Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Al-Rumaitha

For one person, living is cheaper in Al-Rumaitha: $650 a month against $1,554 in Belgrade, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Belgrade
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,554
/mo nomad
Al-Rumaitha
🇮🇶 Iraq
$650
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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-Rumaitha actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,554 in Belgrade versus $650 in Al-Rumaitha.

  • Belgrade $1,554
  • Al-Rumaitha $650

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,337 in Belgrade versus $1,027 in Al-Rumaitha.

  • Belgrade $2,337
  • Al-Rumaitha $1,027

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,121 in Belgrade versus $1,403 in Al-Rumaitha.

  • Belgrade $3,121
  • Al-Rumaitha $1,403

Living in Belgrade is roughly 139% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Belgrade is 15% above, Al-Rumaitha is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.15 RSD 1,371
$3.62 IQD 5,465
263.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5 RSD 5,999
$23.11 IQD 34.9K
148.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.38 RSD 1,394
$7.08 IQD 10.7K
88.98%
Cappuccino
$3.10 RSD 323
$2.33 IQD 3,523
33.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 RSD 294
$0.31 IQD 471
809.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 RSD 231
$0.19 IQD 286
1068.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 RSD 362
$2.91 IQD 4,398
19.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 RSD 412
$2.60 IQD 3,936
52.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 RSD 144
$0.86 IQD 1,298
60.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 RSD 118
$0.78 IQD 1,185
44.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 RSD 277
$1.37 IQD 2,063
94.16%
Eggs
$2.78 RSD 290
$1.58 IQD 2,392
75.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.99 RSD 1,146
$4.09 IQD 6,174
168.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.56 RSD 684
$3.61 IQD 5,449
81.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.07 RSD 1,571
$12.06 IQD 18.2K
24.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 RSD 173
$0.92 IQD 1,384
80.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 RSD 186
$0.95 IQD 1,428
88.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 RSD 195
$0.84 IQD 1,268
122.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 RSD 315
$0.66 IQD 1,002
359.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 RSD 96.3
$0.56 IQD 844
64.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 RSD 73.8
$0.56 IQD 849
26.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 RSD 77.6
$0.56 IQD 839
32.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 RSD 77.2
$0.47 IQD 717
57.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61 RSD 481
$1.63 IQD 2,468
182.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.81 RSD 918
$10.70 IQD 16.2K
-17.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 RSD 92.7
$1.40 IQD 2,120
-36.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 RSD 151
$1.78 IQD 2,691
-18.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.42 IQD 639
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.08 IQD 33.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 RSD 315
$1.80 IQD 2,724
67.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 RSD 103
$1.34 IQD 2,031
-26.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.08 RSD 1,780
$4.81 IQD 7,268
255.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 RSD 199
$0.51 IQD 766
274.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K RSD 3.2M
$14.9K IQD 22.6M
107.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K RSD 2.6M
$16.9K IQD 25.5M
46.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 RSD 23.0K
$88.6 IQD 133.9K
148.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.41 RSD 2,544
$12.11 IQD 18.3K
101.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.64 RSD 3,715
$24.88 IQD 37.6K
43.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.20 RSD 4,295
$37.29 IQD 56.3K
10.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.60 RSD 2,356
$3.39 IQD 5,120
566.67%
Cinema Ticket
$8.59 RSD 896
$9.20 IQD 13.9K
-6.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$424 RSD 44.2K
$128 IQD 193.8K
230.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K RSD 1.1M
$2,684 IQD 4.1M
308.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 RSD 11.5K
$20.77 IQD 31.4K
432.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.28 RSD 4,929
$21.12 IQD 31.9K
123.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 RSD 11.8K
$46.80 IQD 70.7K
141.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 RSD 16.3K
$30.79 IQD 46.5K
408.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 RSD 83.9K
$178 IQD 269.0K
352.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 RSD 56.9K
$128 IQD 194.1K
325.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,452 RSD 151.4K
$373 IQD 564.1K
289.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$931 RSD 97.0K
$308 IQD 465.9K
201.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,368 RSD 559.6K
$629 IQD 951.1K
752.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,155 RSD 328.9K
$532 IQD 803.7K
493.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,237 RSD 128.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.61
3.33
38.44%

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

Last update for Belgrade: October 12, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
$546
Al-Rumaitha
$128 76.5% $418
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
$280
Al-Rumaitha
$126 55.2% $155
Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
$241
Al-Rumaitha
$154 35.8% $86
Eating Out
Belgrade
$228
Al-Rumaitha
$100 56.2% $128
Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
$192
Al-Rumaitha
$54 72.1% $139
Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
$58
Al-Rumaitha
$56 4.6% $2.7
Getting Around
Belgrade
$7.9 *
Al-Rumaitha
$32 307% $24

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $805 in Belgrade and $178 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $58.0 in Belgrade vs $23.00 in Al-Rumaitha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $154 per month, with Al-Rumaitha cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇸 Belgrade
🇮🇶 Al-Rumaitha
🕒 Local time
19:20 7:20 PM
20:20 8:20 PM
1 h ahead of Belgrade
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,197,714 Capital
115,431
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

IQD, 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).

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,699 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Belgrade Al-Rumaitha 2,600 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Belgrade
  • Al-Rumaitha

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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-Rumaitha cheaper than Belgrade?
Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 139% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,331 in Belgrade and $975 in Al-Rumaitha to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Belgrade and Al-Rumaitha?
Rent for a central apartment: $805 in Belgrade versus $178 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $424 in Belgrade versus $128 in Al-Rumaitha. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Belgrade or in Al-Rumaitha?
Dining out is cheaper in Al-Rumaitha – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $58.0 in Belgrade. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Belgrade or in Al-Rumaitha?
At $650 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,554 in Belgrade, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Belgrade. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Belgrade or in Al-Rumaitha?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Belgrade or Al-Rumaitha?
Safety-wise, Belgrade and Al-Rumaitha are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Belgrade. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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