South Bohemian region ranked best place to live in the Czech Republic

The South Bohemian Region has been named the best place to live in the Czech Republic, according to the latest results of the “Place for Life” comparative study conducted by the Datank agency. The findings, presented in Prague, mark the first time in three years that the capital city of Prague did not top the ranking. Hradec Králové Region, last year’s runner-up, placed second this year, while the Zlín Region moved up to third place.

Now in its fifteenth edition, the study combines data analysis with a public satisfaction survey to assess living conditions across the country’s regions. This year’s assessment drew on data from 23 sources, unified and evaluated by analysts, and included the responses of 1,600 residents representing all Czech regions. Data collection took place in March 2025.

Regions were evaluated across 88 indicators within eight categories: safety, leisure and tourism, civil society and tolerance, childcare and education, infrastructure development, employment, healthcare and social services, and environmental quality.

The South Bohemian Region scored highly in several areas, including a high number of beds in social facilities, a low number of traffic accidents, strong residential construction figures, and a relatively large number of grammar schools. Governor Martin Kuba expressed his pride in the achievement, stating that the region offers a strong future for younger generations and continues to be one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Hradec Králové Region earned second place thanks to factors such as the highest number of pharmacies, a low student-to-teacher ratio, ample hospital bed availability, and low levels of waste production. The Zlín Region, in third place, was recognized for having the fewest children per primary school class, the lowest municipal waste output, high enrollment in primary art schools, strong crime resolution rates, and low youth unemployment.

At the bottom of the rankings were the Ústí nad Labem Region and the Karlovy Vary Region, which swapped positions compared to last year. Prague, which had topped the list for the past two years, fell to seventh place. The study attributed the capital’s decline mainly to safety concerns, including the highest crime rate per 1,000 residents, the lowest crime resolution rate, and a high number of traffic accidents per road distance. Other issues included limited urban green spaces, unaffordable housing relative to income, a shortage of social care beds, overcrowded primary school classrooms, and the country’s largest gender pay gap.

According to the study’s authors, the purpose of the annual comparison is to inspire governments, non-profits, businesses, and residents to improve factors that influence overall quality of life.

Source: CTK and Datank