Restaurant lunches in Czechia have become more expensive again, continuing a trend that’s hitting consumers across the country.

A new report by Edenred, a firm that specializes in employee benefits, shows that lunch prices have outpaced wage growth significantly over the past decade, leaving many Czechs paying more for less.

According to Edenred’s annual survey, the average lunch menu in Czechia now costs 196 CZK.

But in cities like Prague (220 CZK) and Brno (208 CZK), prices are even higher. In contrast, diners in regions like Zlín and Olomouc pay around 170 CZK, making them the most affordable areas for eating out.

“From 2014 until now, lunch menu prices have risen by 130%, but average wages have only grown by 82%,” said Aneta Martišková, Edenred’s director of external relations.

Rising costs of food and labor are driving the price surge

The increase isn’t just about inflation. Restaurant operators point to sharp rises in ingredient costs—20 to 30 percent more expensive than just a few years ago—and the need to pay staff more competitively in a tight labor market.

“Running a restaurant today is far more expensive than it used to be. Raw materials are pricier, and good staff need proper salaries,” said Michal Koudela, owner of a restaurant in Brno’s Černovice district.

In his restaurant, lunch menus range from 165 CZK to as high as 300 CZK, depending on what’s offered. Meanwhile, in České Budějovice, lunch prices have jumped from around 130 CZK in 2014 to over 205 CZK in May 2025.

As prices rise, restaurants are seeing fewer customers—especially during weekday lunch hours, which were once the busiest time. In response, many businesses are separating soup or drinks from the lunch menu, offering them only as paid extras.

Many restaurant owners fear that if input costs rise again, they’ll have no choice but to increase prices further just to keep their businesses afloat.

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