Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Nis

For one person, living is cheaper in Nis: $1,033 a month against $1,685 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Nis
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,033
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buenos Aires and in Nis

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,685 in Buenos Aires versus $1,033 in Nis.

  • Buenos Aires $1,685
  • Nis $1,033

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,742 in Buenos Aires versus $1,512 in Nis.

  • Buenos Aires $2,742
  • Nis $1,512

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,799 in Buenos Aires versus $1,991 in Nis.

  • Buenos Aires $3,799
  • Nis $1,991

Living in Buenos Aires is roughly 63% more expensive than in Nis, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buenos Aires is 26% above, Nis is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Nis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
$8.78 RSD 917
113.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 ARS 97.7K
$33.92 RSD 3,541
90.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
$9.57 RSD 999
34.59%
Cappuccino
$3.98 ARS 6,027
$1.97 RSD 206
102.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ARS 3,102
$2.31 RSD 242
-11.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ARS 2,348
$1.74 RSD 182
-10.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 ARS 5,828
$3.61 RSD 377
6.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60 ARS 6,968
$4.49 RSD 469
2.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Nis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ARS 2,180
$1.14 RSD 120
26.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 ARS 3,737
$0.70 RSD 73.2
251.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 ARS 2,466
$1.76 RSD 184
-7.39%
Eggs
$2.89 ARS 4,384
$2.35 RSD 246
22.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
$7.65 RSD 799
39.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$5.72 RSD 597
74.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
$10.59 RSD 1,105
29.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ARS 4,165
$1.11 RSD 116
147.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 ARS 3,299
$1.68 RSD 175
29.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ARS 2,204
$1.50 RSD 157
-3.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ARS 3,012
$2.17 RSD 226
-8.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ARS 1,884
$0.78 RSD 81.8
58.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 ARS 1,920
$0.72 RSD 74.7
76.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.70 ARS 2,574
$0.64 RSD 66.6
165.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 ARS 2,616
$0.58 RSD 60.6
198.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 ARS 6,335
$4.42 RSD 461
-5.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.80 ARS 8,787
$5.78 RSD 604
0.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 ARS 3,162
$0.72 RSD 75.3
190.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ARS 4,197
$1.29 RSD 135
114.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Nis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,131
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 ARS 2,450
$1.84 RSD 192
-11.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 ARS 1,480
$0.66 RSD 68.8
48.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
$8.29 RSD 866
-6.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ARS 2,057
$1.89 RSD 198
-28.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
$30.7K RSD 3.2M
-8.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ARS 52.3M
$24.0K RSD 2.5M
44.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Nis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 ARS 326.8K
$160 RSD 16.8K
34.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
$19.03 RSD 1,987
34.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36 ARS 47.5K
$22.20 RSD 2,318
41.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Nis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.82 ARS 75.5K
$30.54 RSD 3,188
63.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
$15.65 RSD 1,634
9.01%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
$4.68 RSD 489
122.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Nis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$466 ARS 706.5K
$252 RSD 26.4K
84.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
$4,989 RSD 520.9K
81.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Nis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122 ARS 185.1K
$88.4 RSD 9,234
38.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$97.4 ARS 147.7K
$37.42 RSD 3,906
160.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ARS 177.3K
$99.3 RSD 10.4K
17.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 ARS 211.8K
$112 RSD 11.7K
25.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Nis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 ARS 1.2M
$398 RSD 41.5K
91.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$505 ARS 765.8K
$277 RSD 28.9K
82.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
$591 RSD 61.7K
170.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
$397 RSD 41.5K
198.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
$2,531 RSD 264.2K
5.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
$1,884 RSD 196.7K
-1.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Nis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$954 ARS 1.4M
$901 RSD 94.0K
5.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
5.12
1018.16%

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

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Last update for Nis: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$505
Nis
$277 45.1% $228
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$284
Nis
$182 36% $102
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$279
Nis
$166 40.5% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$273
Nis
$202 26% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$214
Nis
$152 29.3% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$71
Nis
$40 43.5% $31
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Nis
$5.1 * 86% $31

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 $763 in Buenos Aires and $398 in Nis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buenos Aires pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $64.0 in Buenos Aires vs $34.00 in Nis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $182 per month, with Nis cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇷🇸 Nis
🕒 Local time
02:11 2:11 AM
07:11 7:11 AM
5 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
78,470
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RSD, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,516 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.6 USD). 1 EUR = 1,700 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.58 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.54 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buenos Aires Nis 11,880 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Nis

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
Buenos Aires vs Nis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Nis?
Buenos Aires and Nis differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($1,685 vs $1,033 including rent). Nis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Buenos Aires or Nis?
Average pay runs 6% higher in Buenos Aires, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Buenos Aires and in Nis?
Rent for a central apartment: $763 in Buenos Aires versus $398 in Nis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buenos Aires and Nis?
Childcare runs $466 in Buenos Aires versus $252 in Nis. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nis – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $64.0 in Buenos Aires. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,033 in Nis versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nis but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Nis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Nis?
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.
Is Buenos Aires or Nis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Nis are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Buenos Aires or Nis?
Expats usually find Nis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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