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 $1,488 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,047 in Nis, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,233 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,527 in Nis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,978 per month in Novi Sad vs $2,007 in Nis, rent included.

Novi Sad costs about 42% more than Nis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Novi Sad sits 8% above the global median, while Nis is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.41 RSD 1,050

$7.98 RSD 805

30.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 RSD 5,160

$34.63 RSD 3,490

47.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.74 RSD 1,284

$10.10 RSD 1,018

26.14%

Cappuccino

$2.72 RSD 274

$2.02 RSD 204

34.65%

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

$2.49 RSD 251

$2.36 RSD 238

5.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 RSD 193

$1.87 RSD 188

2.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 RSD 293

$3.77 RSD 380

-22.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 RSD 406

$4.52 RSD 456

-10.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 RSD 154

$1.15 RSD 115

32.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 104

$0.77 RSD 77.2

33.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 RSD 288

$1.74 RSD 176

64.37%

Eggs

$2.72 RSD 274

$2.36 RSD 238

15.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 RSD 1,395

$7.79 RSD 786

77.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 RSD 778

$6.12 RSD 617

26.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.47 RSD 1,459

$11.07 RSD 1,116

30.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 185

$1.08 RSD 109

69.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 RSD 204

$1.74 RSD 175

16.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 RSD 174

$1.53 RSD 154

13.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 RSD 268

$2.18 RSD 219

22.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RSD 105

$0.79 RSD 80.1

31.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 RSD 67.2

$0.80 RSD 81.0

-16.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 RSD 105

$0.68 RSD 68.9

52.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 RSD 70.5

$0.58 RSD 58.0

20.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 RSD 494

$4.49 RSD 453

9.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.89 RSD 795

$5.82 RSD 586

35.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 RSD 100.0

$0.67 RSD 67.7

47.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 RSD 240

$1.28 RSD 129

85.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.88 RSD 2,608

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.41 RSD 243

$1.93 RSD 195

24.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RSD 91.8

$0.67 RSD 67.1

35.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.77 RSD 1,085

$8.66 RSD 873

24.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 RSD 189

$1.92 RSD 193

-2.60%

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

$31.4K RSD 3.2M

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

0.99%

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

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

$25.3K RSD 2.6M

4.45%

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

$246 RSD 24.8K

$163 RSD 16.4K

51.37%

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

$21.16 RSD 2,133

$20.70 RSD 2,086

2.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.51 RSD 3,579

$23.26 RSD 2,345

52.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.45 RSD 3,876

$31.13 RSD 3,138

23.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 RSD 1,164

$16.13 RSD 1,626

-28.46%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 RSD 757

$4.93 RSD 496

52.33%

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

$389 RSD 39.2K

$259 RSD 26.1K

50.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,743 RSD 780.4K

$5,157 RSD 519.8K

50.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$92.6 RSD 9,332

31.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.04 RSD 4,640

$39.61 RSD 3,992

16.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 RSD 14.6K

$104 RSD 10.5K

39.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 RSD 14.2K

$114 RSD 11.4K

24.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 RSD 51.8K

$406 RSD 40.9K

26.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 RSD 41.5K

$292 RSD 29.4K

41.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$997 RSD 100.5K

$612 RSD 61.7K

62.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$802 RSD 80.8K

$418 RSD 42.1K

91.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,714 RSD 374.3K

$2,587 RSD 260.7K

43.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,706 RSD 272.8K

$1,897 RSD 191.2K

42.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,265 RSD 127.4K

$928 RSD 93.5K

36.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.23

5.11

2.35%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Nis: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $514 in Novi Sad versus $406 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 36% 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 $51.0 in Novi Sad versus $35.00 in Nis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $187 – 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 42% 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 $2,232 per month in Novi Sad and $1,571 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 $1,488 in Novi Sad and $1,047 in Nis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $389 per month in Novi Sad and $259 in Nis. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nis, where all-in costs run around $1,047, than in Novi Sad at $1,488. 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.