Cost of Living Comparison Between Novi Sad and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Novi Sad and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,488 per month in Novi Sad vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,233 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,978 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Novi Sad costs about 57% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Novi Sad sits 8% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.41 RSD 1,050

$2.10 ฿69.3

395.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 RSD 5,160

$19.84 ฿656

158.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.74 RSD 1,284

$5.79 ฿191

120.03%

Cappuccino

$2.72 RSD 274

$1.83 ฿60.4

48.63%

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

$2.49 RSD 251

$0.78 ฿25.61

219.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 RSD 193

$0.31 ฿10.37

516.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 RSD 293

$2.34 ฿77.2

24.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 RSD 406

$3.70 ฿122

8.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 RSD 154

$2.03 ฿67.1

-25.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 104

$1.60 ฿52.7

-35.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 RSD 288

$1.42 ฿46.75

101.41%

Eggs

$2.72 RSD 274

$2.18 ฿71.9

24.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 RSD 1,395

$15.91 ฿526

-13.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 RSD 778

$3.07 ฿102

151.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.47 RSD 1,459

$9.87 ฿326

46.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 185

$2.63 ฿86.8

-30.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 RSD 204

$1.10 ฿36.19

83.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 RSD 174

$1.63 ฿53.8

6.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 RSD 268

$1.53 ฿50.6

73.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RSD 105

$1.24 ฿41.13

-16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 RSD 67.2

$1.13 ฿37.37

-40.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 RSD 105

$0.74 ฿24.38

40.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 RSD 70.5

$0.50 ฿16.48

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 RSD 494

$4.28 ฿141

14.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.89 RSD 795

$17.97 ฿594

-56.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 RSD 100.0

$1.70 ฿56.1

-41.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 RSD 240

$2.90 ฿95.7

-17.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

$0.94 ฿31.13

7.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.88 RSD 2,608

$55.3 ฿1,827

-53.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.41 RSD 243

$1.23 ฿40.76

95.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RSD 91.8

$0.53 ฿17.66

71.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.77 RSD 1,085

$2.40 ฿79.3

348.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 RSD 189

$1.44 ฿47.55

29.86%

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

$31.4K RSD 3.2M

$21.2K ฿700.2K

47.96%

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

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-3.06%

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

$246 RSD 24.8K

$64.9 ฿2,145

278.99%

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

$21.16 RSD 2,133

$13.35 ฿441

58.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.51 RSD 3,579

$20.83 ฿688

70.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.45 RSD 3,876

$40.42 ฿1,336

-4.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 RSD 1,164

$3.95 ฿131

192.15%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 RSD 757

$6.71 ฿222

11.92%

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

$389 RSD 39.2K

$787 ฿26.0K

-50.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,743 RSD 780.4K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-48.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$56.2 ฿1,858

116.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.04 RSD 4,640

$24.95 ฿824

84.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 RSD 14.6K

$92.7 ฿3,063

56.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 RSD 14.2K

$75.1 ฿2,482

87.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 RSD 51.8K

$484 ฿16.0K

6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 RSD 41.5K

$287 ฿9,491

43.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$997 RSD 100.5K

$910 ฿30.1K

9.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$802 RSD 80.8K

$531 ฿17.5K

51.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,714 RSD 374.3K

$1,980 ฿65.4K

87.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,706 RSD 272.8K

$1,451 ฿47.9K

86.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,265 RSD 127.4K

$605 ฿20.0K

108.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.23

5.57

-6.10%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $514 in Novi Sad versus $484 in Chiang Mai. 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 109% higher in Novi Sad, 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 $51.0 in Novi Sad versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $242 – making Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Novi Sad costs about 57% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,232 per month in Novi Sad and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $389 per month in Novi Sad and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Novi Sad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Novi Sad at $1,488. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novi Sad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,488 in Novi Sad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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