If you already did this mistake, to accept any job in Brno, and living there, don’t panic yet. Read carefully this topic , which can you determine what kind of trap you are currently.
Usually the IT companies (especially US companies) calculating your income to be enough to pay your daily expenses , rent, some beers, but you are unable to save a money, enough to have the freedom, to find another better job somewhere in Europe.They already know that young and low self educated generation still thinking that the success as sleeping and eating, have some smart phone is the meaning of the normal life. This is the descriptions of the modern slavery , and slave`s behavior which the greedy monsters using successfully.But it is called slavery.
If you found a good job somewhere else, and need to move out as soon as possible -Be ready to say “good bye” to your flat`s deposit, because your landlord will be not happy to return you any amount in cash. Be sure the landlord will find a reason to avoid.Better Don’t tell to your landlord that you are going outside Czech Republic and will stay in Brno. In fact Brno is a place of many greedy people. A websites, paid agencies , Facebook group, will try to convince you that Brno is a beautiful place for living and work, but you should ignore it , because its a paid advertisement from the greedy monsters . Brno is not bad city , like the transportation system, healthcare, nature , but the rest is worst. Especially if you dealing with rednecks. There is full of them.
The local people do not like the foreigners so much
Some advice’s for the “newcomers” with a bad luck , which was already cheated from some “Biggest” but miser “IT” companies in the area, and already have a contract.
1. ACCOMMODATION
Try to avoid any Real Estate Agency if you are looking to rent some apartment /room/. Any foreigner is very welcome there, because the new coming people do not know the reality in Brno . They will ask you to pay the agency fee which is 1 or 1.5 rent price. Some agencies will ask you to pay this fee including the expenses which is not correct. Agencies in the normal countries charging the landlord , not the “client” .Real Estate agencies are lazy , if you want to see some apartment prepare yourself to wait 1-2 weeks for an appointment.
Use bezrealitky.cz , but pay attention there are many scam offers.in the pictures sometimes you will see the equipment which doesn’t exist in the real flat. Be ready to pay more than the price shown in the ads as you are non local citizen.
Lot of the local people have a pets , but if you have one , the landlords do not let you in , or will increase your deposit /in the best case/
Pay attention with your contract. Some of the landlords put there a fixed terms which not allow you to leave with 2 month notice period, or you should pay until the rest of the contract period. Find a good translator before you sign it.
Be ready to pay high rent rates .This include the current month ,next month ,the deposit.If you using a real estate agency multiply it to 4.Czech Republic is the “deposit” country. Everywhere and for everything you have to pay a deposit.It seems to be normal relationship between hustler? right?
I did not understanding these people which looking for an accommodation in the downtown. Czech Republic is not like the rest countries where the apartments in the downtown are much cheaper than the suburbs. Surprised to see that the people paying more to live in a noisy and dusty downtown than a nice suburbs , close to nature, lakes and parks.From my opinion only the rednecks wants to live in the downtown.
2. Buying and registering a Car ,Car Insurance, Car repair Service
I advice you to buy a car from Germany, or Austria than in Czech Republic. First, the prices in Czech Republic are around 30 % highest than Germany. To be an object of scam in Czech Republic is highly possible, especially in Brno.
Never purchase a car from AAA Auto. in their website the shown prices are valid ONLY if you buy a car using Bank Leasing.
If you thinking to buy a car in cash you will be charged 30-50 % more than the price on the car label. They always push you to purchase a car using some banks, and take a loan.There are some similar car houses with a similar rules. Pay attention !
Registering a car is a kind of nightmare in case you don’t speak the local language. Better set up 2-3 day vacation.
You can use the service of some company which can register your car instead you, but don’t be agree to pay more than 1000-1500 CZK fee for this service.
Of course do not expect from company to provide you any documents or invoices. Black market 🙂
You are foreigner be ready to pay double or triple for your car insurance. Insurance companies usually needs some existing driving records to calculate the insurance amount. you don’t have this record in Czech Republic as you are foreigner. There are some insurance companies which will charge normal prices .Send me an email if you are interested because I can not advertise any company in this Blog.
Its very hard to find a good car service in Brno, as many of the services do not speaking English , or trying to cheat you when see that you are foreigner.
The prices in Brno , comparing in the prices in the neighbor countries are almost double.In Bratislava you can find cheaper and good repair-shops.
If you need cheaper and quality spare parts for your car I can recommend you the Car Spare parts shop, located in Brno, and stay away from Autokelly.
Autokelly`s spare parts are quality and good, but the prices are double than others. Use Google to find the better prices. The price for Tyre change is 900 -1000 CZK, but you can find more cheaper around 500-600 CZK around Brno.
Gas prices :
As the the gas stations also have cartel, or agreements to keep the prices high. There is no real competition. When the gas prices was 0.80 – 0.90 euros in Austria then in Czech Republic was 1.05 – 1.10 euros. The quality of the fuel is not so good in some gas stations. Do not trust to the brand, because they are franchises, not real manufacturers. If it possible its better to refuel your car in Slovakia , Germany , or Austria
Mobile phone service and mobile operators.Mobile internet. You can take a look here
Lot of things you write about are quite true. Surprisingly most of the websites put Brno in a very good light.
I was changing my career to IT and had to accept the first job offer I got. Brno was the best choice as it was easier to get a job here than in most other expensive places where they would prefer to employ someone with many years of experience.
Having lived in several highly developed countries (US, Germany etc.) throughout my life, I am not impressed by Brno at all. Life here is simply boring, and the inability to understand the Czech language is a big barrier. Not the speaking Czech language will cause you problems when dealing with immigration, sending a package at the post office, opening a bank account or getting a haircut. Czech people are not so friendly toward foreigners, especially the Brno police. Brno was the first place in the world where I got fined for jaywalking. They charged me 500 CZK for that which was probably the maximum limit for that kind of offense (according to a Czech colleague). The frequent presence of Brno police throughout the city is discomforting and it feels a bit like a policed city. According to one American colleague, his kids were bullied in school for having an American dad and were ostracized.
If one needs to leave apartment prematurely, your security deposit will be confiscated by the landlord. They will say that the contract has to be honored and will not bother to try find another tenant in time to return you the deposit. Apartments are way overpriced and the prices are almost comparable to nearby Vienna, which has much more to offer and a much more developed economy. Be prepared to give out 350-600 euros for the apartment. With “good” salaries of 900-1300 euros, this will be in most cases 40-50% of your salary. If you are a party person and like to go out, you can forget about saving money.
Your first salary is basically what you will stay with. The increases in salary are minuscule and it might take you 10 years to reach any respectable level.
Air quality is questionable as the center of Brno is surrounded by high-traffic highways. Water quality is also not the best as it contains high amount of dissolved matter. Be ready to scrub your bathroom every 2 weeks. Because of bad air, you will need to wipe away the dust daily on every surface in your apartment.
The food quality in Czech republic is a disaster if you were ever accustomed to nice dining. Most cheap restaurants provide high-carb, low protein meals (90-120 CZK) which your body will not be happy with after a while, and you will turn into a fat slob if you consume that on a daily basis. Cooking at home is a viable option if you have the discipline. The only recommended grocery stores are of German origin (Kaufland, Billa).
There are a couple of good restaurants, but unless you have a good salary, you can forget about dining out on a regular basis. Brno is also the first place where I got severe food poisoning after eating potato salad at a cheap restaurant.
Czech Republic is according to Bloomberg the most decadent country in the world, and it seems there is something behind it. If you believe in good moral values, you will not like this place. Most people that prefer Czech Republic over other countries are of questionable morality. The divorce rate here is 66% and most relationships are quite fragile and not very lasting.
Weather in Brno is depressing as throughout most of the year the sky is grey and it is raining. The only exception is the period between May and mid August.