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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,395 in Novi Sad versus $890 in Sombor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,120 in Novi Sad versus $1,362 in Sombor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Novi Sad versus $1,834 in Sombor.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 57% more expensive than in Sombor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 4% above, Sombor is 33% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.10 RSD 1,033

$8.00 RSD 818

26.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.11 RSD 5,021

$24.86 RSD 2,542

97.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 RSD 1,093

$7.88 RSD 806

35.66%

Cappuccino

$2.26 RSD 231

$2.00 RSD 204

13.00%

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

$2.10 RSD 214

$1.93 RSD 198

8.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 RSD 174

$1.37 RSD 140

24.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 RSD 310

$2.24 RSD 229

35.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 RSD 382

$2.50 RSD 255

49.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 RSD 164

$1.28 RSD 131

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 RSD 105

$0.61 RSD 62.0

67.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 RSD 287

$1.44 RSD 147

95.14%

Eggs

$2.65 RSD 271

$2.15 RSD 220

23.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.03 RSD 1,230

$9.55 RSD 976

25.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 RSD 692

$6.79 RSD 694

-0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 RSD 1,306

$11.81 RSD 1,208

8.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 RSD 127

$1.06 RSD 108

17.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 RSD 189

$1.82 RSD 186

1.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 RSD 161

$1.54 RSD 158

2.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.51 RSD 257

$1.96 RSD 201

28.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 RSD 95.9

$0.72 RSD 73.7

30.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 RSD 95.9

$0.56 RSD 57.7

67.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 RSD 82.7

$0.66 RSD 67.2

22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 RSD 66.6

$0.66 RSD 67.9

-1.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 RSD 465

$4.41 RSD 451

3.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.93 RSD 811

$3.74 RSD 383

112.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RSD 87.6

$0.77 RSD 78.4

11.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 RSD 229

$1.16 RSD 118

93.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 RSD 96.8

$0.76 RSD 77.8

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.56 RSD 2,511

$28.20 RSD 2,883

-12.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 RSD 194

$1.02 RSD 105

86.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 RSD 64.5

$0.48 RSD 48.74

31.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.31 RSD 952

$5.01 RSD 513

85.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 186

$1.75 RSD 179

4.00%

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

$30.6K RSD 3.1M

$30.5K RSD 3.1M

0.31%

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

$28.7K RSD 2.9M

$26.4K RSD 2.7M

8.72%

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

$203 RSD 20.7K

$149 RSD 15.2K

35.85%

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

$19.90 RSD 2,034

$9.92 RSD 1,014

100.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 RSD 3,715

$16.93 RSD 1,731

114.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.51 RSD 3,630

$36.46 RSD 3,728

-2.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.88 RSD 1,419

$16.49 RSD 1,686

-15.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 RSD 642

$4.73 RSD 483

32.77%

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

$340 RSD 34.7K

$184 RSD 18.8K

84.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,127 RSD 728.7K

$3,975 RSD 406.4K

79.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$109 RSD 11.2K

$62.0 RSD 6,339

76.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.99 RSD 4,600

$29.20 RSD 2,985

54.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.5K

$77.7 RSD 7,942

57.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 RSD 14.1K

$99.7 RSD 10.2K

38.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 RSD 56.1K

$229 RSD 23.4K

139.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 RSD 48.2K

$188 RSD 19.2K

151.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,102 RSD 112.7K

$442 RSD 45.2K

149.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$795 RSD 81.3K

$306 RSD 31.2K

160.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,644 RSD 372.6K

$1,581 RSD 161.7K

130.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,646 RSD 270.5K

$1,013 RSD 103.5K

161.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 RSD 108.7K

$665 RSD 67.9K

60.04%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Sombor: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $548 in Novi Sad and $229 in Sombor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 60% 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 $25.00 in Sombor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $191 per month, with Sombor 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 Sombor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sombor is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 60% 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: $548 in Novi Sad versus $229 in Sombor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sombor – a meal for two runs $25.00 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 $1,395 per month in Novi Sad versus $890 in Sombor – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $890 in Sombor versus $1,395 in Novi Sad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sombor but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Sombor 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 Sombor 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 Sombor gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.