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 $1,029 per month in Nis vs $1,392 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,531 per month in Nis vs $2,077 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,033 per month in Nis vs $2,763 in Novi Sad, rent included.

Nis is about 26% cheaper than Novi Sad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nis sits 23% below the global median, while Novi Sad is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.52 RSD 772

$9.58 RSD 984

-21.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.69 RSD 3,048

$48.59 RSD 4,988

-38.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 RSD 1,000

$11.04 RSD 1,133

-11.78%

Cappuccino

$1.98 RSD 203

$2.38 RSD 244

-16.81%

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

$1.83 RSD 188

$2.18 RSD 224

-16.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 RSD 127

$1.69 RSD 174

-26.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 RSD 260

$2.90 RSD 298

-12.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 RSD 309

$3.64 RSD 374

-17.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 RSD 131

$1.54 RSD 158

-17.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 RSD 77.0

$1.03 RSD 106

-27.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 RSD 185

$2.69 RSD 277

-33.09%

Eggs

$2.38 RSD 245

$2.58 RSD 265

-7.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 RSD 808

$11.94 RSD 1,225

-34.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 RSD 706

$7.05 RSD 724

-2.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.51 RSD 1,181

$12.77 RSD 1,311

-9.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 RSD 121

$1.24 RSD 127

-4.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 RSD 185

$1.90 RSD 195

-5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 RSD 155

$1.64 RSD 169

-7.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 RSD 184

$2.54 RSD 261

-29.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 RSD 109

$0.93 RSD 95.0

15.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 RSD 111

$0.88 RSD 90.1

22.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 RSD 61.4

$0.80 RSD 82.3

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 RSD 59.4

$0.69 RSD 70.5

-15.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 RSD 431

$4.33 RSD 444

-3.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.69 RSD 584

$7.57 RSD 777

-24.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 RSD 77.3

$0.86 RSD 88.3

-12.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 RSD 212

$2.22 RSD 227

-7.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 RSD 80.0

$1.04 RSD 106

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.17 RSD 2,686

$25.11 RSD 2,577

4.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 RSD 149

$1.98 RSD 203

-26.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 RSD 43.70

$0.67 RSD 69.0

-35.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 RSD 720

$9.30 RSD 955

-24.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.77 RSD 181

$1.82 RSD 187

-2.75%

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

$31.2K RSD 3.2M

$31.0K RSD 3.2M

0.71%

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

$26.9K RSD 2.8M

$28.9K RSD 3.0M

-6.94%

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

$141 RSD 14.4K

$208 RSD 21.3K

-32.20%

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

$16.79 RSD 1,723

$19.88 RSD 2,041

-15.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.17 RSD 2,275

$36.00 RSD 3,695

-38.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.18 RSD 2,995

$35.49 RSD 3,643

-17.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 RSD 1,915

$14.00 RSD 1,437

33.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 RSD 506

$6.24 RSD 640

-20.99%

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

$233 RSD 23.9K

$339 RSD 34.8K

-31.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,098 RSD 523.3K

$7,130 RSD 731.8K

-28.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.5 RSD 9,293

$107 RSD 11.0K

-15.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.09 RSD 4,731

$45.86 RSD 4,707

0.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 RSD 9,809

$123 RSD 12.6K

-22.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 RSD 10.4K

$135 RSD 13.9K

-25.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$407 RSD 41.8K

$567 RSD 58.2K

-28.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 RSD 30.0K

$457 RSD 46.9K

-36.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$558 RSD 57.2K

$1,096 RSD 112.5K

-49.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 RSD 42.5K

$790 RSD 81.1K

-47.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,550 RSD 261.8K

$3,667 RSD 376.4K

-30.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,885 RSD 193.5K

$2,713 RSD 278.5K

-30.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$903 RSD 92.7K

$1,063 RSD 109.1K

-15.00%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $407 in Nis versus $567 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 18% 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 $30.00 in Nis versus $49.00 in Novi Sad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $233 – 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 35% 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 $1,543 per month in Nis and $2,088 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 $1,029 in Nis and $1,392 in Novi Sad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% 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 $1,029, than in Novi Sad at $1,392. 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.