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 $1,405 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,024 in Nis, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,094 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,524 in Nis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,782 per month in Novi Sad vs $2,024 in Nis, rent included.

Novi Sad costs about 37% more than Nis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Novi Sad sits 5% above the global median, while Nis is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.59 RSD 970

$7.62 RSD 771

25.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.50 RSD 4,905

$29.33 RSD 2,966

65.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 RSD 1,109

$9.72 RSD 983

12.86%

Cappuccino

$2.26 RSD 229

$2.00 RSD 202

13.00%

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

$2.13 RSD 215

$1.89 RSD 192

12.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 RSD 173

$1.27 RSD 129

34.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 RSD 291

$2.50 RSD 253

15.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 RSD 368

$2.97 RSD 300

22.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 RSD 158

$1.34 RSD 136

16.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 RSD 100

$0.71 RSD 71.5

39.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 RSD 284

$1.85 RSD 187

51.89%

Eggs

$2.56 RSD 259

$2.48 RSD 251

3.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.92 RSD 1,205

$7.82 RSD 791

52.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 RSD 687

$6.75 RSD 682

0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.37 RSD 1,251

$11.83 RSD 1,196

4.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 126

$1.15 RSD 116

7.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.73 RSD 175

10.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 RSD 165

$1.50 RSD 152

8.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 RSD 250

$1.78 RSD 180

38.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 RSD 101

$1.08 RSD 109

-8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 RSD 93.3

$1.10 RSD 111

-16.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 RSD 77.2

$0.55 RSD 55.8

38.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RSD 69.0

$0.61 RSD 61.8

11.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 RSD 451

$4.19 RSD 424

6.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 RSD 788

$6.53 RSD 660

19.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 RSD 84.9

$0.71 RSD 71.7

18.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 RSD 218

$2.04 RSD 206

5.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

$0.75 RSD 75.9

34.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.83 RSD 2,511

$26.24 RSD 2,654

-5.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.46 RSD 148

31.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 RSD 65.7

$0.42 RSD 42.88

54.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.76 RSD 987

$6.88 RSD 696

41.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 184

$1.76 RSD 178

3.41%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

0.05%

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

$28.6K RSD 2.9M

$27.4K RSD 2.8M

4.44%

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

$207 RSD 20.9K

$142 RSD 14.3K

46.02%

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

$19.65 RSD 1,987

$16.69 RSD 1,688

17.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.46 RSD 3,586

$22.77 RSD 2,303

55.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.41 RSD 3,683

$29.32 RSD 2,966

24.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 RSD 1,415

$19.33 RSD 1,955

-27.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 RSD 606

$5.07 RSD 513

18.15%

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

$346 RSD 35.0K

$234 RSD 23.7K

47.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,231 RSD 731.2K

$5,145 RSD 520.3K

40.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 RSD 10.9K

$88.8 RSD 8,978

20.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 RSD 4,702

$47.06 RSD 4,759

-1.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$93.2 RSD 9,422

31.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 RSD 13.9K

$103 RSD 10.4K

33.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 RSD 56.8K

$409 RSD 41.4K

37.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 RSD 46.6K

$284 RSD 28.7K

62.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 RSD 109.7K

$554 RSD 56.0K

95.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$788 RSD 79.7K

$406 RSD 41.1K

93.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,691 RSD 373.2K

$2,597 RSD 262.7K

42.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,697 RSD 272.7K

$1,910 RSD 193.2K

41.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,046 RSD 105.8K

$890 RSD 90.0K

17.47%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Nis: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $562 in Novi Sad versus $409 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 17% 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 $29.00 in Nis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $197 – 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 37% more than Nis, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,108 per month in Novi Sad and $1,535 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 $1,405 in Novi Sad and $1,024 in Nis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% 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 $1,024, than in Novi Sad at $1,405. 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.