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 $1,384 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,517 in Belgrade, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,085 per month in Novi Sad vs $2,312 in Belgrade, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,786 per month in Novi Sad vs $3,108 in Belgrade, rent included.

Novi Sad is about 9% cheaper than Belgrade, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Novi Sad and Belgrade sit above the global median – Novi Sad by 3%, Belgrade by 13%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.61 RSD 968

$12.19 RSD 1,228

-21.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 RSD 5,055

$49.60 RSD 4,999

1.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 RSD 1,076

$11.68 RSD 1,177

-8.56%

Cappuccino

$2.29 RSD 231

$2.86 RSD 288

-19.93%

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

$2.13 RSD 215

$2.70 RSD 272

-21.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 RSD 166

$2.17 RSD 219

-24.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 RSD 297

$3.55 RSD 358

-17.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 RSD 375

$4.02 RSD 405

-7.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 RSD 155

$1.52 RSD 153

0.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 RSD 105

$0.92 RSD 92.7

13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 RSD 276

$3.05 RSD 308

-10.16%

Eggs

$2.55 RSD 257

$2.85 RSD 288

-10.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.18 RSD 1,228

$11.46 RSD 1,155

6.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 RSD 681

$7.46 RSD 752

-9.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.46 RSD 1,256

$12.96 RSD 1,306

-3.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 RSD 130

$1.41 RSD 142

-8.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 RSD 186

$1.89 RSD 191

-2.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 RSD 166

$1.96 RSD 198

-16.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.42 RSD 244

$2.78 RSD 280

-12.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 RSD 101

$1.03 RSD 104

-2.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 RSD 95.8

$0.75 RSD 76.1

26.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RSD 80.3

$0.89 RSD 89.3

-10.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 RSD 70.6

$0.78 RSD 79.1

-10.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.42 RSD 446

$4.66 RSD 470

-5.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 RSD 819

$9.65 RSD 972

-15.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 RSD 93.0

$0.87 RSD 87.5

5.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 RSD 225

$1.51 RSD 153

47.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 RSD 95.3

$0.98 RSD 98.5

-3.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.77 RSD 2,496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 RSD 196

$3.09 RSD 312

-37.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RSD 69.5

$0.90 RSD 90.3

-23.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.67 RSD 974

$17.87 RSD 1,801

-45.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.83 RSD 185

4.92%

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

$30.5K RSD 3.1M

$30.9K RSD 3.1M

-1.57%

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

$28.3K RSD 2.9M

$27.1K RSD 2.7M

4.58%

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

$208 RSD 21.0K

$210 RSD 21.1K

-0.62%

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

$20.00 RSD 2,015

$22.09 RSD 2,226

-9.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.49 RSD 3,577

$32.98 RSD 3,324

7.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.28 RSD 3,657

$38.57 RSD 3,887

-5.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.17 RSD 1,428

$20.97 RSD 2,114

-32.43%

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 RSD 625

$7.70 RSD 776

-19.48%

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

$335 RSD 33.8K

$449 RSD 45.3K

-25.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,325 RSD 738.3K

$9,106 RSD 917.7K

-19.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$109 RSD 11.0K

$100 RSD 10.1K

8.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.57 RSD 4,593

$42.41 RSD 4,274

7.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 RSD 12.5K

$113 RSD 11.4K

9.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 RSD 13.9K

$118 RSD 11.9K

16.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 RSD 56.8K

$852 RSD 85.9K

-33.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 RSD 47.4K

$571 RSD 57.5K

-17.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 RSD 108.4K

$1,569 RSD 158.1K

-31.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$777 RSD 78.3K

$1,024 RSD 103.2K

-24.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,778 RSD 380.8K

$5,218 RSD 525.9K

-27.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,758 RSD 278.0K

$3,155 RSD 318.0K

-12.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,069 RSD 107.8K

$1,234 RSD 124.4K

-13.36%

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 1, 2026

Last update for Belgrade: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $563 in Novi Sad versus $852 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 15% 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 $50.0 in Novi Sad versus $50.0 in Belgrade. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $243 – 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: $1,384 in Novi Sad, $1,517 in Belgrade – roughly 10% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,076 per month in Novi Sad and $2,275 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 $50.0 in Novi Sad and $50.0 in Belgrade. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% 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 $1,384, than in Belgrade at $1,517. 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.