🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,405 in Novi Sad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,094 in Novi Sad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,782 in Novi Sad.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 10% less than in Novi Sad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Novi Sad is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Novi Sad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$9.59RSD 970
-52.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$48.50RSD 4,905
-3.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$10.97RSD 1,109
-22.79%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$2.26RSD 229
34.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$2.13RSD 215
-67.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$1.71RSD 173
-78.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$2.88RSD 291
-13.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$3.64RSD 368
0.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Novi Sad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.56RSD 158
39.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.99RSD 100
91.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$2.81RSD 284
-21.71%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$2.56RSD 259
-13.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$11.92RSD 1,205
67.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$6.79RSD 687
-46.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$12.37RSD 1,251
7.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.24RSD 126
160.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$1.92RSD 194
-11.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$1.63RSD 165
46.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$2.47RSD 250
-15.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.99RSD 101
60.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.92RSD 93.3
60.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.76RSD 77.2
35.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.68RSD 69.0
-23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$4.46RSD 451
-4.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$7.79RSD 788
141.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$0.84RSD 84.9
109.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.15RSD 218
28.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Novi Sad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$1.01RSD 102
34.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$24.83RSD 2,511
-54.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$1.92RSD 194
63.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.65RSD 65.7
60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$9.76RSD 987
41.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.82RSD 184
-26.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$31.0KRSD 3.1M
-10.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$28.6KRSD 2.9M
18.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Novi Sad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$207RSD 20.9K
-40.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$19.65RSD 1,987
-31.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$35.46RSD 3,586
-47.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Novi Sad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$36.41RSD 3,683
69.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$13.99RSD 1,415
23.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$5.99RSD 606
52.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Novi Sad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$346RSD 35.0K
102.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$7,231RSD 731.2K
119.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Novi Sad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$107RSD 10.9K
-44.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$46.50RSD 4,702
-24.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$122RSD 12.3K
-5.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$137RSD 13.9K
-38.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Novi Sad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$562RSD 56.8K
10.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$460RSD 46.6K
-6.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$1,085RSD 109.7K
90.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$788RSD 79.7K
91.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$3,691RSD 373.2K
-1.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$2,697RSD 272.7K
-2.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Novi Sad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$1,046RSD 105.8K
-51.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.31
-27.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Novi Sad: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $562 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Novi Sad pays 106% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $49.00 in Novi Sad. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $231, with Novi Sad cheaper for home cooking.
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
Phuket vs Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novi Sad cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Novi Sad?
On paper, Novi Sad earns 106% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Novi Sad?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $562 in Novi Sad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Novi Sad?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $49.00 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Novi Sad?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $1,405 in Novi Sad – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Novi Sad?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,405 in Novi Sad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Novi Sad more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Novi Sad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Novi Sad?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Novi Sad 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.