Cost of Living Comparison Between Novi Sad and Nis Cost of Living Comparison Between Novi Sad and Nis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,029 in Nis, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,077 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,531 in Nis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,763 per month in Novi Sad vs $2,033 in Nis, rent included.

Novi Sad costs about 35% more than Nis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Novi Sad sits 5% above the global median, while Nis is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.58 RSD 984

$7.52 RSD 772

27.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.59 RSD 4,988

$29.69 RSD 3,048

63.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 RSD 1,133

$9.74 RSD 1,000

13.35%

Cappuccino

$2.38 RSD 244

$1.98 RSD 203

20.20%

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

$2.18 RSD 224

$1.83 RSD 188

19.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 RSD 174

$1.24 RSD 127

36.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 RSD 298

$2.53 RSD 260

14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 RSD 374

$3.01 RSD 309

20.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 RSD 158

$1.27 RSD 131

21.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 106

$0.75 RSD 77.0

37.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.69 RSD 277

$1.80 RSD 185

49.44%

Eggs

$2.58 RSD 265

$2.38 RSD 245

8.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.94 RSD 1,225

$7.87 RSD 808

51.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 RSD 724

$6.88 RSD 706

2.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 RSD 1,311

$11.51 RSD 1,181

10.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 127

$1.18 RSD 121

5.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 RSD 195

$1.80 RSD 185

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 RSD 169

$1.51 RSD 155

8.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 RSD 261

$1.79 RSD 184

41.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 RSD 95.0

$1.07 RSD 109

-13.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 RSD 90.1

$1.08 RSD 111

-18.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RSD 82.3

$0.60 RSD 61.4

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 RSD 70.5

$0.58 RSD 59.4

18.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 RSD 444

$4.20 RSD 431

3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.57 RSD 777

$5.69 RSD 584

33.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RSD 88.3

$0.75 RSD 77.3

14.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 RSD 227

$2.06 RSD 212

7.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 RSD 106

$0.78 RSD 80.0

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.11 RSD 2,577

$26.17 RSD 2,686

-4.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 RSD 203

$1.45 RSD 149

36.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 RSD 69.0

$0.43 RSD 43.70

55.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.30 RSD 955

$7.02 RSD 720

32.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 187

$1.77 RSD 181

2.82%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.2M

$31.2K RSD 3.2M

-0.71%

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

$28.9K RSD 3.0M

$26.9K RSD 2.8M

7.45%

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

$208 RSD 21.3K

$141 RSD 14.4K

47.50%

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

$19.88 RSD 2,041

$16.79 RSD 1,723

18.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.00 RSD 3,695

$22.17 RSD 2,275

62.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.49 RSD 3,643

$29.18 RSD 2,995

21.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.00 RSD 1,437

$18.66 RSD 1,915

-24.97%

Cinema Ticket

$6.24 RSD 640

$4.93 RSD 506

26.57%

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

$339 RSD 34.8K

$233 RSD 23.9K

45.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,130 RSD 731.8K

$5,098 RSD 523.3K

39.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 RSD 11.0K

$90.5 RSD 9,293

18.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.86 RSD 4,707

$46.09 RSD 4,731

-0.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 RSD 12.6K

$95.6 RSD 9,809

28.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 RSD 13.9K

$101 RSD 10.4K

33.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 RSD 58.2K

$407 RSD 41.8K

39.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 RSD 46.9K

$292 RSD 30.0K

56.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,096 RSD 112.5K

$558 RSD 57.2K

96.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 RSD 81.1K

$414 RSD 42.5K

90.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,667 RSD 376.4K

$2,550 RSD 261.8K

43.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,713 RSD 278.5K

$1,885 RSD 193.5K

43.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,063 RSD 109.1K

$903 RSD 92.7K

17.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.31

7.45

-1.88%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Nis: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $567 in Novi Sad versus $407 in Nis. 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 18% 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 $30.00 in Nis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $195 – making Nis 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 Nis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Novi Sad costs about 35% more than Nis, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Novi Sad and $1,543 in Nis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,392 in Novi Sad and $1,029 in Nis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Nis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nis, where all-in costs run around $1,029, than in Novi Sad at $1,392. In Nis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novi Sad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nis – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Nis. 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.