Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cairo and Novi Sad

For one person, living is cheaper in Cairo: $643 a month against $1,371 in Novi Sad, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cairo
🇪🇬 Egypt
$643
/mo nomad
Novi Sad
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,371
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cairo 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 Cairo and in Novi Sad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $643 per month in Cairo vs $1,371 in Novi Sad, rent included.

  • Cairo $643
  • Novi Sad $1,371

A couple spends around $1,037 per month in Cairo vs $2,114 in Novi Sad, rent included.

  • Cairo $1,037
  • Novi Sad $2,114

A family of three spends $1,431 per month in Cairo vs $2,856 in Novi Sad, rent included.

  • Cairo $1,431
  • Novi Sad $2,856

Cairo is about 53% cheaper than Novi Sad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Cairo sits 52% below the global median, while Novi Sad is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cairo
Novi Sad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.69 E£245
$9.93 RSD 1,035
-52.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.49 E£1,491
$49.70 RSD 5,177
-42.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.03 E£315
$12.00 RSD 1,250
-49.75%
Cappuccino
$1.81 E£94.7
$2.61 RSD 272
-30.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 E£18.18
$2.32 RSD 242
-84.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 E£7.95
$1.83 RSD 191
-91.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.45 E£76.0
$2.91 RSD 303
-50.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 E£117
$3.78 RSD 393
-40.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cairo
Novi Sad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 E£50.7
$1.40 RSD 146
-30.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 E£37.96
$0.95 RSD 98.9
-23.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 E£40.24
$2.68 RSD 279
-71.27%
Eggs
$1.17 E£61.2
$2.54 RSD 265
-53.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.32 E£226
$13.09 RSD 1,364
-67.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.07 E£265
$7.52 RSD 783
-32.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.92 E£467
$14.35 RSD 1,495
-37.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 E£95.8
$1.71 RSD 178
7.02%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 E£39.07
$1.98 RSD 206
-62.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.57 E£29.78
$1.66 RSD 173
-65.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 E£26.62
$2.55 RSD 266
-80.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 E£20.05
$1.01 RSD 105
-62.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 E£21.88
$0.68 RSD 70.8
-38.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 E£18.43
$0.96 RSD 100
-63.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 E£12.57
$0.66 RSD 68.4
-63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99 E£104
$4.84 RSD 504
-58.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.48 E£391
$7.46 RSD 777
0.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 E£79.4
$0.92 RSD 95.5
65.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 E£112
$2.21 RSD 230
-3.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Cairo
Novi Sad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 E£17.10
$0.99 RSD 103
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 E£453
$24.45 RSD 2,547
-64.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 E£19.27
$2.33 RSD 243
-84.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 E£10.65
$0.93 RSD 96.6
-78.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 E£77.8
$10.35 RSD 1,078
-85.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 E£23.94
$1.83 RSD 191
-74.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K E£1.7M
$30.7K RSD 3.2M
6.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K E£1.5M
$26.3K RSD 2.7M
8.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairo
Novi Sad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$27.54 E£1,441
$223 RSD 23.2K
-87.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.27 E£432
$20.57 RSD 2,143
-59.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.05 E£735
$33.21 RSD 3,459
-57.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cairo
Novi Sad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.27 E£1,479
$36.61 RSD 3,814
-22.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.70 E£350
$11.06 RSD 1,152
-39.42%
Cinema Ticket
$4.40 E£230
$7.30 RSD 761
-39.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cairo
Novi Sad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$121 E£6,356
$372 RSD 38.7K
-67.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,619 E£189.3K
$7,710 RSD 803.2K
-53.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cairo
Novi Sad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.16 E£2,101
$119 RSD 12.4K
-66.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.61 E£2,596
$43.40 RSD 4,521
14.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 E£6,033
$137 RSD 14.2K
-15.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.6 E£3,170
$124 RSD 12.9K
-51.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cairo
Novi Sad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$220 E£11.5K
$495 RSD 51.5K
-55.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$194 E£10.2K
$405 RSD 42.2K
-52.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$514 E£26.9K
$955 RSD 99.5K
-46.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 E£17.5K
$753 RSD 78.5K
-55.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$806 E£42.2K
$3,527 RSD 367.4K
-77.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$513 E£26.9K
$2,586 RSD 269.4K
-80.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cairo
Novi Sad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$200 E£10.5K
$1,240 RSD 129.2K
-83.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.21
5.21
211.13%

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

Last update for Cairo: October 3, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cairo
$194
Novi Sad
$405 109% $211
Groceries & Markets
Cairo
$141
Novi Sad
$244 72.8% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Cairo
$120
Novi Sad
$190 59.2% $71
Eating Out
Cairo
$91
Novi Sad
$186 104% $94
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairo
$50
Novi Sad
$276 454% $227
Sport & Entertainment
Cairo
$37
Novi Sad
$51 38.2% $14
Getting Around
Cairo
$11
Novi Sad
$35 212% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $220 in Cairo versus $495 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 519% higher in Novi Sad, 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 $28.00 in Cairo versus $50.0 in Novi Sad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $141 vs $244 – making Cairo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇬 Cairo
🇷🇸 Novi Sad
🕒 Local time
10:03 10:03 AM
09:03 9:03 AM
1 h behind Cairo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,120,350 Capital
260,438
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RSD, USD, EUR to EGP – Egyptian Pound Converter

Egyptian Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 52.32 EGP (100 EGP = 1.91 USD). 1 EUR = 58.68 EGP (100 EGP = 1.7 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cairo Novi Sad 1,960 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cairo
  • 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
Cairo vs Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novi Sad cheaper than Cairo?
Yes – Novi Sad is pricier by about 113%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $965 per month in Cairo and $2,057 in Novi Sad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cairo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Cairo and in Novi Sad?
Groceries cost about 73% more in Novi Sad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Cairo or in Novi Sad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cairo and $50.0 in Novi Sad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cairo or in Novi Sad?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cairo, where all-in costs run around $643, than in Novi Sad at $1,371. In Cairo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novi Sad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cairo or Novi Sad more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cairo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cairo or Novi Sad?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cairo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Novi Sad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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