Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Novi Sad Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Novi Sad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,508 per month in Belgrade vs $1,395 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Belgrade vs $2,120 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,098 per month in Belgrade vs $2,845 in Novi Sad, rent included.

Belgrade costs about 8% more than Novi Sad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Belgrade and Novi Sad sit above the global median – Belgrade by 13%, Novi Sad by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Novi Sad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.41 RSD 1,270
$10.10 RSD 1,034
22.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.13 RSD 5,026
$49.11 RSD 5,024
0.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.96 RSD 1,224
$10.69 RSD 1,094
11.88%
Cappuccino
$2.83 RSD 289
$2.26 RSD 231
25.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 RSD 277
$2.10 RSD 214
29.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 RSD 222
$1.70 RSD 174
27.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.36 RSD 344
$3.03 RSD 310
10.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 RSD 401
$3.74 RSD 383
4.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Novi Sad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 RSD 150
$1.60 RSD 164
-8.13%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 RSD 96.5
$1.02 RSD 105
-7.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.05 RSD 312
$2.81 RSD 287
8.54%
Eggs
$2.87 RSD 294
$2.65 RSD 271
8.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.34 RSD 1,160
$12.03 RSD 1,231
-5.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.48 RSD 766
$6.77 RSD 693
10.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.97 RSD 1,327
$12.77 RSD 1,306
1.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 RSD 145
$1.25 RSD 128
13.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 RSD 194
$1.85 RSD 190
2.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 RSD 201
$1.58 RSD 161
24.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 RSD 276
$2.51 RSD 257
7.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 RSD 105
$0.94 RSD 95.9
9.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 RSD 81.7
$0.94 RSD 96.0
-14.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 RSD 90.6
$0.81 RSD 82.8
9.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 RSD 80.1
$0.65 RSD 66.6
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 RSD 463
$4.55 RSD 466
-0.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.49 RSD 868
$7.93 RSD 812
7.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 RSD 89.9
$0.86 RSD 87.7
2.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 RSD 164
$2.24 RSD 229
-28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Novi Sad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 RSD 99.2
$0.95 RSD 96.8
2.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$24.56 RSD 2,513
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 RSD 330
$1.90 RSD 194
70.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 RSD 97.9
$0.63 RSD 64.6
52.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.63 RSD 1,804
$9.31 RSD 953
89.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 RSD 185
$1.82 RSD 186
-0.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K RSD 3.2M
$30.6K RSD 3.1M
0.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K RSD 2.7M
$28.7K RSD 2.9M
-8.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Novi Sad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 RSD 21.0K
$203 RSD 20.7K
1.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48 RSD 2,300
$19.90 RSD 2,035
12.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.43 RSD 3,317
$36.34 RSD 3,718
-10.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Novi Sad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.00 RSD 3,989
$35.51 RSD 3,632
9.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19 RSD 2,168
$13.88 RSD 1,419
52.67%
Cinema Ticket
$8.04 RSD 823
$6.28 RSD 642
28.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Novi Sad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 RSD 46.6K
$340 RSD 34.8K
34.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,282 RSD 949.5K
$7,127 RSD 729.2K
30.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Novi Sad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 RSD 10.3K
$109 RSD 11.2K
-8.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.53 RSD 4,351
$44.99 RSD 4,603
-5.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 RSD 11.5K
$122 RSD 12.5K
-8.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 RSD 12.3K
$138 RSD 14.1K
-12.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Novi Sad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$876 RSD 89.6K
$548 RSD 56.1K
59.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$576 RSD 58.9K
$471 RSD 48.2K
22.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,574 RSD 161.0K
$1,102 RSD 112.8K
42.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$999 RSD 102.2K
$795 RSD 81.4K
25.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,543 RSD 567.0K
$3,644 RSD 372.8K
52.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,206 RSD 328.0K
$2,646 RSD 270.7K
21.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Novi Sad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,214 RSD 124.2K
$1,064 RSD 108.8K
14.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.59
7.31
-23.53%

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

Last update for Belgrade: July 12, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $876 in Belgrade versus $548 in Novi Sad. 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 14% 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 $49.00 in Belgrade versus $49.00 in Novi Sad. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Belgrade vs $233 in Novi Sad – so Novi Sad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Belgrade and in Novi Sad compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,508 in Belgrade, $1,395 in Novi Sad – roughly 8% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Belgrade compared to Novi Sad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,262 per month in Belgrade and $2,092 in Novi Sad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Belgrade and Novi Sad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novi Sad, 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 $49.00 in Belgrade and $49.00 in Novi Sad. 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 3% 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 $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novi Sad, where all-in costs run around $1,395, than in Belgrade at $1,508. In Novi Sad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Belgrade or Novi Sad?
Families tend to lean toward Novi Sad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Belgrade or Novi Sad 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 Novi Sad?
If budget matters most, go with Novi Sad. 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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