IPR Study: Prague Residents Satisfied With Life in the Capital – But High Housing Costs Remain a Major Concern

While many residents continue to rate the quality of life and public transport positively, a large number of people increasingly see affordable housing as a problem.

People in Prague continue to show overall satisfaction with life in the Czech capital. At the same time, however, concerns about high housing costs, the lack of affordable housing and a weakening sense of community are increasing. This emerges from the updated study “Quality of Life Through the Eyes of Prague Residents 2017–2024”, published by the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Praha).

“We are interested in how people in Prague feel in their city. The survey takes place every two years on the basis of a large sample. This allows us to observe developments over a longer period of time,” said Ondřej Boháč, Director of IPR Praha. According to him, the results serve, among other things, as a basis for urban planning, priority setting and further analyses concerning the development of the capital.

Foto: Diego F. Parra | Pexels

Prague Residents Overall Satisfied With Life in the Capital

According to the study, 71 per cent of Prague residents are satisfied with their lives overall. Around ten per cent, by contrast, stated that they were dissatisfied. Satisfaction with life directly in Prague is even higher at 78 per cent and has remained largely stable in recent years. At the same time, the authors of the study point out that recent years have been shaped by the coronavirus pandemic, Russia’s war against Ukraine and rising energy prices.

The results particularly highlight the strained situation on the housing market. Although around three quarters of residents are satisfied with the size of their homes, only 38 per cent rate their monthly housing costs positively. The study also reveals a significant gap between housing preferences and actual affordability. Only around one in five Prague residents could afford the rent of their preferred home, while only seven per cent could afford to buy one. Living in a detached house remains especially desirable.

Foto: Central Group

Expectations towards the city have therefore increased. “The results clearly show that residents expect the city to take a more active role in housing construction,” said Petr Hlaváček, Prague Deputy Mayor for Urban Development. According to him, the Prague Development Company is currently preparing around 8,000 flats, with approximately 2,000 already in the project phase.

Public Transport Continues to Receive Particularly Positive Ratings

Many residents continue to view public transport positively. Half of Prague residents use buses, trams or the metro every day, while another quarter combine public transport with cars or bicycles. Around 90 per cent of respondents consider their place of residence to be well connected thanks to the extensive transport network.

By contrast, assessments of car traffic are significantly more critical. Only around one in five residents travels daily by car or motorcycle. After an increase during the pandemic, the share of individual car traffic is now declining again. According to the study, the main reasons for dissatisfaction are traffic congestion, a lack of parking spaces and the condition of many roads.

Foto: Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy

Changes are also visible when it comes to climate change. The share of people who see climate change as a real threat fell from 72 per cent in 2017 to 55 per cent currently. At the same time, 43 per cent of respondents consider the city’s measures against heatwaves and high temperatures to be insufficient.

The authors of the study are also concerned about the decline of community life in the capital. Fewer and fewer people feel part of a local community. In 2024, only around one third of residents described themselves as part of a neighbourhood or interest-based community. Frequently cited reasons include a lack of interest, lack of time or insufficient opportunities in the local area.

Prague in a European Comparison

In a European comparison, Prague nevertheless performs very well. For the study, the results were compared with data from 82 European cities. Prague ranked among the cities with the highest overall life satisfaction and took first place in the assessment of job opportunities.