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: $1,371 in Novi Sad versus $1,108 in Subotica.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,114 in Novi Sad versus $1,670 in Subotica.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,856 in Novi Sad versus $2,232 in Subotica.

Living in Novi Sad is roughly 24% more expensive than in Subotica, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novi Sad is 2% above, Subotica is 17% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 RSD 1,035

$9.35 RSD 974

6.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.70 RSD 5,178

$33.75 RSD 3,517

47.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.00 RSD 1,250

$11.18 RSD 1,165

7.33%

Cappuccino

$2.61 RSD 272

$1.97 RSD 205

32.49%

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

$2.32 RSD 242

$1.83 RSD 191

26.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 RSD 191

$1.71 RSD 178

7.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 RSD 303

$2.46 RSD 256

18.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 RSD 394

$2.87 RSD 299

31.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 RSD 146

$1.41 RSD 146

-0.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 RSD 99.0

$1.10 RSD 115

-13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 RSD 280

$2.14 RSD 223

25.23%

Eggs

$2.54 RSD 265

$3.07 RSD 320

-17.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.09 RSD 1,364

$12.08 RSD 1,258

8.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.52 RSD 783

$6.60 RSD 688

13.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 RSD 1,496

$12.53 RSD 1,305

14.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 RSD 178

$1.39 RSD 145

23.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 RSD 206

$1.90 RSD 198

4.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 RSD 173

$1.43 RSD 149

16.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 RSD 266

$2.21 RSD 230

15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 RSD 105

$1.03 RSD 108

-1.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 RSD 70.8

$0.59 RSD 61.6

15.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 RSD 100

$0.58 RSD 60.8

65.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 RSD 68.4

$0.61 RSD 63.9

8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 RSD 504

$4.17 RSD 435

16.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.46 RSD 777

$5.31 RSD 553

40.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 RSD 95.5

$0.82 RSD 85.8

12.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 RSD 231

$2.28 RSD 238

-3.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 RSD 103

$1.18 RSD 123

-16.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.45 RSD 2,547

$34.36 RSD 3,580

-28.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 RSD 243

$1.87 RSD 195

24.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 RSD 96.7

$1.22 RSD 127

-23.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.35 RSD 1,078

$10.85 RSD 1,131

-4.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 RSD 191

$1.77 RSD 184

3.39%

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

$30.7K RSD 3.2M

$30.8K RSD 3.2M

-0.25%

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

$26.3K RSD 2.7M

$25.1K RSD 2.6M

4.73%

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

$223 RSD 23.2K

$168 RSD 17.5K

32.52%

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

$20.57 RSD 2,143

$15.33 RSD 1,597

34.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.21 RSD 3,460

$37.29 RSD 3,886

-10.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.61 RSD 3,815

$33.13 RSD 3,452

10.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.06 RSD 1,152

$9.53 RSD 993

16.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.30 RSD 761

$4.74 RSD 494

54.01%

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

$372 RSD 38.7K

$238 RSD 24.8K

56.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,710 RSD 803.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$119 RSD 12.4K

$42.70 RSD 4,450

178.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.40 RSD 4,522

$22.51 RSD 2,346

92.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 RSD 14.2K

$91.4 RSD 9,519

49.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 RSD 12.9K

$72.3 RSD 7,528

71.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 RSD 51.5K

$417 RSD 43.5K

18.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 RSD 42.2K

$297 RSD 31.0K

36.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 RSD 99.5K

$602 RSD 62.7K

58.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$753 RSD 78.5K

$547 RSD 57.0K

37.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,527 RSD 367.5K

$2,449 RSD 255.1K

44.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,586 RSD 269.5K

$1,601 RSD 166.8K

61.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,240 RSD 129.2K

$894 RSD 93.2K

38.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.21

4.79

8.77%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: October 5, 2026

Last update for Subotica: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $495 in Novi Sad and $417 in Subotica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 39% 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 $34.00 in Subotica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $221 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 39% 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: $495 in Novi Sad versus $417 in Subotica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Subotica – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $50.0 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,371 per month in Novi Sad versus $1,108 in Subotica – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,108 in Subotica versus $1,371 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 24% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.