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: $1,488 in Novi Sad versus $859 in Sabac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,233 in Novi Sad versus $1,336 in Sabac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,978 in Novi Sad versus $1,813 in Sabac.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 73% more expensive than in Sabac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 8% above, Sabac is 38% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.41 RSD 1,050

$8.32 RSD 838

25.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 RSD 5,160

$27.83 RSD 2,805

83.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.74 RSD 1,284

$7.13 RSD 719

78.68%

Cappuccino

$2.72 RSD 274

$1.96 RSD 197

38.78%

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

$2.49 RSD 251

$1.92 RSD 194

29.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 RSD 193

$1.38 RSD 139

38.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 RSD 293

$2.74 RSD 276

6.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 RSD 406

$2.71 RSD 273

48.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 RSD 154

$1.30 RSD 132

16.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 104

$0.60 RSD 60.3

71.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 RSD 288

$1.99 RSD 200

43.72%

Eggs

$2.72 RSD 274

$2.07 RSD 208

31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 RSD 1,395

$5.99 RSD 604

131.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 RSD 778

$6.77 RSD 682

14.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.47 RSD 1,459

$11.91 RSD 1,200

21.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 185

$1.24 RSD 125

47.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 RSD 204

$1.91 RSD 193

5.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 RSD 174

$1.45 RSD 146

19.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 RSD 268

$1.94 RSD 196

37.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RSD 105

$0.66 RSD 66.6

57.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 RSD 67.2

$0.33 RSD 33.64

103.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 RSD 105

$1.10 RSD 111

-5.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 RSD 70.5

$0.42 RSD 42.29

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 RSD 494

$3.87 RSD 390

26.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.89 RSD 795

$8.10 RSD 816

-2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 RSD 100.0

$0.70 RSD 70.6

41.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 RSD 240

$1.02 RSD 103

133.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

$1.08 RSD 109

-6.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.88 RSD 2,608

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.41 RSD 243

$1.53 RSD 155

57.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RSD 91.8

$0.98 RSD 98.3

-7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.77 RSD 1,085

$5.37 RSD 541

100.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 RSD 189

$1.79 RSD 180

4.47%

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

$31.4K RSD 3.2M

$32.0K RSD 3.2M

-2.06%

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

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

$26.4K RSD 2.7M

0.45%

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

$246 RSD 24.8K

$146 RSD 14.8K

68.04%

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

$21.16 RSD 2,133

$26.16 RSD 2,636

-19.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.51 RSD 3,579

$20.08 RSD 2,024

76.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.45 RSD 3,876

$30.63 RSD 3,087

25.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 RSD 1,164

$14.05 RSD 1,416

-17.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 RSD 757

$5.87 RSD 592

27.94%

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

$389 RSD 39.2K

$181 RSD 18.2K

115.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,743 RSD 780.4K

$4,037 RSD 406.9K

91.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$63.8 RSD 6,433

90.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.04 RSD 4,640

$69.0 RSD 6,952

-33.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 RSD 14.6K

$59.4 RSD 5,987

143.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 RSD 14.2K

$121 RSD 12.2K

16.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 RSD 51.8K

$234 RSD 23.6K

119.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 RSD 41.5K

$157 RSD 15.8K

162.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$997 RSD 100.5K

$346 RSD 34.9K

187.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$802 RSD 80.8K

$261 RSD 26.3K

207.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,714 RSD 374.3K

$1,948 RSD 196.4K

90.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,706 RSD 272.8K

$1,562 RSD 157.4K

73.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,265 RSD 127.4K

$993 RSD 100.1K

27.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.23

4.84

8.06%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sabac: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $514 in Novi Sad and $234 in Sabac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 27% 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: $51.0 in Novi Sad vs $28.00 in Sabac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $190 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 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 27% 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: $514 in Novi Sad versus $234 in Sabac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Novi Sad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,488 per month in Novi Sad versus $859 in Sabac – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $859 in Sabac versus $1,488 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 73% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.