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 $1,641 per month in Belgrade vs $1,468 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,474 per month in Belgrade vs $2,245 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,307 per month in Belgrade vs $3,021 in Novi Sad, rent included.

Belgrade costs about 12% more than Novi Sad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Belgrade and Novi Sad sit above the global median – Belgrade by 19%, Novi Sad by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.70 RSD 1,384

$10.43 RSD 1,055

31.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 RSD 6,074

$52.1 RSD 5,267

15.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.52 RSD 1,366

$12.85 RSD 1,299

5.21%

Cappuccino

$3.32 RSD 335

$2.71 RSD 274

22.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 RSD 285

$2.47 RSD 250

14.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 RSD 248

$1.90 RSD 192

29.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 RSD 364

$2.99 RSD 302

20.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 RSD 408

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 RSD 152

$1.45 RSD 147

3.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 RSD 116

$1.03 RSD 104

11.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.90 RSD 293

$2.84 RSD 287

2.11%

Eggs

$2.80 RSD 283

$2.71 RSD 274

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.67 RSD 1,179

$14.12 RSD 1,427

-17.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.29 RSD 737

$7.54 RSD 762

-3.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.46 RSD 1,664

$14.42 RSD 1,458

14.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 RSD 178

$1.83 RSD 185

-3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 RSD 191

$2.02 RSD 204

-6.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 RSD 205

$1.69 RSD 171

20.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 RSD 328

$2.75 RSD 278

18.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 RSD 98.7

$1.04 RSD 105

-5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 RSD 70.7

$0.71 RSD 71.7

-1.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 RSD 84.2

$0.99 RSD 100

-16.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 RSD 74.4

$0.72 RSD 72.9

2.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 RSD 472

$4.83 RSD 488

-3.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 RSD 1,028

$8.08 RSD 817

25.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 RSD 91.3

$0.97 RSD 97.7

-7.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 RSD 159

$2.36 RSD 239

-33.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.60 RSD 2,587

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 RSD 311

$2.42 RSD 245

27.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 RSD 107

$0.96 RSD 96.9

10.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.08 RSD 1,828

$10.92 RSD 1,104

65.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 RSD 198

$1.85 RSD 187

5.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.0K RSD 3.2M

$31.1K RSD 3.1M

2.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.9K RSD 2.5M

$26.8K RSD 2.7M

-7.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$219 RSD 22.2K

$240 RSD 24.2K

-8.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.31 RSD 2,760

$20.60 RSD 2,082

32.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.82 RSD 3,722

$35.23 RSD 3,561

4.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.32 RSD 4,277

$38.86 RSD 3,927

8.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.99 RSD 2,425

$11.59 RSD 1,171

106.99%

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 RSD 883

$7.51 RSD 759

16.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$431 RSD 43.6K

$376 RSD 38.0K

14.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K RSD 1.2M

$7,932 RSD 801.7K

45.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$115 RSD 11.6K

$126 RSD 12.7K

-8.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 RSD 4,849

$45.45 RSD 4,594

5.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$144 RSD 14.5K

-15.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 RSD 16.7K

$143 RSD 14.5K

15.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$874 RSD 88.3K

$513 RSD 51.8K

70.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 RSD 59.4K

$425 RSD 42.9K

38.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 RSD 160.2K

$1,010 RSD 102.1K

56.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 RSD 102.0K

$810 RSD 81.8K

24.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,705 RSD 576.6K

$3,740 RSD 378.0K

52.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,249 RSD 328.3K

$2,733 RSD 276.2K

18.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,229 RSD 124.3K

$1,246 RSD 126.0K

-1.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.64

5.23

-11.28%

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

Last update for Belgrade: August 30, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $874 in Belgrade versus $513 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 1% higher in Novi Sad, 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 $60.0 in Belgrade versus $52.0 in Novi Sad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $255 – making Novi Sad 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

Belgrade vs Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,641 in Belgrade, $1,468 in Novi Sad – roughly 12% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,461 per month in Belgrade and $2,202 in Novi Sad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Belgrade and $52.0 in Novi Sad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Belgrade, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novi Sad, where all-in costs run around $1,468, than in Belgrade at $1,641. In Novi Sad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.