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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,046 per month in Nis vs $752 in Samara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,534 per month in Nis vs $1,224 in Samara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,022 per month in Nis vs $1,696 in Samara, rent included.

Nis costs about 39% more than Samara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nis and Samara are more affordable than the global median – Nis 24% lower, Samara 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 RSD 788

$8.22 ₽694

-6.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.65 RSD 3,537

$41.53 ₽3,510

-16.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 RSD 1,008

$4.93 ₽417

100.41%

Cappuccino

$2.01 RSD 206

$2.25 ₽190

-10.67%

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

$2.47 RSD 252

$1.12 ₽94.6

120.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 RSD 185

$0.51 ₽43.16

254.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 RSD 393

$1.41 ₽119

173.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 RSD 458

$1.46 ₽123

207.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 RSD 120

$1.15 ₽97.3

2.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 RSD 72.2

$0.98 ₽83.1

-27.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 RSD 172

$1.58 ₽134

6.96%

Eggs

$2.31 RSD 236

$1.47 ₽124

57.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.58 RSD 774

$11.78 ₽995

-35.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.95 RSD 607

$7.08 ₽599

-15.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 RSD 1,101

$7.58 ₽641

42.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 RSD 113

$2.99 ₽252

-62.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 RSD 173

$1.77 ₽149

-4.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 RSD 152

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 RSD 209

$4.11 ₽347

-50.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 RSD 85.5

$0.84 ₽71.2

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 RSD 79.7

$0.34 ₽29.03

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 RSD 71.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 RSD 59.6

$0.55 ₽46.64

5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.59 RSD 468

$2.45 ₽207

87.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 RSD 569

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 RSD 73.6

$1.08 ₽91.4

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 RSD 130

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 ₽37.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 RSD 192

$3.63 ₽307

-47.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 RSD 66.8

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.47 RSD 865

$3.62 ₽306

133.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 RSD 194

$0.83 ₽69.8

128.92%

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

$32.1K RSD 3.3M

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

$24.8K RSD 2.5M

$26.2K ₽2.2M

-5.22%

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

$159 RSD 16.2K

$136 ₽11.5K

16.95%

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

$19.82 RSD 2,023

$4.76 ₽402

316.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.75 RSD 2,424

$13.74 ₽1,162

72.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.60 RSD 3,225

$41.37 ₽3,496

-23.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.01 RSD 1,634

$21.54 ₽1,820

-25.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.03 RSD 513

$11.89 ₽1,005

-57.70%

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

$258 RSD 26.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,164 RSD 527.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.3 RSD 9,424

$142 ₽12.0K

-35.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.12 RSD 3,993

$76.3 ₽6,449

-48.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 RSD 10.6K

$157 ₽13.2K

-33.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 RSD 11.4K

$82.3 ₽6,951

35.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 RSD 41.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 RSD 29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$597 RSD 60.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 RSD 42.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,641 RSD 269.6K

$2,331 ₽197.0K

13.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,886 RSD 192.5K

$1,541 ₽130.2K

22.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$946 RSD 96.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.11

25.03

-79.58%

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

Last update for Nis: September 14, 2026

Last update for Samara: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Nis versus $42.00 in Samara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $188 – 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 Samara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nis costs about 39% more than Samara, 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 $1,569 per month in Nis and $1,128 in Samara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,046 in Nis and $752 in Samara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Nis – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,046 in Nis and $752 in Samara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samara costs $752 versus $1,046 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.