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: $1,396 in Novi Sad versus $1,156 in Kragujevac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,091 in Novi Sad versus $1,738 in Kragujevac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Novi Sad versus $2,319 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 4% above, Kragujevac is 14% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.71 RSD 974

$8.74 RSD 876

11.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.38 RSD 4,951

$42.25 RSD 4,236

16.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 RSD 1,074

$10.00 RSD 1,003

7.10%

Cappuccino

$2.35 RSD 236

$2.08 RSD 208

12.98%

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

$2.13 RSD 214

$2.30 RSD 230

-7.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 RSD 164

$1.37 RSD 138

18.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 RSD 293

$2.44 RSD 245

19.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 RSD 370

$3.53 RSD 354

4.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 RSD 154

$1.37 RSD 138

11.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 103

$0.66 RSD 65.9

56.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 RSD 280

$1.91 RSD 191

46.60%

Eggs

$2.57 RSD 257

$2.57 RSD 258

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 RSD 1,183

$9.54 RSD 957

23.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.13 RSD 715

$6.65 RSD 667

7.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.69 RSD 1,272

$11.98 RSD 1,201

5.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 RSD 126

$1.34 RSD 134

-5.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 183

$1.88 RSD 188

-2.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 RSD 164

$1.78 RSD 178

-8.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 RSD 245

$2.23 RSD 223

9.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 RSD 99.7

$1.16 RSD 116

-14.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 RSD 93.3

$1.19 RSD 120

-21.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 RSD 79.3

$1.09 RSD 109

-27.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 RSD 65.1

$0.72 RSD 72.2

-9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 RSD 456

$4.21 RSD 422

7.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 RSD 824

$8.23 RSD 825

-0.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 RSD 87.2

$0.92 RSD 92.7

-5.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 RSD 218

$2.10 RSD 211

3.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 RSD 103

$0.87 RSD 87.1

18.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.69 RSD 2,475

$29.48 RSD 2,956

-16.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 RSD 196

$1.05 RSD 105

86.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RSD 69.1

$0.63 RSD 62.9

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.27 RSD 930

$4.86 RSD 487

90.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 RSD 183

$1.81 RSD 181

1.10%

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

$30.2K RSD 3.0M

$31.2K RSD 3.1M

-3.39%

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

$28.7K RSD 2.9M

$26.6K RSD 2.7M

7.87%

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

$205 RSD 20.5K

$174 RSD 17.4K

17.68%

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

$19.68 RSD 1,973

$21.71 RSD 2,177

-9.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.95 RSD 3,604

$32.43 RSD 3,252

10.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.63 RSD 3,672

$30.51 RSD 3,059

20.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.21 RSD 1,424

$20.87 RSD 2,093

-31.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.29 RSD 630

$6.78 RSD 680

-7.23%

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

$346 RSD 34.7K

$179 RSD 18.0K

93.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,317 RSD 733.6K

$3,907 RSD 391.7K

87.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 RSD 10.8K

$61.9 RSD 6,205

74.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 RSD 4,578

$54.5 RSD 5,465

-16.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$118 RSD 11.8K

3.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 RSD 13.9K

$123 RSD 12.3K

12.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 RSD 55.9K

$409 RSD 41.0K

36.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 RSD 46.0K

$314 RSD 31.4K

46.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 RSD 108.7K

$666 RSD 66.8K

62.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 RSD 77.8K

$503 RSD 50.5K

54.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,670 RSD 367.9K

$2,257 RSD 226.3K

62.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 RSD 262.1K

$1,691 RSD 169.5K

54.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,083 RSD 108.5K

$912 RSD 91.5K

18.69%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kragujevac: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Novi Sad and $409 in Kragujevac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 19% 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 $216 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 19% 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: $557 in Novi Sad versus $409 in Kragujevac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,396 per month in Novi Sad versus $1,156 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 19% less than in Novi Sad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,156 in Kragujevac versus $1,396 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.