😐A single person spends $1,364 per month in Almaty vs $1,156 in Subotica, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Almaty vs $1,733 in Subotica, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Almaty vs $2,310 in Subotica, rent included.
😐Almaty costs about 18% more than Subotica, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Almaty and Subotica are more affordable than the global median – Almaty1% lower, Subotica16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Subotica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.92₸5,880
$9.93RSD 1,004
30.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.03₸20.5K
$34.17RSD 3,454
31.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.61₸3,916
$11.49RSD 1,162
-25.07%
Cappuccino
$3.15₸1,431
$2.14RSD 216
47.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33₸604
$2.00RSD 202
-33.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₸371
$1.85RSD 187
-55.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43₸1,104
$2.51RSD 254
-3.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92₸1,781
$3.03RSD 307
29.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Subotica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65₸749
$1.32RSD 133
25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81₸367
$1.16RSD 117
-30.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08₸948
$2.25RSD 227
-7.56%
Eggs
$2.30₸1,048
$3.29RSD 333
-30.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23₸5,563
$12.07RSD 1,220
1.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.66₸3,028
$6.79RSD 686
-1.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73₸4,881
$13.23RSD 1,337
-18.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85₸842
$1.43RSD 144
29.37%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36₸1,074
$2.06RSD 209
14.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90₸1,318
$1.51RSD 153
92.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77₸1,260
$2.24RSD 227
23.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75₸342
$1.04RSD 105
-27.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57₸260
$0.62RSD 62.4
-8.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60₸726
$0.61RSD 62.0
162.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97₸441
$0.63RSD 63.6
53.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57₸1,171
$4.46RSD 451
-42.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.75₸4,892
$5.53RSD 559
94.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17₸533
$0.90RSD 91.5
30.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₸1,082
$2.49RSD 252
-4.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Subotica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₸114
$1.17RSD 118
-78.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.05₸9,576
$34.96RSD 3,533
-39.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33₸603
$1.97RSD 199
-32.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63₸287
$1.27RSD 128
-50.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.91₸4,963
$11.28RSD 1,140
-3.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.67₸307
$1.81RSD 183
-62.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K₸11.9M
$32.1KRSD 3.2M
-18.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K₸13.4M
$26.3KRSD 2.7M
12.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Subotica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.4₸41.1K
$175RSD 17.7K
-48.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.95₸4,981
$16.01RSD 1,619
-31.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47₸7,947
$39.66RSD 4,009
-55.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Subotica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.1₸34.2K
$34.97RSD 3,534
114.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.29₸13.3K
$9.83RSD 993
197.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32₸2,875
$5.04RSD 509
25.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Subotica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425₸193.5K
$249RSD 25.2K
70.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K₸5.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Subotica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7₸39.4K
$44.29RSD 4,476
95.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.71₸21.3K
$23.08RSD 2,333
102.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139₸63.3K
$97.1RSD 9,816
43.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133₸60.3K
$74.9RSD 7,568
77.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Subotica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$791₸359.7K
$438RSD 44.3K
80.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498₸226.4K
$303RSD 30.6K
64.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,432₸651.5K
$628RSD 63.5K
127.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$912₸415.1K
$559RSD 56.5K
63.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,446₸1.1M
$2,544RSD 257.1K
-3.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,504₸684.3K
$1,682RSD 170.0K
-10.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Subotica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$850₸386.5K
$927RSD 93.7K
-8.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.61
4.79
330.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026
Last update for Subotica: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Almaty versus $438 in Subotica. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 9% higher in Subotica, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty versus $34.00 in Subotica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $229 – making Subotica the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Almaty vs Subotica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Subotica cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,046 per month in Almaty and $1,733 in Subotica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Subotica, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or in Subotica?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty and $34.00 in Subotica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty and in Subotica?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,364 in Almaty and $1,156 in Subotica. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Subotica?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Subotica, where all-in costs run around $1,156, than in Almaty at $1,364. In Subotica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Subotica more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Subotica – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Almaty or Subotica?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Subotica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.