Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Serbia Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Serbia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $365 in India versus $1,079 in Serbia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $579 in India versus $1,607 in Serbia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $792 in India versus $2,134 in Serbia.

Living in India costs about 66% less than in Serbia on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: India 73% lower, Serbia 21% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Serbia: monthly costs span $786 to $1,641, compared to $231$827 in India. City choice carries more weight in Serbia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Serbia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.06 ₹196
$10.16 RSD 1,027
-79.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.63 ₹1,009
$49.95 RSD 5,048
-78.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.70 ₹352
$11.91 RSD 1,204
-68.93%
Cappuccino
$1.74 ₹165
$2.45 RSD 248
-28.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₹35.32
$2.27 RSD 229
-83.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.34
$1.91 RSD 193
-91.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 ₹183
$2.93 RSD 296
-34.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 ₹290
$3.38 RSD 342
-9.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Serbia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.62 ₹58.9
$1.41 RSD 143
-56.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 ₹46.69
$0.89 RSD 89.7
-44.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.63 ₹60.1
$2.38 RSD 241
-73.53%
Eggs
$0.94 ₹88.9
$2.69 RSD 271
-65.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.67 ₹444
$10.34 RSD 1,045
-54.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.88 ₹274
$7.05 RSD 712
-59.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$13.67 RSD 1,382
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.91 ₹181
$1.44 RSD 146
32.64%
Banana (1kg)
$0.64 ₹60.9
$1.83 RSD 185
-65.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 ₹93.3
$1.81 RSD 183
-45.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 ₹48.14
$2.44 RSD 247
-79.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.34 ₹32.08
$0.91 RSD 92.3
-62.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₹39.88
$0.71 RSD 71.7
-40.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 ₹45.68
$0.79 RSD 80.1
-39.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₹27.41
$0.70 RSD 71.1
-58.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.91 ₹466
$4.53 RSD 458
8.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.27 ₹690
$6.85 RSD 692
6.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₹157
$0.83 RSD 84.0
98.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₹253
$1.57 RSD 159
69.43%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.22 ₹495
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Serbia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ₹25.81
$0.75 RSD 76.3
-64.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.45 ₹803
$14.58 RSD 1,473
-42.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 ₹91.3
$2.03 RSD 205
-52.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹25.87
$0.98 RSD 98.7
-72.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 ₹152
$10.50 RSD 1,061
-84.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ₹106
$1.90 RSD 192
-41.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.7K ₹1.2M
$32.2K RSD 3.3M
-60.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K ₹1.9M
$25.7K RSD 2.6M
-20.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Serbia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.48 ₹3,559
$195 RSD 19.7K
-80.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.50 ₹332
$22.48 RSD 2,272
-84.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.16 ₹680
$31.21 RSD 3,155
-77.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Serbia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.79 ₹1,405
$35.55 RSD 3,593
-58.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.08 ₹672
$14.75 RSD 1,491
-52.00%
Cinema Ticket
$3.06 ₹291
$6.97 RSD 705
-56.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Serbia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$57.0 ₹5,409
$342 RSD 34.6K
-83.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,679 ₹159.4K
$9,020 RSD 911.6K
-81.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Serbia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.56 ₹2,142
$102 RSD 10.3K
-77.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.04 ₹2,283
$43.69 RSD 4,416
-44.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.60 ₹3,856
$112 RSD 11.3K
-63.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.39 ₹2,886
$132 RSD 13.4K
-77.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Serbia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$145 ₹13.8K
$521 RSD 52.6K
-72.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$91.4 ₹8,674
$385 RSD 38.9K
-76.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$335 ₹31.8K
$874 RSD 88.4K
-61.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$209 ₹19.9K
$672 RSD 67.9K
-68.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,233 ₹117.1K
$3,132 RSD 316.6K
-60.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$626 ₹59.4K
$2,168 RSD 219.2K
-71.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Serbia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$443 ₹42.1K
$985 RSD 99.5K
-55.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
4.86
83.95%

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

Last update for India: August 30, 2026

Last update for Serbia: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $120 in India, $346 in Serbia. Capital cities: $272 in Delhi vs $874 in Belgrade.

National salary averages: $408 in India, $798 in Serbia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 188% higher in Serbia.

Dining out costs 290% more in Serbia.

Public transport is 57% more expensive in Serbia.

Salaries are 96% higher in Serbia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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
India vs Serbia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Serbia?
At $529 per month in India and $1,214 in Serbia, there's a 129% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Serbia is consistently higher than in India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Serbia?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Serbia it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Serbia?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Serbia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

India vs other spots: cost of living compared