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: $388 in India versus $1,077 in Serbia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $1,582 in Serbia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $2,086 in Serbia.

Living in India costs about 64% less than in Serbia on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: India 71% lower, Serbia 19% lower.

India ($265$913) and Serbia ($863$1,508) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Serbia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.53 ₹244
$10.05 RSD 1,029
-74.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.73 ₹1,321
$49.81 RSD 5,096
-72.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.00 ₹385
$10.67 RSD 1,092
-62.51%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ₹184
$2.37 RSD 243
-19.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₹41.85
$2.14 RSD 219
-79.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.11
$1.69 RSD 173
-89.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 ₹186
$2.90 RSD 297
-33.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₹341
$3.49 RSD 357
1.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Serbia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 ₹69.9
$1.49 RSD 152
-51.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹50.1
$0.81 RSD 83.3
-35.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ₹69.9
$2.63 RSD 269
-72.24%
Eggs
$0.95 ₹91.4
$2.78 RSD 285
-65.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.32 ₹512
$10.41 RSD 1,065
-48.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ₹299
$7.24 RSD 740
-57.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.53 RSD 1,282
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 ₹208
$1.31 RSD 134
64.89%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 ₹67.7
$1.84 RSD 188
-61.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹101
$1.79 RSD 183
-41.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.8
$2.38 RSD 244
-77.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.65
$1.06 RSD 108
-63.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 ₹46.63
$0.89 RSD 91.2
-46.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.78
$0.77 RSD 78.6
-32.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹34.33
$0.67 RSD 68.6
-46.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 ₹387
$4.45 RSD 455
-9.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.28 ₹701
$6.59 RSD 674
10.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₹183
$0.80 RSD 81.7
137.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 ₹292
$1.72 RSD 176
76.16%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.84 ₹562
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Serbia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹34.66
$0.76 RSD 78.2
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.84 ₹948
$19.58 RSD 2,003
-49.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹91.8
$1.94 RSD 198
-51.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹29.03
$0.87 RSD 88.6
-65.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₹172
$11.78 RSD 1,205
-84.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 ₹117
$1.80 RSD 184
-32.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$31.0K RSD 3.2M
-55.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₹2.2M
$27.2K RSD 2.8M
-17.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Serbia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.16 ₹3,866
$191 RSD 19.5K
-78.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.76 ₹362
$20.24 RSD 2,071
-81.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.04 ₹774
$31.32 RSD 3,204
-74.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Serbia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.25 ₹1,565
$34.99 RSD 3,579
-53.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.56 ₹728
$18.56 RSD 1,899
-59.27%
Cinema Ticket
$3.43 ₹330
$7.06 RSD 723
-51.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Serbia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.7 ₹6,713
$360 RSD 36.8K
-80.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,852 ₹178.3K
$8,253 RSD 844.3K
-77.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Serbia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.59 ₹2,463
$95.9 RSD 9,813
-73.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.30 ₹2,531
$42.71 RSD 4,370
-38.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.89 ₹4,321
$112 RSD 11.4K
-59.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.20 ₹3,196
$122 RSD 12.5K
-72.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Serbia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$174 ₹16.8K
$595 RSD 60.9K
-70.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 ₹10.8K
$428 RSD 43.8K
-73.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₹38.9K
$1,034 RSD 105.8K
-60.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 ₹24.8K
$743 RSD 76.0K
-65.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,263 ₹121.6K
$3,107 RSD 317.9K
-59.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 ₹62.8K
$2,133 RSD 218.2K
-69.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Serbia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$424 ₹40.8K
$934 RSD 95.5K
-54.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
6.95
29.78%

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

Last update for India: July 12, 2026

Last update for Serbia: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $376 in Serbia. Capital cities: $242 in Delhi vs $876 in Belgrade.

National salary averages: $398 in India, $770 in Serbia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 196% higher in Serbia.

Dining out costs 218% more in Serbia.

Public transport is 156% more expensive in Serbia.

Salaries are 93% 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 $589 per month in India and $1,186 in Serbia, there's a 101% 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.

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