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: $1,392 in Novi Sad versus $1,170 in Kragujevac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,077 in Novi Sad versus $1,760 in Kragujevac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,763 in Novi Sad versus $2,350 in Kragujevac.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 19% more expensive than in Kragujevac, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 5% above, Kragujevac is 12% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.58 RSD 984

$8.76 RSD 900

9.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.59 RSD 4,988

$41.89 RSD 4,300

15.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 RSD 1,133

$10.01 RSD 1,028

10.29%

Cappuccino

$2.38 RSD 244

$2.07 RSD 213

14.98%

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

$2.18 RSD 224

$2.22 RSD 228

-1.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 RSD 174

$1.32 RSD 136

28.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 RSD 298

$2.54 RSD 261

14.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 RSD 374

$3.51 RSD 360

3.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 RSD 158

$1.33 RSD 137

15.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 106

$0.65 RSD 66.6

58.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.69 RSD 277

$1.98 RSD 204

35.86%

Eggs

$2.58 RSD 265

$2.68 RSD 275

-3.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.94 RSD 1,225

$9.20 RSD 944

29.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 RSD 724

$6.63 RSD 681

6.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 RSD 1,311

$12.07 RSD 1,239

5.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 127

$1.29 RSD 132

-3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 RSD 195

$1.85 RSD 190

2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 RSD 169

$1.69 RSD 174

-2.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 RSD 261

$2.26 RSD 231

12.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 RSD 95.0

$1.16 RSD 119

-19.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 RSD 90.1

$1.24 RSD 128

-29.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RSD 82.3

$1.05 RSD 108

-23.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 RSD 70.5

$0.70 RSD 72.0

-1.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 RSD 444

$4.41 RSD 452

-1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.57 RSD 777

$7.71 RSD 791

-1.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RSD 88.3

$0.97 RSD 100.0

-11.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 RSD 227

$2.13 RSD 219

4.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 RSD 106

$0.88 RSD 90.5

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.11 RSD 2,577

$29.92 RSD 3,071

-16.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 RSD 203

$1.05 RSD 107

88.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 RSD 69.0

$0.68 RSD 69.7

-1.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.30 RSD 955

$4.86 RSD 499

91.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 187

$1.74 RSD 179

4.60%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.2M

$30.1K RSD 3.1M

2.81%

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

$28.9K RSD 3.0M

$26.2K RSD 2.7M

10.54%

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

$208 RSD 21.3K

$175 RSD 18.0K

18.66%

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

$19.88 RSD 2,041

$21.78 RSD 2,235

-8.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.00 RSD 3,695

$33.50 RSD 3,439

7.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.49 RSD 3,643

$30.53 RSD 3,134

16.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.00 RSD 1,437

$21.04 RSD 2,159

-33.46%

Cinema Ticket

$6.24 RSD 640

$6.79 RSD 697

-8.10%

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

$339 RSD 34.8K

$181 RSD 18.6K

86.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,130 RSD 731.8K

$3,905 RSD 400.8K

82.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 RSD 11.0K

$62.5 RSD 6,410

71.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.86 RSD 4,707

$55.0 RSD 5,644

-16.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 RSD 12.6K

$116 RSD 11.9K

5.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 RSD 13.9K

$121 RSD 12.4K

12.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 RSD 58.2K

$416 RSD 42.7K

36.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 RSD 46.9K

$319 RSD 32.8K

43.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,096 RSD 112.5K

$684 RSD 70.2K

60.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 RSD 81.1K

$500 RSD 51.3K

58.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,667 RSD 376.4K

$2,236 RSD 229.5K

63.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,713 RSD 278.5K

$1,618 RSD 166.1K

67.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,063 RSD 109.1K

$959 RSD 98.5K

10.77%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kragujevac: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $567 in Novi Sad and $416 in Kragujevac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 11% 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 $42.00 in Kragujevac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 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 19% 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.

Average pay runs 11% higher in Novi Sad, 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: $567 in Novi Sad versus $416 in Kragujevac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Novi Sad versus $1,170 in Kragujevac – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kragujevac runs roughly 19% less than in Novi Sad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,170 in Kragujevac versus $1,392 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 19% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.