😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Novi Sad versus $1,243 in Karlovac.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,091 in Novi Sad versus $1,868 in Karlovac.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Novi Sad versus $2,494 in Karlovac.
😐Living in Novi Sad is roughly 12% more expensive than Karlovac, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 4% above, Karlovac is 7% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Novi Sad
Karlovac
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.71RSD 974
$12.91€11.02
-24.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.38RSD 4,951
$45.39€38.77
8.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.71RSD 1,074
$7.92€6.76
35.23%
Cappuccino
$2.35RSD 236
$1.93€1.65
21.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13RSD 214
$2.41€2.05
-11.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63RSD 164
$1.41€1.21
15.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92RSD 293
$2.27€1.94
28.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69RSD 370
$2.29€1.96
61.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novi Sad
Karlovac
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53RSD 154
$1.19€1.01
28.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03RSD 103
$1.18€1.01
-12.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80RSD 280
$1.81€1.54
54.70%
Eggs
$2.57RSD 257
$3.41€2.91
-24.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.80RSD 1,183
$9.93€8.48
18.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.13RSD 715
$11.73€10.02
-39.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.69RSD 1,272
$13.74€11.74
-7.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26RSD 126
$1.79€1.53
-29.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83RSD 183
$2.07€1.76
-11.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63RSD 164
$1.72€1.47
-5.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45RSD 245
$2.00€1.71
22.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99RSD 99.7
$1.58€1.35
-37.34%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RSD 93.3
$1.06€0.90
-12.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79RSD 79.3
$1.71€1.46
-53.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65RSD 65.1
$1.01€0.86
-35.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.54RSD 456
$5.39€4.60
-15.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22RSD 824
$7.16€6.11
14.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RSD 87.2
$1.75€1.50
-50.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18RSD 218
$2.63€2.25
-17.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Novi Sad
Karlovac
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03RSD 103
$1.76€1.51
-41.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.69RSD 2,475
$43.28€36.96
-42.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.96RSD 196
$2.98€2.54
-34.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69RSD 69.1
$1.33€1.13
-48.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.27RSD 930
$9.20€7.86
0.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83RSD 183
$1.70€1.45
7.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRSD 3.0M
$36.3K€31.0K
-16.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KRSD 2.9M
$26.5K€22.6K
8.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novi Sad
Karlovac
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205RSD 20.5K
$186€159
9.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.68RSD 1,973
$23.33€19.93
-15.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.95RSD 3,604
$32.85€28.05
9.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novi Sad
Karlovac
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.63RSD 3,672
$34.41€29.39
6.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.21RSD 1,424
$14.59€12.46
-2.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29RSD 630
$6.49€5.55
-3.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novi Sad
Karlovac
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$346RSD 34.7K
$238€204
45.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,317RSD 733.6K
$1,382€1,180
429.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novi Sad
Karlovac
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108RSD 10.8K
$104€88.4
4.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.66RSD 4,578
$35.35€30.19
29.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122RSD 12.3K
$69.3€59.2
76.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139RSD 13.9K
$75.9€64.8
83.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novi Sad
Karlovac
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557RSD 55.9K
$421€359
32.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459RSD 46.0K
$327€279
40.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,084RSD 108.7K
$626€534
73.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$776RSD 77.8K
$484€413
60.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,670RSD 367.9K
$2,887€2,466
27.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,614RSD 262.1K
$2,500€2,135
4.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novi Sad
Karlovac
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,083RSD 108.5K
$1,443€1,233
-24.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.31
4.47
63.53%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Novi Sad: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Karlovac: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Novi Sad and $421 in Karlovac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Karlovac pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $49.00 in Novi Sad vs $45.00 in Karlovac. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $267, with Novi Sad cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Novi Sad vs Karlovac: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Karlovac cheaper than Novi Sad?
Karlovac is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novi Sad or Karlovac?
On paper, Karlovac earns 33% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Novi Sad and Karlovac?
Rent for a central apartment: $557 in Novi Sad versus $421 in Karlovac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Novi Sad vs Karlovac?
All in, you'll spend $1,396 per month in Novi Sad versus $1,243 in Karlovac – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Karlovac runs roughly 75% less than in Novi Sad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novi Sad or Karlovac?
At $1,243 in Karlovac versus $1,396 in Novi Sad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Karlovac but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Karlovac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novi Sad or Karlovac?
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.
Which city is safer, Novi Sad or Karlovac?
Safety-wise, Novi Sad and Karlovac are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Karlovac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novi Sad vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado