Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Samara Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Samara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,023 per month in Nis vs $997 in Samara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Nis vs $1,718 in Samara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Nis vs $2,440 in Samara, rent included.

Nis costs about 3% more than Samara, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Nis and Samara are more affordable than the global median – Nis 24% lower, Samara 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.23 RSD 728

$12.92 ₽954

-44.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.67 RSD 2,986

$50.5 ₽3,727

-41.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.99 RSD 1,006

$5.63 ₽415

77.44%

Cappuccino

$1.99 RSD 200

$2.32 ₽171

-14.22%

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

$1.82 RSD 183

$1.17 ₽86.5

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 RSD 123

$0.70 ₽51.3

74.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 RSD 256

$1.12 ₽82.9

126.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 RSD 293

$2.52 ₽186

15.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 RSD 134

$1.07 ₽79.2

24.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 RSD 74.9

$0.61 ₽44.69

21.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 RSD 182

$1.24 ₽91.8

45.97%

Eggs

$2.44 RSD 245

$1.80 ₽133

35.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 RSD 783

$8.93 ₽659

-12.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 RSD 670

$5.10 ₽376

30.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.70 RSD 1,177

$8.69 ₽641

34.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 RSD 119

$1.56 ₽115

-23.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 RSD 174

$1.85 ₽136

-7.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 RSD 147

$2.18 ₽161

-33.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 RSD 180

$2.32 ₽171

-23.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 RSD 103

$0.63 ₽46.83

61.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 RSD 114

$0.51 ₽37.96

121.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 RSD 55.1

$1.80 ₽133

-69.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 RSD 57.0

$0.61 ₽44.75

-6.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 RSD 426

$3.09 ₽228

36.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.31 RSD 635

$4.92 ₽363

28.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 RSD 73.6

$0.87 ₽64.2

-16.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 RSD 206

$2.32 ₽172

-12.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 RSD 80.6

$0.50 ₽37.05

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.95 RSD 2,612

$40.57 ₽2,994

-36.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 RSD 145

$3.43 ₽253

-57.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 RSD 45.72

$0.39 ₽28.61

15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 RSD 686

$3.72 ₽275

83.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 RSD 176

$0.74 ₽55.0

136.49%

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

$30.2K RSD 3.0M

$48.7K ₽3.6M

-37.93%

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

$27.4K RSD 2.8M

$44.6K ₽3.3M

-38.57%

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

$141 RSD 14.2K

$121 ₽8,917

16.67%

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

$16.68 RSD 1,678

$6.46 ₽477

158.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.71 RSD 2,286

$8.49 ₽627

167.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.35 RSD 2,954

$34.59 ₽2,552

-15.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 RSD 1,889

$13.70 ₽1,011

37.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.80 RSD 483

$4.05 ₽299

18.52%

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

$239 RSD 24.0K

$313 ₽23.1K

-23.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,050 RSD 508.3K

$6,042 ₽445.8K

-16.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.2 RSD 9,077

$99.4 ₽7,333

-9.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.77 RSD 4,707

$48.35 ₽3,568

-3.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 RSD 9,422

$129 ₽9,549

-27.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 RSD 10.4K

$74.7 ₽5,515

38.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$401 RSD 40.4K

$469 ₽34.6K

-14.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 RSD 28.8K

$281 ₽20.8K

1.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 RSD 57.1K

$1,234 ₽91.1K

-54.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 RSD 41.5K

$714 ₽52.7K

-42.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,613 RSD 263.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,894 RSD 190.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$907 RSD 91.3K

$1,030 ₽76.0K

-11.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.45

15.33

-51.40%

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

Last update for Nis: May 31, 2026

Last update for Samara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $401 in Nis versus $469 in Samara. 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 14% higher in Samara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Nis versus $51.0 in Samara. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Nis vs $183 in Samara – so Samara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Samara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nis costs about 3% more than Samara, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,495 in Samara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Samara, 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 $1,023 in Nis and $997 in Samara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 56% less in Samara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samara, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Nis at $1,023. In Samara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samara costs $997 versus $1,023 in Nis. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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