Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Bečej Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Bečej

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,044 in Nis versus $872 in Bečej.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,519 in Nis versus $1,351 in Bečej.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,994 in Nis versus $1,829 in Bečej.

Living in Nis is roughly 20% more expensive than in Bečej, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nis 24% lower, Bečej 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 RSD 774

$7.06 RSD 711

9.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.00 RSD 3,522

$34.15 RSD 3,437

2.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 RSD 993

$10.19 RSD 1,025

-3.14%

Cappuccino

$2.00 RSD 201

$1.17 RSD 118

70.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 RSD 237

$1.46 RSD 147

60.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 RSD 191

$0.78 RSD 78.7

142.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 RSD 378

$1.51 RSD 151

148.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 RSD 454

$1.96 RSD 197

130.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 RSD 121

$0.96 RSD 96.7

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 RSD 72.5

$1.20 RSD 120

-40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 RSD 176

$1.53 RSD 154

14.38%

Eggs

$2.42 RSD 244

$2.18 RSD 220

11.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 RSD 805

$9.68 RSD 975

-17.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.98 RSD 602

$6.79 RSD 683

-11.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.97 RSD 1,104

$7.65 RSD 770

43.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 RSD 112

$0.98 RSD 98.1

13.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 RSD 177

$1.98 RSD 199

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 RSD 151

$1.60 RSD 161

-6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 RSD 211

$1.94 RSD 195

7.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 RSD 79.4

$0.73 RSD 73.3

8.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 RSD 80.3

$0.34 RSD 33.75

135.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 RSD 65.5

$0.73 RSD 73.5

-10.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 RSD 63.1

$0.62 RSD 62.7

1.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 RSD 470

$3.91 RSD 394

19.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.57 RSD 560

$4.04 RSD 406

37.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 RSD 71.7

$0.68 RSD 68.2

4.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 RSD 130

$1.02 RSD 102

26.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 RSD 192

$2.04 RSD 205

-6.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 RSD 65.4

$0.78 RSD 78.2

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.39 RSD 844

$9.96 RSD 1,002

-15.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 RSD 185

$1.97 RSD 199

-6.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.5K RSD 3.2M

$31.2K RSD 3.1M

0.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.0K RSD 2.5M

$25.8K RSD 2.6M

-3.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$164 RSD 16.5K

$65.4 RSD 6,581

151.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.57 RSD 2,070

$9.79 RSD 985

110.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.38 RSD 2,353

$23.94 RSD 2,409

-2.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.95 RSD 3,115

$30.23 RSD 3,042

2.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.37 RSD 1,648

$13.90 RSD 1,399

17.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.08 RSD 512

$8.84 RSD 889

-42.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$257 RSD 25.8K

$425 RSD 42.7K

-39.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,099 RSD 513.1K

$11.9K RSD 1.2M

-57.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.0 RSD 9,058

$112 RSD 11.3K

-19.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 RSD 4,014

$48.53 RSD 4,883

-17.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 RSD 10.4K

$64.1 RSD 6,447

61.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 RSD 11.6K

$121 RSD 12.2K

-4.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 RSD 39.7K

$321 RSD 32.3K

22.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 RSD 28.8K

$272 RSD 27.3K

5.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 RSD 62.4K

$460 RSD 46.3K

34.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 RSD 43.4K

$383 RSD 38.5K

12.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,592 RSD 260.8K

$2,110 RSD 212.3K

22.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,926 RSD 193.8K

$1,598 RSD 160.8K

20.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$952 RSD 95.8K

$549 RSD 55.3K

73.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.11

4.64

10.13%

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

Last update for Nis: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bečej: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $395 in Nis and $321 in Bečej. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nis pays 73% 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: $35.00 in Nis vs $34.00 in Bečej for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $182 per month, with Bečej 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

Nis vs Bečej: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bečej is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 73% higher in Nis, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $395 in Nis versus $321 in Bečej. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Nis. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,044 per month in Nis versus $872 in Bečej – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bečej gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Nis and Bečej are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bečej gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Nis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.