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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,405 in Novi Sad versus $927 in Bečej.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,094 in Novi Sad versus $1,394 in Bečej.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,782 in Novi Sad versus $1,861 in Bečej.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 52% more expensive than Bečej, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 5% above, Bečej is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.59 RSD 970

$7.04 RSD 712

36.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.50 RSD 4,905

$34.45 RSD 3,484

40.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 RSD 1,109

$9.67 RSD 978

13.44%

Cappuccino

$2.26 RSD 229

$1.21 RSD 122

86.78%

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

$2.13 RSD 215

$1.45 RSD 146

46.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 RSD 173

$0.82 RSD 82.9

108.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 RSD 291

$1.51 RSD 153

90.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 RSD 368

$1.95 RSD 197

86.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 RSD 158

$0.94 RSD 95.4

65.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 RSD 100

$0.93 RSD 94.2

6.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 RSD 284

$1.52 RSD 154

84.87%

Eggs

$2.56 RSD 259

$2.15 RSD 218

19.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.92 RSD 1,205

$9.49 RSD 960

25.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 RSD 687

$7.11 RSD 719

-4.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.37 RSD 1,251

$7.53 RSD 761

64.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 126

$1.02 RSD 104

21.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.87 RSD 189

2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 RSD 165

$1.54 RSD 156

5.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 RSD 250

$2.00 RSD 202

23.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 RSD 101

$0.71 RSD 71.9

39.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 RSD 93.3

$0.36 RSD 36.70

155.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 RSD 77.2

$0.66 RSD 67.2

15.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RSD 69.0

$0.61 RSD 62.1

11.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 RSD 451

$4.03 RSD 408

10.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 RSD 788

$3.98 RSD 403

95.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 RSD 84.9

$0.71 RSD 71.4

18.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 RSD 218

$1.01 RSD 102

112.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

$0.93 RSD 94.0

8.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.83 RSD 2,511

$27.49 RSD 2,780

-9.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.91 RSD 194

0.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 RSD 65.7

$0.69 RSD 70.2

-5.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.76 RSD 987

$9.94 RSD 1,005

-1.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 184

$1.89 RSD 191

-3.70%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

$30.6K RSD 3.1M

1.45%

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

$28.6K RSD 2.9M

$27.2K RSD 2.7M

5.17%

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

$207 RSD 20.9K

$63.3 RSD 6,403

226.63%

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

$19.65 RSD 1,987

$10.16 RSD 1,028

93.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.46 RSD 3,586

$24.05 RSD 2,432

47.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.41 RSD 3,683

$30.68 RSD 3,103

18.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 RSD 1,415

$16.77 RSD 1,696

-16.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 RSD 606

$7.99 RSD 808

-25.03%

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

$346 RSD 35.0K

$457 RSD 46.2K

-24.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,231 RSD 731.2K

$5,019 RSD 507.6K

44.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 RSD 10.9K

$99.3 RSD 10.0K

8.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 RSD 4,702

$41.68 RSD 4,215

11.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$64.5 RSD 6,519

89.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 RSD 13.9K

$116 RSD 11.8K

17.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 RSD 56.8K

$372 RSD 37.6K

51.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 RSD 46.6K

$302 RSD 30.5K

52.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 RSD 109.7K

$568 RSD 57.4K

90.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$788 RSD 79.7K

$409 RSD 41.3K

92.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,691 RSD 373.2K

$2,138 RSD 216.2K

72.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,697 RSD 272.7K

$1,428 RSD 144.5K

88.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,046 RSD 105.8K

$541 RSD 54.7K

93.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.31

5.59

30.77%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bečej: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $562 in Novi Sad and $372 in Bečej. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 93% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Novi Sad vs $34.00 in Bečej for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $179 per month, with Bečej cheaper across the board.

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

Novi Sad vs Bečej: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bečej is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Novi Sad pays 93% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $562 in Novi Sad versus $372 in Bečej. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,405 per month in Novi Sad versus $927 in Bečej – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bečej runs roughly 11% less than in Novi Sad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $927 in Bečej versus $1,405 in Novi Sad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bečej but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Bečej the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Novi Sad and Bečej are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bečej gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.