😐A single person spends $1,448 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,283 in Leskovac, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,190 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,919 in Leskovac, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,932 per month in Novi Sad vs $2,556 in Leskovac, rent included.
😐Novi Sad costs about 13% more than Leskovac, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Novi Sad sits 6% above the global median, while Leskovac is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.00RSD 1,115
$9.70RSD 983
13.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2RSD 5,285
$59.8RSD 6,056
-12.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.66RSD 1,283
$13.09RSD 1,327
-3.28%
Cappuccino
$2.78RSD 282
$2.09RSD 212
33.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45RSD 248
$2.13RSD 216
15.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95RSD 198
$1.50RSD 152
30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91RSD 295
$2.50RSD 254
16.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87RSD 393
$2.91RSD 295
32.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44RSD 146
$1.51RSD 153
-4.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98RSD 99.8
$1.22RSD 123
-19.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.87RSD 291
$2.68RSD 272
7.09%
Eggs
$2.64RSD 268
$2.85RSD 289
-7.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.02RSD 1,421
$11.48RSD 1,164
22.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.45RSD 756
$7.26RSD 736
2.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.44RSD 1,463
$16.11RSD 1,633
-10.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79RSD 181
$1.68RSD 171
6.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01RSD 203
$1.92RSD 195
4.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72RSD 174
$1.95RSD 197
-11.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64RSD 268
$3.16RSD 320
-16.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04RSD 105
$0.96RSD 97.5
8.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71RSD 72.0
$0.72RSD 73.4
-1.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99RSD 100
$0.78RSD 79.0
26.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74RSD 75.4
$0.70RSD 71.0
5.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.01RSD 507
$4.24RSD 429
18.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.71RSD 781
$4.81RSD 488
60.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96RSD 97.4
$0.93RSD 93.8
3.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37RSD 240
$1.52RSD 154
55.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00RSD 101
$1.47RSD 149
-31.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.20RSD 2,554
$35.01RSD 3,548
-28.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.38RSD 241
$3.09RSD 313
-22.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91RSD 92.1
$1.00RSD 101
-9.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.64RSD 1,078
$18.05RSD 1,829
-41.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91RSD 193
$1.92RSD 194
-0.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3KRSD 3.2M
$31.2KRSD 3.2M
0.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRSD 2.8M
$24.8KRSD 2.5M
9.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238RSD 24.1K
$227RSD 23.0K
4.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.83RSD 2,111
$19.76RSD 2,002
5.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.96RSD 3,543
$35.61RSD 3,609
-1.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.58RSD 3,910
$23.28RSD 2,359
65.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.66RSD 1,182
$19.37RSD 1,963
-39.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.59RSD 769
$5.02RSD 509
51.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$381RSD 38.6K
$419RSD 42.5K
-9.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,861RSD 796.6K
$11.6KRSD 1.2M
-32.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122RSD 12.3K
$116RSD 11.8K
5.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.96RSD 4,658
$48.45RSD 4,910
-5.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$142RSD 14.4K
$122RSD 12.4K
16.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142RSD 14.4K
$163RSD 16.5K
-12.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505RSD 51.2K
$339RSD 34.3K
49.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$421RSD 42.6K
$299RSD 30.3K
40.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$999RSD 101.3K
$463RSD 47.0K
115.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$798RSD 80.9K
$414RSD 42.0K
92.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,682RSD 373.2K
$1,387RSD 140.6K
165.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,696RSD 273.3K
$1,157RSD 117.3K
133.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,225RSD 124.2K
$627RSD 63.5K
95.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.23
4.65
12.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novi Sad: September 14, 2026
Last update for Leskovac: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $505 in Novi Sad versus $339 in Leskovac. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 95% higher in Novi Sad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Novi Sad versus $60.0 in Leskovac. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Novi Sad vs $245 in Leskovac – so Leskovac wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Leskovac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Novi Sad and in Leskovac compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,448 in Novi Sad, $1,283 in Leskovac – roughly 13% apart. Novi Sad costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Novi Sad compared to Leskovac?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Novi Sad and $1,924 in Leskovac. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Novi Sad and Leskovac?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Leskovac, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Novi Sad and $60.0 in Leskovac. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Novi Sad or Leskovac?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,448 in Novi Sad and $1,283 in Leskovac. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Leskovac, where all-in costs run around $1,283, than in Novi Sad at $1,448. In Leskovac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novi Sad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Novi Sad or Leskovac?
Families tend to lean toward Leskovac – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Novi Sad or Leskovac safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Novi Sad and Leskovac?
If budget matters most, go with Leskovac. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Novi Sad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.