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: $1,396 in Novi Sad versus $929 in Bečej.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,091 in Novi Sad versus $1,382 in Bečej.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Novi Sad versus $1,834 in Bečej.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 50% more expensive than Bečej, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 4% above, Bečej is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.71 RSD 975

$6.87 RSD 689

41.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.38 RSD 4,955

$35.07 RSD 3,518

40.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 RSD 1,075

$9.81 RSD 984

9.17%

Cappuccino

$2.35 RSD 236

$1.17 RSD 117

100.85%

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

$2.13 RSD 214

$1.45 RSD 145

46.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 RSD 164

$0.83 RSD 82.8

96.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 RSD 293

$1.51 RSD 152

93.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 RSD 371

$1.92 RSD 193

92.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 RSD 154

$1.01 RSD 101

51.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 103

$0.88 RSD 87.8

17.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 RSD 281

$1.46 RSD 146

91.78%

Eggs

$2.57 RSD 257

$2.18 RSD 218

17.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 RSD 1,184

$9.14 RSD 917

29.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.13 RSD 715

$7.10 RSD 712

0.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.69 RSD 1,273

$7.47 RSD 749

69.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 RSD 126

$1.02 RSD 102

23.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 183

$1.95 RSD 196

-6.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 RSD 164

$1.57 RSD 157

3.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 RSD 245

$1.93 RSD 193

26.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 RSD 99.8

$0.66 RSD 66.5

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 RSD 93.4

$0.36 RSD 36.26

158.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 RSD 79.3

$0.66 RSD 66.6

19.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 RSD 65.1

$0.56 RSD 56.2

16.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 RSD 456

$4.06 RSD 407

11.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 RSD 825

$4.05 RSD 406

102.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 RSD 87.2

$0.71 RSD 71.5

22.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 RSD 218

$0.95 RSD 95.7

129.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 RSD 103

$0.94 RSD 94.0

9.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.69 RSD 2,477

$28.25 RSD 2,835

-12.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 RSD 197

$2.01 RSD 202

-2.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RSD 69.2

$0.74 RSD 74.6

-6.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.27 RSD 930

$9.79 RSD 982

-5.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 RSD 183

$1.80 RSD 181

1.67%

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

$30.2K RSD 3.0M

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

-2.66%

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

$28.7K RSD 2.9M

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

8.62%

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

$205 RSD 20.5K

$64.3 RSD 6,446

218.71%

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

$19.68 RSD 1,974

$9.80 RSD 983

100.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.95 RSD 3,607

$23.80 RSD 2,388

51.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.63 RSD 3,675

$30.98 RSD 3,109

18.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.21 RSD 1,425

$16.65 RSD 1,670

-14.65%

Cinema Ticket

$6.29 RSD 631

$7.82 RSD 785

-19.57%

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

$346 RSD 34.8K

$446 RSD 44.8K

-22.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,317 RSD 734.1K

$5,096 RSD 511.3K

43.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 RSD 10.8K

$102 RSD 10.2K

6.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 RSD 4,581

$42.70 RSD 4,284

6.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$65.0 RSD 6,521

88.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 RSD 14.0K

$118 RSD 11.8K

18.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 RSD 55.9K

$376 RSD 37.7K

48.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 RSD 46.1K

$299 RSD 30.0K

53.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 RSD 108.7K

$568 RSD 57.0K

90.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 RSD 77.9K

$412 RSD 41.3K

88.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,670 RSD 368.2K

$2,222 RSD 222.9K

65.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 RSD 262.3K

$1,387 RSD 139.2K

88.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,083 RSD 108.6K

$540 RSD 54.2K

100.57%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bečej: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Novi Sad and $376 in Bečej. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 101% 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 $35.00 in Bečej for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $177 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 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Novi Sad pays 101% 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: $557 in Novi Sad versus $376 in Bečej. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,396 per month in Novi Sad versus $929 in Bečej – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bečej runs roughly 14% less than in Novi Sad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $929 in Bečej versus $1,396 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 50% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.