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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $859 in Sabac versus $1,488 in Novi Sad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,336 in Sabac versus $2,233 in Novi Sad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,813 in Sabac versus $2,978 in Novi Sad.

Living in Sabac costs roughly 42% less than in Novi Sad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sabac is 38% below, Novi Sad is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.32 RSD 838

$10.41 RSD 1,050

-20.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.83 RSD 2,805

$51.2 RSD 5,160

-45.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 RSD 719

$12.74 RSD 1,284

-44.03%

Cappuccino

$1.96 RSD 197

$2.72 RSD 274

-27.94%

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

$1.92 RSD 194

$2.49 RSD 251

-22.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 RSD 139

$1.91 RSD 193

-27.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.74 RSD 276

$2.91 RSD 293

-5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 RSD 273

$4.03 RSD 406

-32.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 RSD 132

$1.52 RSD 154

-14.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 RSD 60.3

$1.03 RSD 104

-41.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 RSD 200

$2.86 RSD 288

-30.42%

Eggs

$2.07 RSD 208

$2.72 RSD 274

-23.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.99 RSD 604

$13.84 RSD 1,395

-56.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 RSD 682

$7.72 RSD 778

-12.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.91 RSD 1,200

$14.47 RSD 1,459

-17.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 125

$1.83 RSD 185

-32.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 RSD 193

$2.02 RSD 204

-5.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 RSD 146

$1.73 RSD 174

-16.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 RSD 196

$2.66 RSD 268

-27.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 RSD 66.6

$1.04 RSD 105

-36.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 RSD 33.64

$0.67 RSD 67.2

-50.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 RSD 111

$1.04 RSD 105

5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 RSD 42.29

$0.70 RSD 70.5

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 RSD 390

$4.90 RSD 494

-21.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.10 RSD 816

$7.89 RSD 795

2.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 RSD 70.6

$0.99 RSD 100.0

-29.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 RSD 103

$2.38 RSD 240

-57.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 RSD 109

$1.01 RSD 102

6.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.88 RSD 2,608

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 RSD 155

$2.41 RSD 243

-36.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 RSD 98.3

$0.91 RSD 91.8

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 RSD 541

$10.77 RSD 1,085

-50.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.79 RSD 180

$1.87 RSD 189

-4.28%

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

$32.0K RSD 3.2M

$31.4K RSD 3.2M

2.11%

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

$26.4K RSD 2.7M

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

-0.44%

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

$146 RSD 14.8K

$246 RSD 24.8K

-40.49%

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

$26.16 RSD 2,636

$21.16 RSD 2,133

23.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.08 RSD 2,024

$35.51 RSD 3,579

-43.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.63 RSD 3,087

$38.45 RSD 3,876

-20.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.05 RSD 1,416

$11.54 RSD 1,164

21.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 RSD 592

$7.51 RSD 757

-21.84%

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

$181 RSD 18.2K

$389 RSD 39.2K

-53.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,037 RSD 406.9K

$7,743 RSD 780.4K

-47.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 RSD 6,433

$122 RSD 12.3K

-47.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.0 RSD 6,952

$46.04 RSD 4,640

49.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.4 RSD 5,987

$145 RSD 14.6K

-59.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 RSD 12.2K

$141 RSD 14.2K

-14.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 RSD 23.6K

$514 RSD 51.8K

-54.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 RSD 15.8K

$412 RSD 41.5K

-61.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 RSD 34.9K

$997 RSD 100.5K

-65.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 RSD 26.3K

$802 RSD 80.8K

-67.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,948 RSD 196.4K

$3,714 RSD 374.3K

-47.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,562 RSD 157.4K

$2,706 RSD 272.8K

-42.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$993 RSD 100.1K

$1,265 RSD 127.4K

-21.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.84

5.23

-7.46%

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

Last update for Sabac: September 8, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Sabac and $514 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 27% 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: $28.00 in Sabac vs $51.0 in Novi Sad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $255 per month, with Sabac 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

Sabac vs Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabac is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Novi Sad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $234 in Sabac versus $514 in Novi Sad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Novi Sad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $859 per month in Sabac versus $1,488 in Novi Sad – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $859 in Sabac versus $1,488 in Novi Sad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sabac but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Sabac 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, Sabac 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.

Expats usually find Sabac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.