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: $945 in Sabac versus $1,396 in Novi Sad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,390 in Sabac versus $2,091 in Novi Sad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Sabac versus $2,786 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 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.64 RSD 867

$9.71 RSD 975

-11.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.04 RSD 2,713

$49.38 RSD 4,955

-45.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.70 RSD 973

$10.71 RSD 1,075

-9.43%

Cappuccino

$1.45 RSD 146

$2.35 RSD 236

-38.30%

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

$1.73 RSD 174

$2.13 RSD 214

-18.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 RSD 116

$1.63 RSD 164

-28.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 RSD 235

$2.92 RSD 293

-19.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 RSD 214

$3.69 RSD 371

-42.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 RSD 137

$1.53 RSD 154

-11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 RSD 64.2

$1.03 RSD 103

-37.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 RSD 199

$2.80 RSD 281

-28.93%

Eggs

$2.30 RSD 231

$2.57 RSD 257

-10.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 RSD 750

$11.80 RSD 1,184

-36.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.98 RSD 700

$7.13 RSD 715

-2.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.71 RSD 1,075

$12.69 RSD 1,273

-15.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 RSD 136

$1.26 RSD 126

7.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 184

$1.83 RSD 183

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 RSD 175

$1.63 RSD 164

6.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 RSD 231

$2.45 RSD 245

-5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 RSD 111

$0.99 RSD 99.8

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 RSD 127

$0.93 RSD 93.4

35.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 RSD 106

$0.79 RSD 79.3

34.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 RSD 49.11

$0.65 RSD 65.1

-24.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 RSD 410

$4.54 RSD 456

-9.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.15 RSD 718

$8.22 RSD 825

-13.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RSD 68.0

$0.87 RSD 87.2

-21.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 RSD 214

$2.18 RSD 218

-2.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 RSD 93.7

$1.03 RSD 103

-9.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.69 RSD 2,477

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 RSD 109

$1.96 RSD 197

-44.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 RSD 45.46

$0.69 RSD 69.2

-34.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 RSD 505

$9.27 RSD 930

-45.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 183

$1.83 RSD 183

-0.55%

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

$31.1K RSD 3.1M

$30.2K RSD 3.0M

3.08%

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

$26.9K RSD 2.7M

$28.7K RSD 2.9M

-6.25%

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

$161 RSD 16.1K

$205 RSD 20.5K

-21.47%

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

$19.33 RSD 1,940

$19.68 RSD 1,974

-1.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.50 RSD 2,458

$35.95 RSD 3,607

-31.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.09 RSD 2,417

$36.63 RSD 3,675

-34.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.04 RSD 1,208

$14.21 RSD 1,425

-15.27%

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 RSD 685

$6.29 RSD 631

8.59%

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

$183 RSD 18.3K

$346 RSD 34.8K

-47.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,009 RSD 402.3K

$7,317 RSD 734.1K

-45.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 RSD 6,355

$108 RSD 10.8K

-41.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.5 RSD 5,664

$45.66 RSD 4,581

23.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 RSD 11.6K

$122 RSD 12.3K

-5.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 RSD 11.9K

$139 RSD 14.0K

-14.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 RSD 23.5K

$557 RSD 55.9K

-57.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 RSD 17.5K

$459 RSD 46.1K

-61.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 RSD 35.1K

$1,084 RSD 108.7K

-67.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 RSD 26.0K

$776 RSD 77.9K

-66.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,004 RSD 201.0K

$3,670 RSD 368.2K

-45.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 RSD 159.1K

$2,614 RSD 262.3K

-39.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$986 RSD 98.9K

$1,083 RSD 108.6K

-8.95%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Sabac and $557 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 10% 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: $27.00 in Sabac vs $49.00 in Novi Sad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $233 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 10% 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: $235 in Sabac versus $557 in Novi Sad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Novi Sad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $945 per month in Sabac versus $1,396 in Novi Sad – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $945 in Sabac versus $1,396 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.