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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,395 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,508 in Belgrade, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,120 per month in Novi Sad vs $2,303 in Belgrade, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,845 per month in Novi Sad vs $3,098 in Belgrade, rent included.

Novi Sad is about 8% cheaper than Belgrade, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Novi Sad and Belgrade sit above the global median – Novi Sad by 4%, Belgrade by 13%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.10 RSD 1,034

$12.41 RSD 1,270

-18.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.11 RSD 5,024

$49.13 RSD 5,026

-0.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 RSD 1,094

$11.96 RSD 1,224

-10.62%

Cappuccino

$2.26 RSD 231

$2.83 RSD 289

-20.14%

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

$2.10 RSD 214

$2.71 RSD 277

-22.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 RSD 174

$2.17 RSD 222

-21.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 RSD 310

$3.36 RSD 344

-9.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 RSD 383

$3.92 RSD 401

-4.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 RSD 164

$1.47 RSD 150

8.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 RSD 105

$0.94 RSD 96.5

8.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 RSD 287

$3.05 RSD 312

-7.87%

Eggs

$2.65 RSD 271

$2.87 RSD 294

-7.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.03 RSD 1,231

$11.34 RSD 1,160

6.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 RSD 693

$7.48 RSD 766

-9.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 RSD 1,306

$12.97 RSD 1,327

-1.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 RSD 128

$1.42 RSD 145

-11.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 RSD 190

$1.90 RSD 194

-2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 RSD 161

$1.96 RSD 201

-19.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.51 RSD 257

$2.69 RSD 276

-6.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 RSD 95.9

$1.03 RSD 105

-8.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 RSD 96.0

$0.80 RSD 81.7

17.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 RSD 82.8

$0.89 RSD 90.6

-8.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 RSD 66.6

$0.78 RSD 80.1

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 RSD 466

$4.53 RSD 463

0.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.93 RSD 812

$8.49 RSD 868

-6.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RSD 87.7

$0.88 RSD 89.9

-2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 RSD 229

$1.60 RSD 164

40.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 RSD 96.8

$0.97 RSD 99.2

-2.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.56 RSD 2,513

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 RSD 194

$3.23 RSD 330

-41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 RSD 64.6

$0.96 RSD 97.9

-34.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.31 RSD 953

$17.63 RSD 1,804

-47.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 186

$1.81 RSD 185

0.55%

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

$30.6K RSD 3.1M

$30.8K RSD 3.2M

-0.61%

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

$28.7K RSD 2.9M

$26.2K RSD 2.7M

9.59%

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

$203 RSD 20.7K

$205 RSD 21.0K

-1.26%

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

$19.90 RSD 2,035

$22.48 RSD 2,300

-11.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 RSD 3,718

$32.43 RSD 3,317

12.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.51 RSD 3,632

$39.00 RSD 3,989

-8.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.88 RSD 1,419

$21.19 RSD 2,168

-34.50%

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 RSD 642

$8.04 RSD 823

-21.89%

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

$340 RSD 34.8K

$455 RSD 46.6K

-25.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,127 RSD 729.2K

$9,282 RSD 949.5K

-23.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$109 RSD 11.2K

$101 RSD 10.3K

8.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.99 RSD 4,603

$42.53 RSD 4,351

5.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.5K

$112 RSD 11.5K

8.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 RSD 14.1K

$120 RSD 12.3K

14.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 RSD 56.1K

$876 RSD 89.6K

-37.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 RSD 48.2K

$576 RSD 58.9K

-18.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,102 RSD 112.8K

$1,574 RSD 161.0K

-29.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$795 RSD 81.4K

$999 RSD 102.2K

-20.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,644 RSD 372.8K

$5,543 RSD 567.0K

-34.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,646 RSD 270.7K

$3,206 RSD 328.0K

-17.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 RSD 108.8K

$1,214 RSD 124.2K

-12.42%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Belgrade: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $548 in Novi Sad versus $876 in Belgrade. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Belgrade, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Novi Sad versus $49.00 in Belgrade. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $240 – making Novi Sad 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,395 in Novi Sad, $1,508 in Belgrade – roughly 8% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,092 per month in Novi Sad and $2,262 in Belgrade. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Novi Sad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Novi Sad and $49.00 in Belgrade. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Belgrade, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novi Sad, where all-in costs run around $1,395, than in Belgrade at $1,508. In Novi Sad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Novi Sad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Novi Sad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgrade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.