Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Novi Sad and Sombor

For one person, living is cheaper in Sombor: $873 a month against $1,393 in Novi Sad, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Novi Sad, Serbia
Sombor, Serbia
Novi Sad
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,393
/mo nomad
Sombor
🇷🇸 Serbia
$873
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Novi Sad and in Sombor

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Novi Sad and in Sombor actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,393 in Novi Sad versus $873 in Sombor.

  • Novi Sad $1,393
  • Sombor $873

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,154 in Novi Sad versus $1,315 in Sombor.

  • Novi Sad $2,154
  • Sombor $1,315

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,915 in Novi Sad versus $1,757 in Sombor.

  • Novi Sad $2,915
  • Sombor $1,757

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 60% more expensive than in Sombor, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 2% above, Sombor is 36% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.11 RSD 1,059
$9.37 RSD 981
7.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2 RSD 5,255
$28.63 RSD 2,999
75.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.06 RSD 1,263
$6.78 RSD 710
77.88%
Cappuccino
$2.65 RSD 278
$1.97 RSD 207
34.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 RSD 248
$2.30 RSD 241
3.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 RSD 191
$1.35 RSD 142
34.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 RSD 307
$2.43 RSD 254
20.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 RSD 390
$2.24 RSD 235
66.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 RSD 146
$1.30 RSD 136
6.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 RSD 97.5
$0.58 RSD 61.0
60.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.65 RSD 278
$1.40 RSD 146
89.29%
Eggs
$2.67 RSD 280
$2.26 RSD 237
18.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.46 RSD 1,410
$9.69 RSD 1,015
38.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.21 RSD 756
$6.25 RSD 655
15.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.06 RSD 1,473
$11.68 RSD 1,223
20.38%
Apples (1kg)
$1.76 RSD 184
$1.07 RSD 112
64.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 RSD 199
$1.68 RSD 176
13.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 RSD 174
$1.56 RSD 163
6.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 RSD 266
$1.84 RSD 193
38.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 RSD 104
$0.66 RSD 68.7
51.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 RSD 72.5
$0.56 RSD 58.5
23.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 RSD 99.5
$0.65 RSD 67.9
46.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 RSD 71.5
$0.60 RSD 62.8
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 RSD 492
$4.27 RSD 447
9.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.79 RSD 816
$3.54 RSD 371
120.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 RSD 90.9
$0.79 RSD 82.7
10.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 RSD 241
$1.12 RSD 118
105.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 RSD 98.4
$0.97 RSD 102
-3.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.22 RSD 2,537
$19.35 RSD 2,027
25.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 RSD 242
$0.92 RSD 96.1
151.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 RSD 96.2
$0.54 RSD 56.9
70.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.42 RSD 1,092
$5.19 RSD 544
100.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 RSD 190
$1.69 RSD 177
7.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K RSD 3.2M
$29.4K RSD 3.1M
2.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K RSD 2.5M
$24.4K RSD 2.6M
-2.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 RSD 23.5K
$137 RSD 14.3K
63.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.29 RSD 2,125
$9.73 RSD 1,019
108.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.84 RSD 3,544
$16.29 RSD 1,707
107.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.97 RSD 3,663
$33.61 RSD 3,520
4.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.12 RSD 1,165
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.88 RSD 721
$4.68 RSD 490
47.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$364 RSD 38.1K
$174 RSD 18.3K
108.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,540 RSD 789.7K
$3,884 RSD 406.8K
94.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117 RSD 12.3K
$61.9 RSD 6,481
89.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.36 RSD 4,647
$29.06 RSD 3,044
52.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 RSD 14.1K
$75.7 RSD 7,932
78.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 RSD 13.0K
$94.6 RSD 9,908
31.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 RSD 53.3K
$247 RSD 25.9K
105.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$411 RSD 43.0K
$187 RSD 19.6K
119.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 RSD 108.3K
$413 RSD 43.3K
150.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$824 RSD 86.3K
$295 RSD 30.9K
179.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,595 RSD 376.5K
$1,520 RSD 159.2K
136.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,621 RSD 274.6K
$1,002 RSD 105.0K
161.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,230 RSD 128.9K
$661 RSD 69.2K
86.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.17
4.84
6.82%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sombor: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Novi Sad
$411
Sombor
$187 54.4% $224
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novi Sad
$278
Sombor
$163 41.5% $116
Groceries & Markets
Novi Sad
$244
Sombor
$186 23.7% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Novi Sad
$189
Sombor
$118 37.9% $72
Eating Out
Novi Sad
$188
Sombor
$150 20% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Novi Sad
$49
Sombor
$43 11.8% $5.8
Getting Around
Novi Sad
$35
Sombor
$27 22.9% $8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $509 in Novi Sad and $247 in Sombor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 86% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $50 in Novi Sad vs $29 in Sombor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $186 per month, with Sombor cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇸 Novi Sad
🇷🇸 Sombor
🕒 Local time
19:24 7:24 PM
19:24 7:24 PM
Same time as Novi Sad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
260,438
41,814
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RSD – Serbian Dinar Converter

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 105 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.55 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.55 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Novi Sad Sombor 81 km
From you
  • Novi Sad
  • Sombor

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sombor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sombor cheaper than Novi Sad?
Sombor is about 37% cheaper overall, especially in clothing, groceries, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novi Sad or Sombor?
Average pay runs 86% 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.
What is the rent difference between Novi Sad and Sombor?
Rent for a central apartment: $509 in Novi Sad versus $247 in Sombor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Novi Sad or in Sombor?
Dining out is cheaper in Sombor – a meal for two runs $29 versus $50 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Novi Sad and in Sombor?
All in, you’ll spend $1,393 per month in Novi Sad versus $873 in Sombor – Sombor is about 37% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Novi Sad or in Sombor?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Sombor is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Novi Sad or in Sombor?
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.
Which city is safer, Novi Sad or Sombor?
Safety-wise, Novi Sad and Sombor are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sombor gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Novi Sad vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?