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: $1,392 in Novi Sad versus $904 in Bečej.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,077 in Novi Sad versus $1,391 in Bečej.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,763 in Novi Sad versus $1,877 in Bečej.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 54% more expensive than in Bečej, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 5% above, Bečej is 32% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.58 RSD 975

$6.86 RSD 697

39.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.59 RSD 4,942

$34.49 RSD 3,508

40.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 RSD 1,123

$9.63 RSD 980

14.64%

Cappuccino

$2.38 RSD 242

$1.21 RSD 123

96.69%

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

$2.18 RSD 222

$1.46 RSD 148

49.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 RSD 172

$0.76 RSD 77.0

122.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 RSD 295

$1.52 RSD 154

90.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 RSD 371

$1.95 RSD 198

86.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 RSD 157

$0.98 RSD 99.3

57.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 105

$0.87 RSD 88.0

18.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.69 RSD 274

$1.49 RSD 152

80.54%

Eggs

$2.58 RSD 262

$2.10 RSD 214

22.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.94 RSD 1,214

$9.32 RSD 948

28.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 RSD 718

$6.95 RSD 706

1.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 RSD 1,299

$7.43 RSD 756

71.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 126

$1.00 RSD 102

24.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 RSD 193

$1.88 RSD 191

1.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 RSD 167

$1.60 RSD 163

2.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 RSD 258

$2.03 RSD 206

25.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 RSD 94.2

$0.72 RSD 73.2

29.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 RSD 89.3

$0.37 RSD 37.25

137.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RSD 81.5

$0.70 RSD 71.6

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 RSD 69.9

$0.58 RSD 59.0

18.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 RSD 440

$3.91 RSD 398

10.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.57 RSD 770

$3.89 RSD 396

94.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RSD 87.5

$0.68 RSD 68.9

26.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 RSD 225

$0.98 RSD 99.5

126.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 RSD 105

$0.91 RSD 92.4

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.11 RSD 2,553

$28.24 RSD 2,873

-11.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 RSD 201

$2.01 RSD 204

-1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 RSD 68.3

$0.70 RSD 71.1

-4.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.30 RSD 946

$9.90 RSD 1,007

-6.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 185

$1.87 RSD 190

-2.67%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

$30.1K RSD 3.1M

2.75%

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

$28.9K RSD 2.9M

$26.7K RSD 2.7M

8.14%

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

$208 RSD 21.1K

$64.1 RSD 6,514

224.00%

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

$19.88 RSD 2,022

$10.07 RSD 1,024

97.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.00 RSD 3,662

$23.97 RSD 2,438

50.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.49 RSD 3,609

$30.76 RSD 3,129

15.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.00 RSD 1,424

$16.66 RSD 1,694

-15.97%

Cinema Ticket

$6.24 RSD 634

$7.99 RSD 813

-21.90%

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

$339 RSD 34.5K

$443 RSD 45.0K

-23.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,130 RSD 725.1K

$5,159 RSD 524.8K

38.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 RSD 10.9K

$101 RSD 10.2K

6.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.86 RSD 4,664

$43.01 RSD 4,375

6.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 RSD 12.5K

$64.9 RSD 6,600

89.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 RSD 13.8K

$116 RSD 11.8K

16.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 RSD 57.6K

$381 RSD 38.8K

48.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 RSD 46.5K

$296 RSD 30.1K

54.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,096 RSD 111.5K

$559 RSD 56.9K

95.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 RSD 80.4K

$408 RSD 41.5K

93.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,667 RSD 372.9K

$1,943 RSD 197.6K

88.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,713 RSD 276.0K

$1,587 RSD 161.4K

70.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,063 RSD 108.1K

$541 RSD 55.0K

96.35%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bečej: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $567 in Novi Sad and $381 in Bečej. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 96% 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 $233 vs $176 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 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 96% higher in Novi Sad, 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: $567 in Novi Sad versus $381 in Bečej. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Novi Sad versus $904 in Bečej – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bečej runs roughly 12% less than in Novi Sad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $904 in Bečej versus $1,392 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 54% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.