Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Al-qardahah

For one person, living is cheaper in Al-qardahah: $638 a month against $1,554 in Belgrade, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Belgrade
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,554
/mo nomad
Al-qardahah
🇸🇾 Syria
$638
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belgrade and in Al-qardahah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Belgrade and in Al-qardahah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,554 per month in Belgrade vs $638 in Al-qardahah, rent included.

  • Belgrade $1,554
  • Al-qardahah $638

A couple spends around $2,337 per month in Belgrade vs $1,011 in Al-qardahah, rent included.

  • Belgrade $2,337
  • Al-qardahah $1,011

A family of three spends $3,121 per month in Belgrade vs $1,383 in Al-qardahah, rent included.

  • Belgrade $3,121
  • Al-qardahah $1,383

Belgrade costs about 143% more than Al-qardahah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Belgrade sits 15% above the global median, while Al-qardahah is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Al-qardahah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.15 RSD 1,371
$9.83 SYP 1,194
33.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5 RSD 5,999
$42.10 SYP 5,117
36.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.38 RSD 1,394
$7.03 SYP 855
90.33%
Cappuccino
$3.10 RSD 323
$3.67 SYP 446
-15.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 RSD 294
$2.27 SYP 276
24.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 RSD 231
$0.86 SYP 105
158.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 RSD 362
$2.05 SYP 249
69.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 RSD 412
$3.98 SYP 484
-0.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Al-qardahah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 RSD 144
$1.10 SYP 133
25.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 RSD 118
$0.42 SYP 50.5
169.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 RSD 277
$1.58 SYP 192
68.35%
Eggs
$2.78 RSD 290
$1.60 SYP 195
73.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.99 RSD 1,146
$3.89 SYP 472
182.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.56 RSD 684
$5.56 SYP 676
17.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.07 RSD 1,571
$13.73 SYP 1,668
9.76%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 RSD 173
$1.02 SYP 124
62.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 RSD 186
$1.41 SYP 171
26.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 RSD 195
$1.15 SYP 139
62.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 RSD 315
$1.03 SYP 125
194.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 RSD 96.3
$0.76 SYP 91.9
21.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 RSD 73.8
$0.76 SYP 92.1
-6.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 RSD 77.6
$0.44 SYP 53.5
68.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 RSD 77.2
$0.62 SYP 75.9
19.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61 RSD 481
$2.85 SYP 346
61.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.81 RSD 918
$5.81 SYP 706
51.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 RSD 92.7
$1.05 SYP 128
-15.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 RSD 151
$2.92 SYP 355
-50.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Al-qardahah
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 RSD 315
$0.98 SYP 120
208.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 RSD 103
$1.57 SYP 190
-37.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.08 RSD 1,780
$7.49 SYP 911
128.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 RSD 199
$3.72 SYP 452
-48.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K RSD 3.2M
$15.1K SYP 1.8M
105.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K RSD 2.6M
$19.0K SYP 2.3M
29.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Al-qardahah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 RSD 23.0K
$137 SYP 16.7K
60.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.41 RSD 2,544
$9.89 SYP 1,202
146.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.64 RSD 3,715
$45.78 SYP 5,564
-22.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Al-qardahah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.20 RSD 4,295
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.60 RSD 2,356
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.59 RSD 896
$5.62 SYP 683
52.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Al-qardahah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$424 RSD 44.2K
$66.2 SYP 8,040
540.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K RSD 1.1M
$1,781 SYP 216.4K
516.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Al-qardahah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 RSD 11.5K
$29.05 SYP 3,531
280.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.28 RSD 4,929
$39.40 SYP 4,788
20.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 RSD 11.8K
$59.0 SYP 7,164
91.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 RSD 16.3K
$57.9 SYP 7,030
170.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Al-qardahah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 RSD 83.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 RSD 56.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,452 RSD 151.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$931 RSD 97.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,368 RSD 559.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,155 RSD 328.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Al-qardahah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,237 RSD 128.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.61
14.25
-67.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Belgrade: October 12, 2026

Last update for Al-qardahah: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
$546
Al-qardahah
- * 100%
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
$280
Al-qardahah
$193 31.2% $88
Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
$241
Al-qardahah
$168 30.3% $73
Eating Out
Belgrade
$228
Al-qardahah
$175 23.4% $53
Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
$192
Al-qardahah
$83 56.7% $109
Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
$58
Al-qardahah
$11 * 80.7% $47
Getting Around
Belgrade
$7.9 *
Al-qardahah
$8.8 * 11% $0.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Belgrade versus $42.00 in Al-qardahah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $168 – making Al-qardahah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇸 Belgrade
🇸🇾 Al-qardahah
🕒 Local time
21:59 9:59 PM
22:59 10:59 PM
1 h ahead of Belgrade
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,197,714 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SYP, USD, EUR to RSD – Serbian Dinar Converter

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.59 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.53 EUR).

Syrian Pound exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 122 SYP (1,000 SYP = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 137 SYP (1,000 SYP = 7.32 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Belgrade Al-qardahah 1,680 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Belgrade
  • Al-qardahah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Belgrade vs Al-qardahah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-qardahah cheaper than Belgrade?
Yes – Belgrade is pricier by about 143%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,331 per month in Belgrade and $958 in Al-qardahah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Belgrade or in Al-qardahah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Belgrade and $42.00 in Al-qardahah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Belgrade and in Al-qardahah?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Belgrade, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Belgrade or in Al-qardahah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-qardahah, where all-in costs run around $638, than in Belgrade at $1,554. In Al-qardahah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Belgrade or Al-qardahah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-qardahah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Belgrade or Al-qardahah?
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 Al-qardahah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgrade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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