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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Novi Sad versus $960 in Sabac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,077 in Novi Sad versus $1,408 in Sabac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,763 in Novi Sad versus $1,857 in Sabac.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 45% more expensive than in Sabac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 5% above, Sabac is 28% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.58 RSD 984

$9.00 RSD 923

6.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.59 RSD 4,988

$26.96 RSD 2,767

80.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 RSD 1,133

$9.64 RSD 990

14.52%

Cappuccino

$2.38 RSD 244

$1.50 RSD 154

58.67%

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

$2.18 RSD 224

$1.75 RSD 180

24.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 RSD 174

$1.20 RSD 123

40.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 RSD 298

$2.34 RSD 240

23.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 RSD 374

$2.11 RSD 216

72.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 RSD 158

$1.38 RSD 142

11.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 106

$0.66 RSD 67.5

56.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.69 RSD 277

$2.00 RSD 205

34.50%

Eggs

$2.58 RSD 265

$2.18 RSD 223

18.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.94 RSD 1,225

$7.37 RSD 756

62.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 RSD 724

$6.72 RSD 690

4.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 RSD 1,311

$10.82 RSD 1,111

18.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 127

$1.30 RSD 133

-4.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 RSD 195

$1.83 RSD 187

3.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 RSD 169

$1.77 RSD 182

-7.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 RSD 261

$2.32 RSD 239

9.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 RSD 95.0

$1.15 RSD 118

-19.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 RSD 90.1

$1.26 RSD 129

-30.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RSD 82.3

$1.04 RSD 107

-23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 RSD 70.5

$0.49 RSD 50.2

40.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 RSD 444

$4.11 RSD 422

5.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.57 RSD 777

$5.93 RSD 608

27.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RSD 88.3

$0.68 RSD 69.8

26.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 RSD 227

$2.15 RSD 221

3.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 RSD 106

$1.00 RSD 102

4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.11 RSD 2,577

$25.79 RSD 2,647

-2.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 RSD 203

$1.03 RSD 106

92.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 RSD 69.0

$0.46 RSD 47.02

45.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.30 RSD 955

$5.05 RSD 519

84.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 187

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

$31.0K RSD 3.2M

$30.6K RSD 3.1M

1.10%

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

$28.9K RSD 3.0M

$27.0K RSD 2.8M

6.93%

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

$208 RSD 21.3K

$160 RSD 16.5K

29.38%

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

$19.88 RSD 2,041

$19.38 RSD 1,990

2.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.00 RSD 3,695

$24.90 RSD 2,556

44.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.49 RSD 3,643

$23.72 RSD 2,435

49.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.00 RSD 1,437

$11.79 RSD 1,211

18.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.24 RSD 640

$6.67 RSD 685

-6.45%

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

$339 RSD 34.8K

$177 RSD 18.2K

91.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,130 RSD 731.8K

$3,969 RSD 407.4K

79.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 RSD 11.0K

$62.4 RSD 6,405

72.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.86 RSD 4,707

$55.8 RSD 5,730

-17.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 RSD 12.6K

$120 RSD 12.3K

2.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 RSD 13.9K

$120 RSD 12.3K

12.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 RSD 58.2K

$237 RSD 24.3K

138.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 RSD 46.9K

$179 RSD 18.4K

155.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,096 RSD 112.5K

$352 RSD 36.1K

211.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 RSD 81.1K

$260 RSD 26.7K

204.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,667 RSD 376.4K

$1,906 RSD 195.6K

92.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,713 RSD 278.5K

$1,537 RSD 157.8K

76.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,063 RSD 109.1K

$955 RSD 98.0K

11.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.31

-8.63%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sabac: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $567 in Novi Sad and $237 in Sabac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 11% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Novi Sad vs $27.00 in Sabac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $197 per month, with Sabac cheaper across the board.

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 Sabac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabac is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 11% higher in Novi Sad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $567 in Novi Sad versus $237 in Sabac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sabac – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $49.00 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Novi Sad versus $960 in Sabac – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $960 in Sabac versus $1,392 in Novi Sad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sabac but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Sabac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Novi Sad and Sabac are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sabac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.