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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,384 in Novi Sad versus $1,018 in Subotica.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,085 in Novi Sad versus $1,526 in Subotica.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Novi Sad versus $2,034 in Subotica.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 36% more expensive than Subotica, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 3% above, Subotica is 24% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.61 RSD 967

$9.63 RSD 969

-0.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 RSD 5,048

$29.49 RSD 2,968

70.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 RSD 1,075

$8.59 RSD 864

24.33%

Cappuccino

$2.29 RSD 231

$2.03 RSD 205

12.81%

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

$2.13 RSD 215

$1.61 RSD 162

32.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 RSD 165

$1.04 RSD 104

57.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 RSD 296

$1.98 RSD 200

48.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 RSD 375

$2.15 RSD 217

73.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 RSD 154

$1.46 RSD 147

4.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 RSD 104

$0.93 RSD 94.0

11.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 RSD 276

$2.93 RSD 295

-6.48%

Eggs

$2.55 RSD 257

$2.67 RSD 269

-4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.18 RSD 1,226

$10.70 RSD 1,077

13.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 RSD 680

$7.24 RSD 729

-6.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.46 RSD 1,254

$10.59 RSD 1,066

17.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 RSD 130

$1.38 RSD 139

-6.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 RSD 186

$1.80 RSD 181

2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 RSD 165

$1.43 RSD 144

14.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.42 RSD 243

$2.15 RSD 216

12.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 RSD 100

$1.08 RSD 109

-7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 RSD 95.7

$0.78 RSD 78.1

21.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RSD 80.2

$0.61 RSD 61.1

31.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 RSD 70.5

$0.71 RSD 71.3

-1.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.42 RSD 445

$4.43 RSD 446

-0.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 RSD 817

$5.53 RSD 557

46.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 RSD 92.9

$0.84 RSD 84.7

9.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 RSD 224

$1.60 RSD 161

39.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 RSD 95.2

$1.20 RSD 121

-20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.77 RSD 2,493

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 RSD 196

$1.78 RSD 179

8.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RSD 69.4

$0.91 RSD 91.2

-24.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.67 RSD 973

$9.98 RSD 1,005

-3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.76 RSD 177

9.09%

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

$30.5K RSD 3.1M

$30.1K RSD 3.0M

1.05%

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

$28.3K RSD 2.8M

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

6.84%

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

$208 RSD 21.0K

$119 RSD 12.0K

74.61%

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

$20.00 RSD 2,013

$13.12 RSD 1,320

52.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.49 RSD 3,572

$32.67 RSD 3,288

8.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.28 RSD 3,652

$31.71 RSD 3,191

14.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.17 RSD 1,426

$9.66 RSD 973

46.69%

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 RSD 624

$2.95 RSD 297

110.17%

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

$335 RSD 33.7K

$452 RSD 45.5K

-25.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,325 RSD 737.3K

$9,348 RSD 940.8K

-21.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$109 RSD 10.9K

$34.02 RSD 3,424

219.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.57 RSD 4,587

$26.47 RSD 2,665

72.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 RSD 12.4K

$89.1 RSD 8,966

38.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 RSD 13.9K

$120 RSD 12.1K

14.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 RSD 56.7K

$415 RSD 41.8K

35.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 RSD 47.4K

$332 RSD 33.4K

41.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 RSD 108.2K

$592 RSD 59.6K

81.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$777 RSD 78.2K

$541 RSD 54.5K

43.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,778 RSD 380.3K

$2,480 RSD 249.6K

52.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,758 RSD 277.6K

$1,719 RSD 173.0K

60.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,069 RSD 107.6K

$908 RSD 91.4K

17.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.31

5.59

30.77%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: June 1, 2026

Last update for Subotica: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $563 in Novi Sad and $415 in Subotica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 18% 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 $29.00 in Subotica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $215 per month, with Subotica 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 Subotica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Subotica is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Novi Sad pays 18% more on average, 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: $563 in Novi Sad versus $415 in Subotica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Novi Sad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,384 per month in Novi Sad versus $1,018 in Subotica – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,018 in Subotica versus $1,384 in Novi Sad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Subotica but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Subotica 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 Subotica 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 Subotica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.