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: $1,405 in Novi Sad versus $950 in Sabac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,094 in Novi Sad versus $1,425 in Sabac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,782 in Novi Sad versus $1,900 in Sabac.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 48% more expensive than Sabac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 5% above, Sabac is 29% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.59 RSD 970

$8.89 RSD 899

7.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.50 RSD 4,905

$26.18 RSD 2,648

85.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 RSD 1,109

$9.71 RSD 982

12.98%

Cappuccino

$2.26 RSD 229

$1.46 RSD 148

54.79%

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

$2.13 RSD 215

$1.77 RSD 179

20.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 RSD 173

$1.19 RSD 121

43.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 RSD 291

$2.34 RSD 236

23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 RSD 368

$2.09 RSD 211

74.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 RSD 158

$1.39 RSD 140

12.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 RSD 100

$0.64 RSD 65.1

54.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 RSD 284

$1.92 RSD 194

46.35%

Eggs

$2.56 RSD 259

$2.23 RSD 225

14.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.92 RSD 1,205

$7.30 RSD 738

63.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 RSD 687

$6.73 RSD 681

0.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.37 RSD 1,251

$10.73 RSD 1,085

15.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 126

$1.29 RSD 131

-3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.89 RSD 192

1.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 RSD 165

$1.71 RSD 173

-4.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 RSD 250

$2.25 RSD 227

9.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 RSD 101

$1.14 RSD 116

-13.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 RSD 93.3

$1.21 RSD 122

-23.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 RSD 77.2

$1.06 RSD 107

-28.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RSD 69.0

$0.49 RSD 49.05

38.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 RSD 451

$4.16 RSD 421

7.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 RSD 788

$6.46 RSD 654

20.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 RSD 84.9

$0.72 RSD 72.3

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 RSD 218

$2.18 RSD 220

-1.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

$0.91 RSD 92.3

10.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.83 RSD 2,511

$26.85 RSD 2,715

-7.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.03 RSD 104

86.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 RSD 65.7

$0.46 RSD 46.67

41.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.76 RSD 987

$5.04 RSD 509

93.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 184

$1.81 RSD 184

0.55%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

$30.8K RSD 3.1M

0.76%

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

$28.6K RSD 2.9M

$27.1K RSD 2.7M

5.52%

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

$207 RSD 20.9K

$159 RSD 16.0K

30.44%

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

$19.65 RSD 1,987

$19.88 RSD 2,011

-1.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.46 RSD 3,586

$24.81 RSD 2,509

42.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.41 RSD 3,683

$23.39 RSD 2,365

55.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 RSD 1,415

$11.88 RSD 1,201

17.76%

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 RSD 606

$6.81 RSD 689

-12.04%

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

$346 RSD 35.0K

$178 RSD 18.0K

94.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,231 RSD 731.2K

$3,980 RSD 402.5K

81.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 RSD 10.9K

$63.6 RSD 6,431

68.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 RSD 4,702

$54.7 RSD 5,529

-14.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$116 RSD 11.7K

5.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 RSD 13.9K

$121 RSD 12.2K

13.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 RSD 56.8K

$238 RSD 24.1K

135.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 RSD 46.6K

$173 RSD 17.5K

166.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 RSD 109.7K

$349 RSD 35.3K

211.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$788 RSD 79.7K

$267 RSD 27.0K

195.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,691 RSD 373.2K

$1,926 RSD 194.8K

91.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,697 RSD 272.7K

$1,517 RSD 153.4K

77.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,046 RSD 105.8K

$977 RSD 98.8K

7.09%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sabac: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $562 in Novi Sad and $238 in Sabac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 7% 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 $26.00 in Sabac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 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 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Novi Sad pays 7% more on average, 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: $562 in Novi Sad versus $238 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 $26.00 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 $1,405 per month in Novi Sad versus $950 in Sabac – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $950 in Sabac versus $1,405 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 48% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.