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: $950 in Sabac versus $1,405 in Novi Sad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Sabac versus $2,094 in Novi Sad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Sabac versus $2,782 in Novi Sad.

Living in Sabac costs roughly 32% less than in Novi Sad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sabac is 29% below, Novi Sad is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 RSD 899

$9.59 RSD 970

-7.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.18 RSD 2,648

$48.50 RSD 4,905

-46.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 RSD 982

$10.97 RSD 1,109

-11.49%

Cappuccino

$1.46 RSD 148

$2.26 RSD 229

-35.40%

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

$1.77 RSD 179

$2.13 RSD 215

-16.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 RSD 121

$1.71 RSD 173

-30.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 RSD 236

$2.88 RSD 291

-18.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 RSD 211

$3.64 RSD 368

-42.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 RSD 140

$1.56 RSD 158

-10.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 RSD 65.1

$0.99 RSD 100

-35.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 RSD 194

$2.81 RSD 284

-31.67%

Eggs

$2.23 RSD 225

$2.56 RSD 259

-12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.30 RSD 738

$11.92 RSD 1,205

-38.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 RSD 681

$6.79 RSD 687

-0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 RSD 1,085

$12.37 RSD 1,251

-13.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 RSD 131

$1.24 RSD 126

4.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 RSD 192

$1.92 RSD 194

-1.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 RSD 173

$1.63 RSD 165

4.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 RSD 227

$2.47 RSD 250

-8.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 RSD 116

$0.99 RSD 101

15.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 RSD 122

$0.92 RSD 93.3

31.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 RSD 107

$0.76 RSD 77.2

39.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 RSD 49.05

$0.68 RSD 69.0

-27.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 RSD 421

$4.46 RSD 451

-6.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 RSD 654

$7.79 RSD 788

-17.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 RSD 72.3

$0.84 RSD 84.9

-14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 RSD 220

$2.15 RSD 218

1.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 RSD 92.3

$1.01 RSD 102

-9.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.85 RSD 2,715

$24.83 RSD 2,511

8.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 RSD 104

$1.92 RSD 194

-46.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 RSD 46.67

$0.65 RSD 65.7

-29.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 RSD 509

$9.76 RSD 987

-48.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 RSD 184

$1.82 RSD 184

-0.55%

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

$30.8K RSD 3.1M

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

-0.75%

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

$27.1K RSD 2.7M

$28.6K RSD 2.9M

-5.24%

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

$159 RSD 16.0K

$207 RSD 20.9K

-23.34%

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

$19.88 RSD 2,011

$19.65 RSD 1,987

1.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.81 RSD 2,509

$35.46 RSD 3,586

-30.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.39 RSD 2,365

$36.41 RSD 3,683

-35.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.88 RSD 1,201

$13.99 RSD 1,415

-15.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.81 RSD 689

$5.99 RSD 606

13.69%

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

$178 RSD 18.0K

$346 RSD 35.0K

-48.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,980 RSD 402.5K

$7,231 RSD 731.2K

-44.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 RSD 6,431

$107 RSD 10.9K

-40.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.7 RSD 5,529

$46.50 RSD 4,702

17.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 RSD 11.7K

$122 RSD 12.3K

-5.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 RSD 12.2K

$137 RSD 13.9K

-11.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 RSD 24.1K

$562 RSD 56.8K

-57.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 RSD 17.5K

$460 RSD 46.6K

-62.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 RSD 35.3K

$1,085 RSD 109.7K

-67.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 RSD 27.0K

$788 RSD 79.7K

-66.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 RSD 194.8K

$3,691 RSD 373.2K

-47.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,517 RSD 153.4K

$2,697 RSD 272.7K

-43.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$977 RSD 98.8K

$1,046 RSD 105.8K

-6.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.31

9.44%

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

Last update for Sabac: June 7, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Sabac and $562 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 7% 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: $26.00 in Sabac vs $49.00 in Novi Sad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $231 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Novi Sad earns 7% less. 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: $238 in Sabac versus $562 in Novi Sad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sabac – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $49.00 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Sabac versus $1,405 in Novi Sad – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $950 in Sabac versus $1,405 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 48% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.