Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Novi Sad Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Novi Sad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,396 in Novi Sad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,091 in Novi Sad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,786 in Novi Sad.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 59% more expensive than Novi Sad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Novi Sad 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Novi Sad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$9.71 RSD 975
66.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$49.38 RSD 4,955
30.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$10.71 RSD 1,075
-3.08%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$2.35 RSD 236
17.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$2.13 RSD 214
5.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.63 RSD 164
-3.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$2.92 RSD 293
19.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$3.69 RSD 371
8.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Novi Sad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.53 RSD 154
-29.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.03 RSD 103
68.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$2.80 RSD 281
-37.86%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$2.57 RSD 257
23.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$11.80 RSD 1,184
13.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$7.13 RSD 715
12.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$12.69 RSD 1,273
26.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.26 RSD 126
80.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.83 RSD 183
-6.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$1.63 RSD 164
19.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$2.45 RSD 245
3.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$0.99 RSD 99.8
84.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$0.93 RSD 93.4
119.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$0.79 RSD 79.3
150.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.65 RSD 65.1
30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$4.54 RSD 456
50.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$8.22 RSD 825
-29.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$0.87 RSD 87.2
57.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$2.18 RSD 218
33.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Novi Sad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.03 RSD 103
121.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$24.69 RSD 2,477
89.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$1.96 RSD 197
108.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.69 RSD 69.2
18.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$9.27 RSD 930
97.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.83 RSD 183
9.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$30.2K RSD 3.0M
16.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$28.7K RSD 2.9M
33.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Novi Sad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$205 RSD 20.5K
-28.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$19.68 RSD 1,974
6.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$35.95 RSD 3,607
11.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Novi Sad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$36.63 RSD 3,675
33.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$14.21 RSD 1,425
31.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$6.29 RSD 631
44.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Novi Sad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$346 RSD 34.8K
75.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$7,317 RSD 734.1K
123.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Novi Sad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$108 RSD 10.8K
-3.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$45.66 RSD 4,581
-10.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$122 RSD 12.3K
-23.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$139 RSD 14.0K
-14.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Novi Sad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$557 RSD 55.9K
187.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$459 RSD 46.1K
169.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$1,084 RSD 108.7K
181.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$776 RSD 77.9K
164.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$3,670 RSD 368.2K
110.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$2,614 RSD 262.3K
63.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Novi Sad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$1,083 RSD 108.6K
46.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
7.31
-47.88%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $557 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 46% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $49.00 in Novi Sad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $233 per month, with Novi Sad cheaper across the board.

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
Lisbon vs Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Novi Sad?
Lisbon and Novi Sad differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,396 including rent). Novi Sad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Novi Sad?
Lisbon pays 46% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Novi Sad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $557 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 Lisbon and Novi Sad?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $346 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 Lisbon. 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 $1,396 in Novi Sad versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novi Sad but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Novi Sad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon 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 Lisbon or Novi Sad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon 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: Lisbon or Novi Sad?
Expats usually find Novi Sad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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