Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Novi Sad

For one person, living is cheaper in Novi Sad: $1,371 a month against $1,685 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Novi Sad
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,371
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buenos Aires and in Novi Sad

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,685 in Buenos Aires versus $1,371 in Novi Sad.

  • Buenos Aires $1,685
  • Novi Sad $1,371

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,742 in Buenos Aires versus $2,114 in Novi Sad.

  • Buenos Aires $2,742
  • Novi Sad $2,114

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,799 in Buenos Aires versus $2,856 in Novi Sad.

  • Buenos Aires $3,799
  • Novi Sad $2,856

Living in Buenos Aires is roughly 23% more expensive than in Novi Sad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Buenos Aires 26% above, Novi Sad 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Novi Sad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
$9.93 RSD 1,037
88.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 ARS 97.7K
$49.70 RSD 5,188
29.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
$12.00 RSD 1,253
7.33%
Cappuccino
$3.98 ARS 6,027
$2.61 RSD 273
52.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ARS 3,102
$2.32 RSD 243
-11.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ARS 2,348
$1.83 RSD 192
-15.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 ARS 5,828
$2.91 RSD 303
31.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60 ARS 6,968
$3.78 RSD 394
21.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Novi Sad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ARS 2,180
$1.40 RSD 146
2.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 ARS 3,737
$0.95 RSD 99.2
158.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 ARS 2,466
$2.68 RSD 280
-39.18%
Eggs
$2.89 ARS 4,384
$2.54 RSD 265
13.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
$13.09 RSD 1,367
-18.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$7.52 RSD 785
32.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
$14.35 RSD 1,499
-4.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ARS 4,165
$1.71 RSD 179
60.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 ARS 3,299
$1.98 RSD 207
10.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ARS 2,204
$1.66 RSD 173
-12.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ARS 3,012
$2.55 RSD 266
-21.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ARS 1,884
$1.01 RSD 105
22.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 ARS 1,920
$0.68 RSD 71.0
86.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.70 ARS 2,574
$0.96 RSD 100
77.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 ARS 2,616
$0.66 RSD 68.5
162.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 ARS 6,335
$4.84 RSD 505
-13.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.80 ARS 8,787
$7.46 RSD 779
-22.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 ARS 3,162
$0.92 RSD 95.7
127.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ARS 4,197
$2.21 RSD 231
25.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Novi Sad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,131
$0.99 RSD 104
-24.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
$24.45 RSD 2,552
11.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 ARS 2,450
$2.33 RSD 244
-30.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 ARS 1,480
$0.93 RSD 96.9
5.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
$10.35 RSD 1,081
-25.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ARS 2,057
$1.83 RSD 191
-25.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
$30.7K RSD 3.2M
-8.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ARS 52.3M
$26.3K RSD 2.7M
31.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Novi Sad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 ARS 326.8K
$223 RSD 23.2K
-3.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
$20.57 RSD 2,147
24.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36 ARS 47.5K
$33.21 RSD 3,467
-5.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Novi Sad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.82 ARS 75.5K
$36.61 RSD 3,823
36.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
$11.06 RSD 1,155
54.25%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
$7.30 RSD 763
42.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Novi Sad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$466 ARS 706.5K
$372 RSD 38.8K
25.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
$7,710 RSD 804.9K
17.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Novi Sad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122 ARS 185.1K
$119 RSD 12.4K
2.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$97.4 ARS 147.7K
$43.40 RSD 4,531
124.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ARS 177.3K
$137 RSD 14.3K
-14.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 ARS 211.8K
$124 RSD 12.9K
12.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Novi Sad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 ARS 1.2M
$495 RSD 51.6K
54.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$505 ARS 765.8K
$405 RSD 42.3K
24.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
$955 RSD 99.7K
67.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
$753 RSD 78.6K
57.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
$3,527 RSD 368.2K
-24.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
$2,586 RSD 270.0K
-28.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Novi Sad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$954 ARS 1.4M
$1,240 RSD 129.5K
-23.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
5.21
998.85%

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

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$505
Novi Sad
$405 19.7% $100
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$284
Novi Sad
$244 14% $40
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$279
Novi Sad
$186 33.5% $93
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$273
Novi Sad
$276 1.4% $3.9
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$214
Novi Sad
$190 11.2% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$71
Novi Sad
$51 27.5% $19
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Novi Sad
$35 3.4% $1.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Buenos Aires and $495 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $64.0 in Buenos Aires vs $50.0 in Novi Sad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $244 per month, with Novi Sad cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇷🇸 Novi Sad
🕒 Local time
23:44 11:44 PM
04:44 4:44 AM
5 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
260,438
💱 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 Novi Sad 11,850 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Novi Sad

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 Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Novi Sad?
Buenos Aires and Novi Sad differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,685 vs $1,371 including rent). Novi Sad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Novi Sad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Buenos Aires and in Novi Sad?
Rent for a central apartment: $763 in Buenos Aires versus $495 in Novi Sad. 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 Novi Sad?
Childcare runs $466 in Buenos Aires versus $372 in Novi Sad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Buenos Aires. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,371 in Novi Sad versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novi Sad but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Novi Sad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Novi Sad?
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 Novi Sad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Novi Sad 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 Novi Sad?
Expats usually find Novi Sad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% 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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