😐A single person spends $1,396 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,219 in Leskovac, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,091 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,819 in Leskovac, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,786 per month in Novi Sad vs $2,419 in Leskovac, rent included.
😐Novi Sad costs about 15% more than Leskovac, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Novi Sad sits 4% above the global median, while Leskovac is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.71RSD 975
$10.13RSD 1,016
-4.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.38RSD 4,955
$48.83RSD 4,899
1.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.71RSD 1,075
$11.89RSD 1,193
-9.92%
Cappuccino
$2.35RSD 236
$2.10RSD 211
11.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13RSD 214
$2.09RSD 210
1.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63RSD 164
$1.50RSD 151
8.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92RSD 293
$2.42RSD 242
20.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69RSD 371
$3.02RSD 303
22.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53RSD 154
$1.46RSD 146
4.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03RSD 103
$0.95RSD 95.3
8.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80RSD 281
$3.00RSD 301
-6.67%
Eggs
$2.57RSD 257
$2.93RSD 294
-12.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.80RSD 1,184
$11.55RSD 1,158
2.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.13RSD 715
$7.61RSD 763
-6.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.69RSD 1,273
$13.30RSD 1,335
-4.59%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26RSD 126
$1.42RSD 142
-11.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83RSD 183
$1.95RSD 195
-6.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63RSD 164
$1.93RSD 193
-15.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45RSD 245
$2.75RSD 276
-10.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99RSD 99.8
$1.03RSD 103
-3.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RSD 93.4
$0.75RSD 75.0
24.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79RSD 79.3
$0.93RSD 93.7
-15.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65RSD 65.1
$0.79RSD 79.1
-17.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.54RSD 456
$3.07RSD 308
47.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22RSD 825
$4.85RSD 486
69.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RSD 87.2
$0.88RSD 88.1
-1.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18RSD 218
$1.60RSD 160
36.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03RSD 103
$1.49RSD 150
-30.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.69RSD 2,477
$35.05RSD 3,517
-29.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.96RSD 197
$3.25RSD 326
-39.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69RSD 69.2
$0.90RSD 90.3
-23.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.27RSD 930
$7.07RSD 709
31.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83RSD 183
$1.88RSD 188
-2.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRSD 3.0M
$30.8KRSD 3.1M
-1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KRSD 2.9M
$27.0KRSD 2.7M
6.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205RSD 20.5K
$204RSD 20.4K
0.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.68RSD 1,974
$13.96RSD 1,400
40.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.95RSD 3,607
$32.52RSD 3,262
10.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.63RSD 3,675
$23.35RSD 2,343
56.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.21RSD 1,425
$19.54RSD 1,960
-27.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29RSD 631
$4.91RSD 493
28.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$346RSD 34.8K
$448RSD 45.0K
-22.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,317RSD 734.1K
$5,027RSD 504.3K
45.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108RSD 10.8K
$102RSD 10.3K
5.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.66RSD 4,581
$42.41RSD 4,255
7.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122RSD 12.3K
$111RSD 11.1K
10.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139RSD 14.0K
$122RSD 12.3K
13.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557RSD 55.9K
$349RSD 35.0K
59.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459RSD 46.1K
$301RSD 30.2K
52.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,084RSD 108.7K
$477RSD 47.8K
127.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$776RSD 77.9K
$414RSD 41.5K
87.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,670RSD 368.2K
$1,414RSD 141.9K
159.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,614RSD 262.3K
$1,194RSD 119.8K
119.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novi Sad
Leskovac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,083RSD 108.6K
$323RSD 32.4K
234.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.31
5.59
30.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novi Sad: April 27, 2026
Last update for Leskovac: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $557 in Novi Sad versus $349 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 235% 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 $49.00 in Novi Sad versus $49.00 in Leskovac. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $236 – making Novi Sad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Leskovac compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,396 in Novi Sad, $1,219 in Leskovac – roughly 15% apart. Novi Sad costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Novi Sad compared to Leskovac?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,094 per month in Novi Sad and $1,829 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 $49.00 in Novi Sad and $49.00 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 $1,396 in Novi Sad and $1,219 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 $1,219, than in Novi Sad at $1,396. 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.