bit (if you’re extra frugal). That being said, you can avoid stretching your salary too thin by finding a flatmate or by staying in a hostel (if you opt to find your own accommodation).

There are plenty of other expats living in Prague and in the Czech Republic, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding a suitable roommate for your living situation. Otherwise, if you’re up for an adventure, you can stay in a hostel for the duration of your placement. You’ll make a TON of friends this way and save a bundle in the process.

4. Budget your salary

Your English teacher salary in the Czech Republic will be livable, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t budget. You’ll make the most of every koruna and even save a bit if you make a weekly budget to stick to.

Map out your limits for rent, food costs, transportation costs, and fun money. We get it — this can be a total drag. However, if you’re working to fund future travels or to save up for something big, you’ll thank yourself at the end of your placement when you check your savings account.

5. Minimize your living costs

A great piece of advice for teaching in the Czech Republic on a budget is to minimize your living costs. Your budget will help with this, but you should also consider taking on a minimalist lifestyle. For example, avoid eating out at restaurants if you can, and grocery shop instead!

You can also take public transportation or carpool to work, and only travel outside the Czech Republic if you find a great deal to do so. Budgeting doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice every bit of fun though — you can (and should!) treat yo’ self every once in a while.

6. Crowdsource your travels

Startup costs and living costs can be intimidating, but don’t let them scare you off from teaching English in the Czech Republic. If you find that the costs are what weigh the most on your decision though, consider starting a FundMyTravel campaign.

Crowdsourcing your startup costs will take a load off your shoulders, and help your teaching salary go farther. All you have to do is create your campaign, share it on social media, and then wait for your friends and family to help you out!

Still have questions? Talk to our Online Advisor!

You won’t go broke when you teach English in the Czech Republic

If you budget wisely and measure your expenses, you’ll make a great living with teach English in Prague jobs!

It doesn’t seem too complicated, right? But is it too good to be true? No! Once you overcome your startup costs, teaching English in the Czech Republic on a budget will be as simple as minding your budget and managing your living costs — and that’s pretty easy in such an affordable country. Go forth and blossom in your teaching career! The Czech Republic is waiting.

View ALL English Teaching Jobs in the Czech Republic

This article was written with help from CIEE. CIEE is a highly-regarded travel program provider, offering comprehensive and valuable experiences abroad. Their Teach in the Czech Republic program offers a generous stipend, visa assistance, and optional accommodation. They are currently accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year.