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 $1,047 per month in Nis vs $1,488 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,527 per month in Nis vs $2,233 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,007 per month in Nis vs $2,978 in Novi Sad, rent included.

Nis is about 30% cheaper than Novi Sad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nis sits 24% below the global median, while Novi Sad is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.98 RSD 805

$10.41 RSD 1,050

-23.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.63 RSD 3,490

$51.2 RSD 5,160

-32.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.10 RSD 1,018

$12.74 RSD 1,284

-20.72%

Cappuccino

$2.02 RSD 204

$2.72 RSD 274

-25.74%

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

$2.36 RSD 238

$2.49 RSD 251

-5.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 RSD 188

$1.91 RSD 193

-2.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 RSD 380

$2.91 RSD 293

29.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 RSD 456

$4.03 RSD 406

12.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 RSD 115

$1.52 RSD 154

-24.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 RSD 77.2

$1.03 RSD 104

-25.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 RSD 176

$2.86 RSD 288

-39.16%

Eggs

$2.36 RSD 238

$2.72 RSD 274

-13.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 RSD 786

$13.84 RSD 1,395

-43.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.12 RSD 617

$7.72 RSD 778

-20.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 RSD 1,116

$14.47 RSD 1,459

-23.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 RSD 109

$1.83 RSD 185

-40.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 RSD 175

$2.02 RSD 204

-13.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 RSD 154

$1.73 RSD 174

-11.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 RSD 219

$2.66 RSD 268

-18.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 RSD 80.1

$1.04 RSD 105

-24.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 RSD 81.0

$0.67 RSD 67.2

19.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 RSD 68.9

$1.04 RSD 105

-34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 RSD 58.0

$0.70 RSD 70.5

-17.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.49 RSD 453

$4.90 RSD 494

-8.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 RSD 586

$7.89 RSD 795

-26.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 RSD 67.7

$0.99 RSD 100.0

-32.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 RSD 129

$2.38 RSD 240

-46.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.88 RSD 2,608

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 RSD 195

$2.41 RSD 243

-19.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 RSD 67.1

$0.91 RSD 91.8

-26.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.66 RSD 873

$10.77 RSD 1,085

-19.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 RSD 193

$1.87 RSD 189

2.67%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

$31.4K RSD 3.2M

-0.98%

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

$25.3K RSD 2.6M

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

-4.26%

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

$163 RSD 16.4K

$246 RSD 24.8K

-33.94%

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

$20.70 RSD 2,086

$21.16 RSD 2,133

-2.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.26 RSD 2,345

$35.51 RSD 3,579

-34.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.13 RSD 3,138

$38.45 RSD 3,876

-19.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.13 RSD 1,626

$11.54 RSD 1,164

39.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 RSD 496

$7.51 RSD 757

-34.35%

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

$259 RSD 26.1K

$389 RSD 39.2K

-33.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,157 RSD 519.8K

$7,743 RSD 780.4K

-33.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 RSD 9,332

$122 RSD 12.3K

-23.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.61 RSD 3,992

$46.04 RSD 4,640

-13.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 RSD 10.5K

$145 RSD 14.6K

-28.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 RSD 11.4K

$141 RSD 14.2K

-19.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 RSD 40.9K

$514 RSD 51.8K

-21.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 RSD 29.4K

$412 RSD 41.5K

-29.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$612 RSD 61.7K

$997 RSD 100.5K

-38.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 RSD 42.1K

$802 RSD 80.8K

-47.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,587 RSD 260.7K

$3,714 RSD 374.3K

-30.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,897 RSD 191.2K

$2,706 RSD 272.8K

-29.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$928 RSD 93.5K

$1,265 RSD 127.4K

-26.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.11

5.23

-2.29%

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

Last update for Nis: September 7, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $406 in Nis versus $514 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 36% 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 $35.00 in Nis versus $51.0 in Novi Sad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $255 – 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 42% more than Nis, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,571 per month in Nis and $2,232 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 $1,047 in Nis and $1,488 in Novi Sad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $259 per month in Nis and $389 in Novi Sad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nis, where all-in costs run around $1,047, than in Novi Sad at $1,488. 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.