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: $1,448 in Novi Sad versus $892 in Bečej.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,190 in Novi Sad versus $1,356 in Bečej.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,932 in Novi Sad versus $1,819 in Bečej.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 62% more expensive than in Bečej, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 6% above, Bečej is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.00 RSD 1,121

$6.91 RSD 704

59.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 RSD 5,314

$34.92 RSD 3,558

49.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.66 RSD 1,290

$9.96 RSD 1,015

27.11%

Cappuccino

$2.78 RSD 283

$1.18 RSD 120

135.59%

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

$2.45 RSD 250

$1.46 RSD 149

67.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 RSD 199

$0.83 RSD 84.2

134.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 RSD 297

$1.53 RSD 156

90.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 RSD 395

$2.01 RSD 205

92.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 RSD 147

$0.96 RSD 98.2

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 RSD 100

$1.19 RSD 121

-17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.87 RSD 292

$1.51 RSD 154

90.07%

Eggs

$2.64 RSD 269

$2.11 RSD 215

25.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 RSD 1,429

$9.17 RSD 934

52.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.45 RSD 760

$7.02 RSD 716

6.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 RSD 1,471

$7.52 RSD 767

92.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 RSD 182

$1.01 RSD 103

77.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 RSD 204

$1.93 RSD 197

4.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 RSD 175

$1.54 RSD 157

11.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 RSD 269

$1.94 RSD 198

36.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RSD 106

$0.68 RSD 69.1

52.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 RSD 72.4

$0.34 RSD 34.40

108.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 RSD 101

$0.67 RSD 68.6

47.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 RSD 75.8

$0.57 RSD 58.2

29.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.01 RSD 510

$3.88 RSD 395

29.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 RSD 785

$4.03 RSD 411

91.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 RSD 97.9

$0.72 RSD 73.1

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 RSD 241

$1.02 RSD 104

132.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 RSD 102

$0.90 RSD 91.8

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.20 RSD 2,567

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.38 RSD 242

$2.03 RSD 207

17.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RSD 92.6

$0.83 RSD 84.2

9.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.64 RSD 1,084

$9.84 RSD 1,003

8.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 RSD 195

$1.92 RSD 195

-0.52%

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

$31.3K RSD 3.2M

$32.2K RSD 3.3M

-2.75%

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

$27.3K RSD 2.8M

$25.7K RSD 2.6M

6.11%

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

$238 RSD 24.3K

$65.0 RSD 6,621

266.36%

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

$20.83 RSD 2,122

$9.99 RSD 1,018

108.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.96 RSD 3,562

$23.48 RSD 2,393

48.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.58 RSD 3,931

$30.28 RSD 3,085

27.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.66 RSD 1,188

$13.86 RSD 1,412

-15.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 RSD 773

$8.79 RSD 896

-13.65%

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

$381 RSD 38.8K

$418 RSD 42.6K

-8.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,861 RSD 801.0K

$11.8K RSD 1.2M

-33.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$122 RSD 12.4K

$111 RSD 11.3K

9.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.96 RSD 4,683

$49.43 RSD 5,036

-7.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 RSD 14.5K

$65.0 RSD 6,623

118.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 RSD 14.4K

$121 RSD 12.3K

17.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 RSD 51.5K

$322 RSD 32.8K

56.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 RSD 42.9K

$271 RSD 27.6K

55.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$999 RSD 101.8K

$455 RSD 46.3K

119.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$798 RSD 81.3K

$387 RSD 39.4K

106.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,682 RSD 375.2K

$2,177 RSD 221.8K

69.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 RSD 274.8K

$1,548 RSD 157.7K

74.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,225 RSD 124.9K

$550 RSD 56.1K

122.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.23

4.64

12.72%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bečej: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $505 in Novi Sad and $322 in Bečej. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 123% 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: $52.0 in Novi Sad vs $35.00 in Bečej for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $180 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 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 123% 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: $505 in Novi Sad versus $322 in Bečej. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Novi Sad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,448 per month in Novi Sad versus $892 in Bečej – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $892 in Bečej versus $1,448 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 62% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.