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: $1,488 in Novi Sad versus $1,237 in Kragujevac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,233 in Novi Sad versus $1,845 in Kragujevac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,978 in Novi Sad versus $2,454 in Kragujevac.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 20% more expensive than in Kragujevac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 8% above, Kragujevac is 10% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.41 RSD 1,050

$11.05 RSD 1,114

-5.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 RSD 5,160

$44.22 RSD 4,457

15.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.74 RSD 1,284

$9.97 RSD 1,005

27.78%

Cappuccino

$2.72 RSD 274

$2.14 RSD 215

27.10%

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

$2.49 RSD 251

$2.28 RSD 230

9.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 RSD 193

$1.45 RSD 146

31.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 RSD 293

$2.75 RSD 278

5.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 RSD 406

$3.55 RSD 357

13.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 RSD 154

$1.41 RSD 142

7.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 104

$0.64 RSD 64.8

60.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 RSD 288

$2.01 RSD 202

42.29%

Eggs

$2.72 RSD 274

$2.61 RSD 263

4.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 RSD 1,395

$10.14 RSD 1,022

36.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 RSD 778

$6.57 RSD 662

17.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.47 RSD 1,459

$11.95 RSD 1,204

21.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 185

$1.22 RSD 123

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 RSD 204

$1.99 RSD 200

1.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 RSD 174

$1.69 RSD 171

2.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 RSD 268

$2.30 RSD 232

15.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RSD 105

$1.10 RSD 111

-5.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 RSD 67.2

$1.22 RSD 123

-45.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 RSD 105

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 RSD 70.5

$0.62 RSD 62.2

12.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 RSD 494

$4.59 RSD 463

6.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.89 RSD 795

$8.08 RSD 814

-2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 RSD 100.0

$0.89 RSD 89.2

11.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 RSD 240

$2.31 RSD 233

3.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

$1.46 RSD 147

-30.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.88 RSD 2,608

$30.15 RSD 3,039

-14.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.41 RSD 243

$1.46 RSD 147

65.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RSD 91.8

$1.03 RSD 104

-11.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.77 RSD 1,085

$5.37 RSD 541

100.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 RSD 189

$1.83 RSD 184

2.19%

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

$31.4K RSD 3.2M

$31.8K RSD 3.2M

-1.43%

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

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

$26.7K RSD 2.7M

-0.99%

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

$246 RSD 24.8K

$191 RSD 19.3K

28.81%

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

$21.16 RSD 2,133

$28.68 RSD 2,891

-26.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.51 RSD 3,579

$32.49 RSD 3,274

9.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.45 RSD 3,876

$31.39 RSD 3,163

22.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 RSD 1,164

$20.57 RSD 2,074

-43.90%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 RSD 757

$5.94 RSD 599

26.43%

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

$389 RSD 39.2K

$181 RSD 18.3K

114.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,743 RSD 780.4K

$3,972 RSD 400.3K

94.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$63.7 RSD 6,416

91.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.04 RSD 4,640

$67.9 RSD 6,841

-32.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 RSD 14.6K

$127 RSD 12.8K

13.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 RSD 14.2K

$122 RSD 12.3K

15.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 RSD 51.8K

$402 RSD 40.5K

28.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 RSD 41.5K

$308 RSD 31.0K

33.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$997 RSD 100.5K

$646 RSD 65.1K

54.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$802 RSD 80.8K

$515 RSD 51.9K

55.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,714 RSD 374.3K

$2,264 RSD 228.2K

64.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,706 RSD 272.8K

$1,691 RSD 170.5K

60.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,265 RSD 127.4K

$965 RSD 97.3K

31.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.23

4.84

8.06%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kragujevac: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $514 in Novi Sad and $402 in Kragujevac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 31% 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: $51.0 in Novi Sad vs $44.00 in Kragujevac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $217 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 20% 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 31% 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: $514 in Novi Sad versus $402 in Kragujevac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,488 per month in Novi Sad versus $1,237 in Kragujevac – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kragujevac runs roughly 16% less than in Novi Sad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,237 in Kragujevac versus $1,488 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 20% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.