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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,405 in Novi Sad versus $1,162 in Kragujevac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,094 in Novi Sad versus $1,746 in Kragujevac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,782 in Novi Sad versus $2,330 in Kragujevac.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 21% more expensive than Kragujevac, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 5% above, Kragujevac is 14% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.59 RSD 970

$8.72 RSD 882

9.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.50 RSD 4,905

$42.69 RSD 4,317

13.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 RSD 1,109

$9.97 RSD 1,008

10.03%

Cappuccino

$2.26 RSD 229

$1.99 RSD 201

13.57%

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

$2.13 RSD 215

$2.30 RSD 233

-7.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 RSD 173

$1.30 RSD 132

31.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 RSD 291

$2.45 RSD 248

17.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 RSD 368

$3.53 RSD 357

3.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 RSD 158

$1.38 RSD 139

13.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 RSD 100

$0.61 RSD 61.9

62.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 RSD 284

$1.90 RSD 193

47.89%

Eggs

$2.56 RSD 259

$2.60 RSD 263

-1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.92 RSD 1,205

$9.16 RSD 926

30.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 RSD 687

$6.83 RSD 690

-0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.37 RSD 1,251

$11.63 RSD 1,176

6.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 126

$1.35 RSD 137

-8.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.91 RSD 193

0.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 RSD 165

$1.76 RSD 178

-7.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 RSD 250

$2.24 RSD 227

10.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 RSD 101

$1.12 RSD 113

-11.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 RSD 93.3

$1.21 RSD 122

-23.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 RSD 77.2

$1.04 RSD 106

-26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RSD 69.0

$0.71 RSD 72.1

-4.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 RSD 451

$4.18 RSD 423

6.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 RSD 788

$7.63 RSD 772

2.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 RSD 84.9

$0.96 RSD 96.7

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 RSD 218

$2.14 RSD 217

0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

$0.95 RSD 96.3

6.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.83 RSD 2,511

$29.27 RSD 2,960

-15.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.05 RSD 106

82.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 RSD 65.7

$0.63 RSD 63.6

3.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.76 RSD 987

$5.02 RSD 508

94.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 184

$1.81 RSD 183

0.55%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

$30.5K RSD 3.1M

1.72%

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

$28.6K RSD 2.9M

$26.7K RSD 2.7M

7.08%

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

$207 RSD 20.9K

$177 RSD 17.9K

16.97%

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

$19.65 RSD 1,987

$21.65 RSD 2,190

-9.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.46 RSD 3,586

$33.19 RSD 3,356

6.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.41 RSD 3,683

$30.81 RSD 3,116

18.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 RSD 1,415

$20.71 RSD 2,095

-32.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 RSD 606

$6.73 RSD 680

-11.00%

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

$346 RSD 35.0K

$179 RSD 18.1K

93.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,231 RSD 731.2K

$3,907 RSD 395.1K

85.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 RSD 10.9K

$63.7 RSD 6,437

68.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 RSD 4,702

$56.4 RSD 5,707

-17.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$116 RSD 11.7K

5.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 RSD 13.9K

$119 RSD 12.0K

15.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 RSD 56.8K

$422 RSD 42.7K

33.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 RSD 46.6K

$318 RSD 32.2K

44.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 RSD 109.7K

$684 RSD 69.2K

58.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$788 RSD 79.7K

$499 RSD 50.5K

58.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,691 RSD 373.2K

$2,238 RSD 226.3K

64.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,697 RSD 272.7K

$1,663 RSD 168.2K

62.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,046 RSD 105.8K

$963 RSD 97.3K

8.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.31

-8.63%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kragujevac: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $562 in Novi Sad and $422 in Kragujevac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 9% 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 $43.00 in Kragujevac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $214 per month, with Kragujevac 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 Kragujevac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kragujevac wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Novi Sad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kragujevac the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Novi Sad pays 9% 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: $562 in Novi Sad versus $422 in Kragujevac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,405 per month in Novi Sad versus $1,162 in Kragujevac – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kragujevac runs roughly 18% less than in Novi Sad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,162 in Kragujevac versus $1,405 in Novi Sad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kragujevac but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Kragujevac 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 Kragujevac 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 Kragujevac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.