Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Nairobi

For one person, living is cheaper in Nairobi: $874 a month against $1,538 in Belgrade, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Belgrade
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,538
/mo nomad
Nairobi
🇰🇪 Kenya
$874
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belgrade and in Nairobi

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

A single person spends $1,538 per month in Belgrade vs $874 in Nairobi, rent included.

  • Belgrade $1,538
  • Nairobi $874

A couple spends around $2,321 per month in Belgrade vs $1,403 in Nairobi, rent included.

  • Belgrade $2,321
  • Nairobi $1,403

A family of three spends $3,105 per month in Belgrade vs $1,932 in Nairobi, rent included.

  • Belgrade $3,105
  • Nairobi $1,932

Belgrade costs about 76% more than Nairobi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Belgrade sits 15% above the global median, while Nairobi is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Nairobi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.33 RSD 1,389
$6.12 KES 794
117.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4 RSD 6,085
$35.26 KES 4,574
65.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.58 RSD 1,414
$6.59 KES 854
106.07%
Cappuccino
$3.13 RSD 326
$2.71 KES 351
15.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 RSD 288
$0.66 KES 85.4
319.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 RSD 237
$0.57 KES 73.9
298.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 RSD 390
$2.33 KES 302
60.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 RSD 456
$2.75 KES 357
59.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Nairobi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 RSD 146
$0.89 KES 116
57.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 RSD 122
$0.54 KES 69.9
116.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 RSD 282
$1.94 KES 252
39.69%
Eggs
$2.78 RSD 289
$1.71 KES 222
62.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.36 RSD 1,184
$10.63 KES 1,378
6.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.01 RSD 731
$6.35 KES 824
10.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 RSD 1,638
$6.22 KES 807
152.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 RSD 173
$3.30 KES 428
-49.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 RSD 188
$1.06 KES 137
70.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 RSD 190
$2.05 KES 265
-10.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.13 RSD 326
$1.10 KES 142
184.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 RSD 91.3
$1.12 KES 145
-21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 RSD 70.3
$1.10 KES 143
-39.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 RSD 84.4
$0.73 KES 95.3
10.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 RSD 70.9
$0.77 KES 100
-11.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.78 RSD 498
$3.62 KES 469
32.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.54 RSD 889
$11.46 KES 1,486
-25.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 RSD 97.7
$2.28 KES 296
-58.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 RSD 150
$2.69 KES 349
-46.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Nairobi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 KES 102
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.51 KES 5,902
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 RSD 322
$1.52 KES 197
103.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 RSD 107
$1.58 KES 205
-35.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.18 RSD 1,789
$2.81 KES 364
511.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 RSD 195
$1.56 KES 203
19.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K RSD 3.2M
$21.8K KES 2.8M
41.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K RSD 2.5M
$19.9K KES 2.6M
21.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Nairobi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 RSD 22.7K
$56.9 KES 7,375
282.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.24 RSD 2,629
$15.35 KES 1,991
64.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.35 RSD 3,683
$35.18 KES 4,563
0.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Nairobi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.77 RSD 4,351
$49.39 KES 6,406
-15.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.80 RSD 2,375
$15.39 KES 1,996
48.15%
Cinema Ticket
$8.47 RSD 882
$7.83 KES 1,016
8.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Nairobi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$426 RSD 44.4K
$250 KES 32.4K
70.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K RSD 1.2M
$12.5K KES 1.6M
-8.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Nairobi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 RSD 11.6K
$27.71 KES 3,594
301.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.99 RSD 4,791
$28.64 KES 3,714
60.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 RSD 12.4K
$68.7 KES 8,911
73.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 RSD 16.0K
$58.9 KES 7,638
161.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Nairobi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 RSD 85.6K
$453 KES 58.8K
81.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$561 RSD 58.4K
$217 KES 28.2K
157.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 RSD 157.4K
$1,106 KES 143.4K
36.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$942 RSD 98.1K
$507 KES 65.8K
85.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,312 RSD 553.4K
$1,292 KES 167.6K
311.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,165 RSD 329.7K
$897 KES 116.3K
252.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Nairobi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,228 RSD 127.9K
$481 KES 62.4K
155.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.61
14.71
-68.66%

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

Last update for Belgrade: October 3, 2026

Last update for Nairobi: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
$561
Nairobi
$217 61.2% $343
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
$278
Nairobi
$107 61.4% $171
Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
$246
Nairobi
$205 16.6% $41
Eating Out
Belgrade
$233
Nairobi
$123 47% $109
Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
$194
Nairobi
$83 57.2% $111
Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
$59
Nairobi
$65 10.8% $6.4
Getting Around
Belgrade
$8.2 *
Nairobi
$58 608% $50

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $821 in Belgrade versus $453 in Nairobi. 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 155% higher in Belgrade, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Belgrade versus $35.00 in Nairobi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $205 – making Nairobi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇸 Belgrade
🇰🇪 Nairobi
🕒 Local time
10:24 10:24 AM
11:24 11:24 AM
1 h ahead of Belgrade
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,197,714 Capital
3,138,295 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KES, USD, EUR to RSD – Serbian Dinar Converter

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.6 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.56 EUR).

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.71 USD). 1 EUR = 145 KES (1,000 KES = 6.87 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Belgrade Nairobi 5,380 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Belgrade
  • Nairobi

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 Nairobi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Belgrade and in Nairobi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,538 in Belgrade, $874 in Nairobi – roughly 76% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Belgrade compared to Nairobi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,307 per month in Belgrade and $1,311 in Nairobi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Belgrade and Nairobi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nairobi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Belgrade and $35.00 in Nairobi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Belgrade, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nairobi, where all-in costs run around $874, than in Belgrade at $1,538. In Nairobi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Belgrade and Nairobi?
It depends on your priorities. Nairobi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $874 in Nairobi to $1,538 in Belgrade. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Belgrade or Nairobi safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Belgrade and Nairobi?
If budget matters most, go with Nairobi. 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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