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: $1,448 in Novi Sad versus $886 in Sombor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,190 in Novi Sad versus $1,355 in Sombor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,932 in Novi Sad versus $1,823 in Sombor.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 63% more expensive than in Sombor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 6% above, Sombor is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.00 RSD 1,115

$9.66 RSD 979

13.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 RSD 5,285

$29.75 RSD 3,015

75.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.66 RSD 1,283

$6.86 RSD 696

84.55%

Cappuccino

$2.78 RSD 282

$2.12 RSD 214

31.13%

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

$2.45 RSD 248

$2.33 RSD 236

5.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 RSD 198

$1.45 RSD 147

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 RSD 295

$2.45 RSD 248

18.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 RSD 393

$2.36 RSD 239

63.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 RSD 146

$1.41 RSD 143

2.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 RSD 99.8

$0.63 RSD 64.3

55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.87 RSD 291

$1.50 RSD 152

91.33%

Eggs

$2.64 RSD 268

$2.48 RSD 251

6.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 RSD 1,421

$10.28 RSD 1,042

36.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.45 RSD 756

$6.46 RSD 655

15.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 RSD 1,463

$11.97 RSD 1,214

20.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 RSD 181

$1.07 RSD 109

67.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 RSD 203

$1.77 RSD 180

13.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 RSD 174

$1.61 RSD 163

6.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 RSD 268

$1.97 RSD 200

34.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RSD 105

$0.70 RSD 71.3

48.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 RSD 72.0

$0.57 RSD 57.4

24.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 RSD 100

$0.62 RSD 62.8

59.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 RSD 75.4

$0.65 RSD 66.0

13.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.01 RSD 507

$4.54 RSD 460

10.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 RSD 781

$3.66 RSD 371

110.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 RSD 97.4

$0.76 RSD 76.8

26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 RSD 240

$1.16 RSD 118

104.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 RSD 101

$1.03 RSD 104

-2.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.20 RSD 2,554

$19.82 RSD 2,009

27.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.38 RSD 241

$0.96 RSD 97.1

147.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RSD 92.1

$0.60 RSD 61.2

51.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.64 RSD 1,078

$5.57 RSD 564

91.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 RSD 193

$1.75 RSD 177

9.14%

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

$31.3K RSD 3.2M

$31.9K RSD 3.2M

-1.74%

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

$27.3K RSD 2.8M

$27.1K RSD 2.7M

0.56%

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

$238 RSD 24.1K

$143 RSD 14.5K

66.14%

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

$20.83 RSD 2,111

$9.97 RSD 1,011

108.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.96 RSD 3,543

$16.66 RSD 1,688

109.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.58 RSD 3,910

$34.25 RSD 3,471

12.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.66 RSD 1,182

$13.90 RSD 1,408

-16.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 RSD 769

$4.93 RSD 500

53.96%

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

$381 RSD 38.6K

$180 RSD 18.2K

111.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,861 RSD 796.6K

$3,978 RSD 403.2K

97.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$62.7 RSD 6,354

94.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.96 RSD 4,658

$29.21 RSD 2,960

57.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 RSD 14.4K

$78.1 RSD 7,918

82.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 RSD 14.4K

$98.3 RSD 9,966

44.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 RSD 51.2K

$253 RSD 25.7K

99.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 RSD 42.6K

$194 RSD 19.7K

116.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$999 RSD 101.3K

$437 RSD 44.3K

128.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$798 RSD 80.9K

$302 RSD 30.6K

163.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,682 RSD 373.2K

$1,614 RSD 163.6K

128.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 RSD 273.3K

$1,041 RSD 105.5K

159.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,225 RSD 124.2K

$675 RSD 68.5K

81.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.23

4.84

8.06%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sombor: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $505 in Novi Sad and $253 in Sombor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 81% 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: $52.0 in Novi Sad vs $30.00 in Sombor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $195 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 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 81% 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: $505 in Novi Sad versus $253 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 $30.00 versus $52.0 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,448 per month in Novi Sad versus $886 in Sombor – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $886 in Sombor versus $1,448 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 63% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.