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 $1,074 in Serbia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $1,580 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 20% lower.

India ($264$888) and Serbia ($871$1,517) 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
$2.49 ₹237
$10.09 RSD 1,015
-75.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20 ₹1,353
$48.57 RSD 4,884
-70.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.98 ₹379
$10.52 RSD 1,058
-62.17%
Cappuccino
$1.88 ₹179
$2.34 RSD 236
-19.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹41.98
$2.19 RSD 221
-79.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.57
$1.67 RSD 167
-88.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 ₹192
$3.03 RSD 304
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ₹329
$3.55 RSD 357
-2.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Serbia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 ₹68.3
$1.46 RSD 147
-50.68%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.26
$0.84 RSD 84.2
-38.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ₹68.7
$2.59 RSD 260
-72.20%
Eggs
$0.93 ₹88.8
$2.75 RSD 277
-66.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.24 ₹499
$10.29 RSD 1,035
-49.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ₹292
$7.10 RSD 714
-56.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.54 RSD 1,261
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₹207
$1.30 RSD 131
66.92%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.2
$1.90 RSD 191
-60.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹100
$1.82 RSD 183
-42.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.7
$2.44 RSD 246
-78.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.53
$1.06 RSD 106
-63.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.81
$0.89 RSD 90.0
-44.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.35
$0.82 RSD 82.3
-36.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.13
$0.73 RSD 73.0
-54.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 ₹386
$4.55 RSD 458
-10.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 ₹704
$6.86 RSD 690
7.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₹175
$0.82 RSD 82.9
124.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₹277
$1.72 RSD 173
68.60%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.65 ₹538
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Serbia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹34.59
$0.82 RSD 82.1
-56.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.74 ₹928
$19.72 RSD 1,983
-50.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹90.6
$1.93 RSD 194
-50.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.64
$0.88 RSD 88.2
-65.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 ₹165
$11.81 RSD 1,187
-85.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹117
$1.78 RSD 179
-30.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$31.1K RSD 3.1M
-55.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K ₹2.2M
$27.3K RSD 2.7M
-17.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Serbia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.88 ₹3,894
$192 RSD 19.3K
-78.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 ₹372
$20.23 RSD 2,034
-80.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81 ₹744
$30.89 RSD 3,106
-74.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Serbia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.15 ₹1,538
$35.47 RSD 3,567
-54.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49 ₹713
$18.29 RSD 1,839
-59.05%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 ₹326
$6.76 RSD 680
-49.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Serbia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.9 ₹6,660
$365 RSD 36.7K
-80.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,793 ₹170.8K
$8,538 RSD 858.6K
-79.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Serbia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83 ₹2,460
$98.0 RSD 9,854
-73.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61 ₹2,535
$43.24 RSD 4,348
-38.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.24 ₹4,309
$110 RSD 11.0K
-58.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68 ₹3,208
$119 RSD 12.0K
-71.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Serbia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₹17.0K
$596 RSD 59.9K
-70.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 ₹10.9K
$428 RSD 43.1K
-73.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ₹38.8K
$1,032 RSD 103.8K
-60.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₹25.1K
$746 RSD 75.0K
-64.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 ₹118.1K
$3,205 RSD 322.3K
-61.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 ₹60.1K
$2,274 RSD 228.7K
-72.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Serbia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 ₹41.2K
$966 RSD 97.1K
-55.25%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Serbia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $377 in Serbia. Capital cities: $239 in Delhi vs $852 in Belgrade.

National salary averages: $398 in India, $787 in Serbia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 197% higher in Serbia.

Dining out costs 218% more in Serbia.

Public transport is 144% more expensive in Serbia.

Salaries are 98% higher in Serbia, giving India stronger purchasing power.

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 $576 per month in India and $1,194 in Serbia, there's a 107% 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?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 Serbia?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Serbia, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or 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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