😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,384 in Novi Sad versus $910 in Sombor.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,085 in Novi Sad versus $1,340 in Sombor.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Novi Sad versus $1,771 in Sombor.
😐Living in Novi Sad is roughly 52% more expensive than Sombor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 3% above, Sombor is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.61RSD 968
$8.19RSD 825
17.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2RSD 5,055
$24.36RSD 2,456
105.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.68RSD 1,076
$7.96RSD 803
34.17%
Cappuccino
$2.29RSD 231
$2.00RSD 202
14.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13RSD 215
$1.91RSD 193
11.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64RSD 166
$1.38RSD 139
18.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.94RSD 297
$2.19RSD 221
34.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72RSD 375
$2.62RSD 264
41.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53RSD 155
$1.24RSD 125
23.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04RSD 105
$0.62RSD 62.2
67.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.74RSD 276
$1.47RSD 148
86.39%
Eggs
$2.55RSD 257
$2.23RSD 224
14.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.18RSD 1,228
$9.50RSD 958
28.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76RSD 681
$6.89RSD 694
-1.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.46RSD 1,256
$11.93RSD 1,202
4.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.29RSD 130
$1.12RSD 113
15.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85RSD 186
$1.83RSD 185
1.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64RSD 166
$1.62RSD 163
1.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42RSD 244
$1.94RSD 196
24.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00RSD 101
$0.67RSD 67.5
49.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95RSD 95.8
$0.56RSD 56.6
69.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80RSD 80.3
$0.63RSD 63.4
26.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70RSD 70.6
$0.66RSD 66.4
6.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.42RSD 446
$4.37RSD 440
1.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12RSD 819
$3.61RSD 364
124.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92RSD 93.0
$0.78RSD 78.3
17.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23RSD 225
$1.21RSD 122
84.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95RSD 95.3
$0.81RSD 82.1
17.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.77RSD 2,496
$27.92RSD 2,814
-11.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.94RSD 196
$0.95RSD 95.6
104.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69RSD 69.5
$0.51RSD 51.7
35.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.67RSD 974
$5.03RSD 507
92.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92RSD 194
$1.83RSD 185
4.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KRSD 3.1M
$31.2KRSD 3.1M
-2.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KRSD 2.9M
$26.8KRSD 2.7M
5.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$208RSD 21.0K
$148RSD 14.9K
40.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.00RSD 2,015
$10.12RSD 1,020
97.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.49RSD 3,577
$17.02RSD 1,716
108.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.28RSD 3,657
$36.14RSD 3,643
0.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.17RSD 1,428
$16.27RSD 1,640
-12.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20RSD 625
$4.67RSD 471
32.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$335RSD 33.8K
$183RSD 18.4K
83.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,325RSD 738.3K
$3,893RSD 392.3K
88.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109RSD 11.0K
$62.2RSD 6,265
75.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.57RSD 4,593
$29.17RSD 2,939
56.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124RSD 12.5K
$80.2RSD 8,084
54.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138RSD 13.9K
$97.1RSD 9,789
42.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$563RSD 56.8K
$230RSD 23.2K
144.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471RSD 47.4K
$190RSD 19.2K
147.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075RSD 108.4K
$430RSD 43.4K
149.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$777RSD 78.3K
$308RSD 31.0K
152.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,778RSD 380.8K
$1,620RSD 163.2K
133.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,758RSD 278.0K
$1,057RSD 106.6K
160.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novi Sad
Sombor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069RSD 107.8K
$694RSD 69.9K
54.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.31
8
-8.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novi Sad: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sombor: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $563 in Novi Sad and $230 in Sombor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Novi Sad pays 54% 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: $50.0 in Novi Sad vs $24.00 in Sombor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $192 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
Is Sombor cheaper than Novi Sad?
Sombor is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novi Sad or Sombor?
Novi Sad pays 54% more on average, 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: $563 in Novi Sad versus $230 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 Sombor?
Dining out is cheaper in Sombor – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $50.0 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 vs Sombor?
All in, you'll spend $1,384 per month in Novi Sad versus $910 in Sombor – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Novi Sad or Sombor?
At $910 in Sombor versus $1,384 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.
Is it better to live in Novi Sad or 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 on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sombor gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.