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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,024 per month in Nis vs $1,405 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Nis vs $2,094 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,024 per month in Nis vs $2,782 in Novi Sad, rent included.

Nis is about 27% cheaper than Novi Sad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Nis sits 24% below the global median, while Novi Sad is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 RSD 771

$9.59 RSD 970

-20.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.33 RSD 2,966

$48.50 RSD 4,905

-39.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 RSD 983

$10.97 RSD 1,109

-11.39%

Cappuccino

$2.00 RSD 202

$2.26 RSD 229

-11.50%

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

$1.89 RSD 192

$2.13 RSD 215

-11.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 RSD 129

$1.71 RSD 173

-25.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 RSD 253

$2.88 RSD 291

-13.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 RSD 300

$3.64 RSD 368

-18.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 RSD 136

$1.56 RSD 158

-14.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 RSD 71.5

$0.99 RSD 100

-28.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 RSD 187

$2.81 RSD 284

-34.16%

Eggs

$2.48 RSD 251

$2.56 RSD 259

-3.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.82 RSD 791

$11.92 RSD 1,205

-34.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 RSD 682

$6.79 RSD 687

-0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.83 RSD 1,196

$12.37 RSD 1,251

-4.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 RSD 116

$1.24 RSD 126

-7.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 RSD 175

$1.92 RSD 194

-9.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 RSD 152

$1.63 RSD 165

-7.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 RSD 180

$2.47 RSD 250

-27.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 RSD 109

$0.99 RSD 101

9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 RSD 111

$0.92 RSD 93.3

19.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 RSD 55.8

$0.76 RSD 77.2

-27.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 RSD 61.8

$0.68 RSD 69.0

-10.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 RSD 424

$4.46 RSD 451

-6.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.53 RSD 660

$7.79 RSD 788

-16.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 RSD 71.7

$0.84 RSD 84.9

-15.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 RSD 206

$2.15 RSD 218

-5.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 RSD 75.9

$1.01 RSD 102

-25.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.24 RSD 2,654

$24.83 RSD 2,511

5.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 RSD 148

$1.92 RSD 194

-23.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 RSD 42.88

$0.65 RSD 65.7

-35.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.88 RSD 696

$9.76 RSD 987

-29.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 RSD 178

$1.82 RSD 184

-3.30%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

-0.05%

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

$27.4K RSD 2.8M

$28.6K RSD 2.9M

-4.25%

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

$142 RSD 14.3K

$207 RSD 20.9K

-31.52%

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

$16.69 RSD 1,688

$19.65 RSD 1,987

-15.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.77 RSD 2,303

$35.46 RSD 3,586

-35.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.32 RSD 2,966

$36.41 RSD 3,683

-19.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.33 RSD 1,955

$13.99 RSD 1,415

38.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 RSD 513

$5.99 RSD 606

-15.36%

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

$234 RSD 23.7K

$346 RSD 35.0K

-32.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 RSD 520.3K

$7,231 RSD 731.2K

-28.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 RSD 8,978

$107 RSD 10.9K

-17.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.06 RSD 4,759

$46.50 RSD 4,702

1.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 RSD 9,422

$122 RSD 12.3K

-23.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 RSD 10.4K

$137 RSD 13.9K

-24.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 RSD 41.4K

$562 RSD 56.8K

-27.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 RSD 28.7K

$460 RSD 46.6K

-38.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 RSD 56.0K

$1,085 RSD 109.7K

-48.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$406 RSD 41.1K

$788 RSD 79.7K

-48.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,597 RSD 262.7K

$3,691 RSD 373.2K

-29.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,910 RSD 193.2K

$2,697 RSD 272.7K

-29.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$890 RSD 90.0K

$1,046 RSD 105.8K

-14.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.45

7.31

1.92%

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

Last update for Nis: June 7, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Nis versus $562 in Novi Sad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Novi Sad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Nis versus $49.00 in Novi Sad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $231 – making Nis the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Novi Sad costs about 37% more than Nis, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,535 per month in Nis and $2,108 in Novi Sad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,024 in Nis and $1,405 in Novi Sad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% less in Nis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nis, where all-in costs run around $1,024, than in Novi Sad at $1,405. In Nis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novi Sad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nis – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Nis. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Novi Sad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.