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: $960 in Sabac versus $1,392 in Novi Sad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in Sabac versus $2,077 in Novi Sad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Sabac versus $2,763 in Novi Sad.

Living in Sabac costs roughly 31% less than in Novi Sad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sabac is 28% below, Novi Sad is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.00 RSD 923

$9.58 RSD 984

-6.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 RSD 2,767

$48.59 RSD 4,988

-44.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.64 RSD 990

$11.04 RSD 1,133

-12.68%

Cappuccino

$1.50 RSD 154

$2.38 RSD 244

-36.97%

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

$1.75 RSD 180

$2.18 RSD 224

-19.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 RSD 123

$1.69 RSD 174

-28.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 RSD 240

$2.90 RSD 298

-19.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 RSD 216

$3.64 RSD 374

-42.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 RSD 142

$1.54 RSD 158

-10.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 RSD 67.5

$1.03 RSD 106

-35.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 RSD 205

$2.69 RSD 277

-25.65%

Eggs

$2.18 RSD 223

$2.58 RSD 265

-15.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.37 RSD 756

$11.94 RSD 1,225

-38.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 RSD 690

$7.05 RSD 724

-4.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.82 RSD 1,111

$12.77 RSD 1,311

-15.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 RSD 133

$1.24 RSD 127

4.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 187

$1.90 RSD 195

-3.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 RSD 182

$1.64 RSD 169

7.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 RSD 239

$2.54 RSD 261

-8.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 RSD 118

$0.93 RSD 95.0

23.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 RSD 129

$0.88 RSD 90.1

43.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 RSD 107

$0.80 RSD 82.3

30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 RSD 50.2

$0.69 RSD 70.5

-28.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 RSD 422

$4.33 RSD 444

-5.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.93 RSD 608

$7.57 RSD 777

-21.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RSD 69.8

$0.86 RSD 88.3

-20.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 RSD 221

$2.22 RSD 227

-3.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 RSD 102

$1.04 RSD 106

-3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.79 RSD 2,647

$25.11 RSD 2,577

2.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 RSD 106

$1.98 RSD 203

-47.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 RSD 47.02

$0.67 RSD 69.0

-31.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 RSD 519

$9.30 RSD 955

-45.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 187

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

$30.6K RSD 3.1M

$31.0K RSD 3.2M

-1.09%

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

$27.0K RSD 2.8M

$28.9K RSD 3.0M

-6.48%

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

$160 RSD 16.5K

$208 RSD 21.3K

-22.71%

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

$19.38 RSD 1,990

$19.88 RSD 2,041

-2.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.90 RSD 2,556

$36.00 RSD 3,695

-30.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.72 RSD 2,435

$35.49 RSD 3,643

-33.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 RSD 1,211

$14.00 RSD 1,437

-15.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 RSD 685

$6.24 RSD 640

6.89%

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

$177 RSD 18.2K

$339 RSD 34.8K

-47.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,969 RSD 407.4K

$7,130 RSD 731.8K

-44.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 RSD 6,405

$107 RSD 11.0K

-41.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 RSD 5,730

$45.86 RSD 4,707

21.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 RSD 12.3K

$123 RSD 12.6K

-2.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 RSD 12.3K

$135 RSD 13.9K

-11.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 RSD 24.3K

$567 RSD 58.2K

-58.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 RSD 18.4K

$457 RSD 46.9K

-60.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 RSD 36.1K

$1,096 RSD 112.5K

-67.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 RSD 26.7K

$790 RSD 81.1K

-67.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,906 RSD 195.6K

$3,667 RSD 376.4K

-48.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,537 RSD 157.8K

$2,713 RSD 278.5K

-43.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$955 RSD 98.0K

$1,063 RSD 109.1K

-10.12%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sabac and $567 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 11% 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 $197 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 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 11% 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: $237 in Sabac versus $567 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 $27.00 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 $960 per month in Sabac versus $1,392 in Novi Sad – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $960 in Sabac versus $1,392 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 45% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.