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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,488 in Novi Sad versus $1,218 in Sendai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,233 in Novi Sad versus $1,912 in Sendai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,978 in Novi Sad versus $2,606 in Sendai.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 22% more expensive than in Sendai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 8% above, Sendai is 12% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.41 RSD 1,050

$6.32 ¥971

64.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 RSD 5,160

$35.83 ¥5,502

42.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.74 RSD 1,284

$4.57 ¥702

178.77%

Cappuccino

$2.72 RSD 274

$3.86 ¥593

-29.53%

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

$2.49 RSD 251

$1.03 ¥158

141.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 RSD 193

$0.87 ¥134

119.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 RSD 293

$1.90 ¥292

53.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 RSD 406

$3.18 ¥489

26.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 RSD 154

$1.50 ¥230

1.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 RSD 104

$1.47 ¥226

-29.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 RSD 288

$6.86 ¥1,054

-58.31%

Eggs

$2.72 RSD 274

$2.15 ¥330

26.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 RSD 1,395

$10.91 ¥1,676

26.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 RSD 778

$11.96 ¥1,837

-35.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.47 RSD 1,459

$9.08 ¥1,395

59.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 185

$3.68 ¥565

-50.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 RSD 204

$2.23 ¥342

-9.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 RSD 174

$4.64 ¥712

-62.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 RSD 268

$3.22 ¥494

-17.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RSD 105

$2.53 ¥389

-58.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 RSD 67.2

$2.40 ¥369

-72.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 RSD 105

$1.37 ¥210

-24.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 RSD 70.5

$1.25 ¥193

-44.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 RSD 494

$4.60 ¥707

6.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.89 RSD 795

$7.25 ¥1,113

8.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 RSD 100.0

$1.62 ¥249

-38.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 RSD 240

$2.68 ¥412

-11.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

$1.50 ¥230

-32.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.88 RSD 2,608

$39.25 ¥6,027

-34.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.41 RSD 243

$5.58 ¥857

-56.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RSD 91.8

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.77 RSD 1,085

$18.51 ¥2,842

-41.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 RSD 189

$1.13 ¥173

65.49%

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

$31.4K RSD 3.2M

$16.2K ¥2.5M

93.95%

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

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

$25.5K ¥3.9M

3.62%

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

$246 RSD 24.8K

$141 ¥21.7K

73.93%

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

$21.16 RSD 2,133

$30.99 ¥4,759

-31.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.51 RSD 3,579

$35.82 ¥5,500

-0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.45 RSD 3,876

$45.74 ¥7,024

-15.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 RSD 1,164

$12.76 ¥1,959

-9.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 RSD 757

$10.32 ¥1,584

-27.23%

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

$389 RSD 39.2K

$234 ¥35.9K

66.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,743 RSD 780.4K

$3,924 ¥602.5K

97.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$58.9 ¥9,036

106.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.04 RSD 4,640

$34.52 ¥5,301

33.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 RSD 14.6K

$36.29 ¥5,572

299.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 RSD 14.2K

$54.9 ¥8,431

156.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 RSD 51.8K

$587 ¥90.2K

-12.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 RSD 41.5K

$335 ¥51.4K

23.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$997 RSD 100.5K

$698 ¥107.3K

42.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$802 RSD 80.8K

$735 ¥112.8K

9.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,714 RSD 374.3K

$2,798 ¥429.6K

32.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,706 RSD 272.8K

$1,454 ¥223.3K

86.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,265 RSD 127.4K

$882 ¥135.4K

43.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.23

2.73

91.58%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sendai: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $514 in Novi Sad and $587 in Sendai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 43% 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 $36.00 in Sendai. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $313, with Novi Sad cheaper for home cooking.

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 Sendai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sendai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 43% 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 $587 in Sendai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sendai – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $51.0 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,488 per month in Novi Sad versus $1,218 in Sendai – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,218 in Sendai versus $1,488 in Novi Sad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sendai but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Sendai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Sendai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Novi Sad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Novi Sad and Sendai 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 Sendai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.