Cost of Living Comparison Between Saitama and Belgrade Cost of Living Comparison Between Saitama and Belgrade

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,126 per month in Saitama vs $1,517 in Belgrade, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,821 per month in Saitama vs $2,312 in Belgrade, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,516 per month in Saitama vs $3,108 in Belgrade, rent included.

Saitama is about 26% cheaper than Belgrade, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saitama sits 16% below the global median, while Belgrade is 13% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.06 ¥970

$12.19 RSD 1,226

-50.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.98 ¥5,436

$49.60 RSD 4,989

-31.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 ¥764

$11.68 RSD 1,174

-59.08%

Cappuccino

$3.04 ¥487

$2.86 RSD 288

6.29%

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

$0.75 ¥120

$2.70 RSD 272

-72.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥111

$2.17 RSD 218

-68.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ¥324

$3.55 RSD 357

-43.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ¥501

$4.02 RSD 405

-22.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ¥252

$1.52 RSD 153

3.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥268

$0.92 RSD 92.5

81.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$3.05 RSD 307

-0.66%

Eggs

$2.24 ¥358

$2.85 RSD 287

-21.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 ¥1,644

$11.46 RSD 1,153

-10.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 ¥983

$7.46 RSD 750

-17.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.59 ¥2,494

$12.96 RSD 1,304

20.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 ¥942

$1.41 RSD 142

317.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ¥215

$1.89 RSD 190

-29.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 ¥626

$1.96 RSD 197

99.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.90 ¥944

$2.78 RSD 279

112.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 ¥516

$1.03 RSD 103

213.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 ¥273

$0.75 RSD 75.9

128.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥216

$0.89 RSD 89.1

51.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥142

$0.78 RSD 78.9

12.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ¥660

$4.66 RSD 469

-11.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ¥1,358

$9.65 RSD 970

-12.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥295

$0.87 RSD 87.3

111.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ¥342

$1.51 RSD 152

41.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 ¥259

$0.98 RSD 98.2

65.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.5 ¥9,030

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ¥550

$3.09 RSD 311

11.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.96 ¥473

$0.90 RSD 90.1

228.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.04 ¥3,526

$17.87 RSD 1,797

23.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥198

$1.83 RSD 184

-32.24%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

$30.9K RSD 3.1M

-25.39%

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

$18.8K ¥3.0M

$27.1K RSD 2.7M

-30.36%

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

$144 ¥23.0K

$210 RSD 21.1K

-31.33%

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

$19.50 ¥3,120

$22.09 RSD 2,221

-11.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.90 ¥5,424

$32.98 RSD 3,316

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 ¥10.8K

$38.57 RSD 3,879

75.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.10 ¥2,256

$20.97 RSD 2,109

-32.76%

Cinema Ticket

$12.14 ¥1,943

$7.70 RSD 774

57.66%

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

$276 ¥44.2K

$449 RSD 45.2K

-38.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K ¥2.2M

$9,106 RSD 915.7K

50.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 ¥6,178

$100 RSD 10.1K

-61.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.40 ¥4,383

$42.41 RSD 4,265

-35.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.2 ¥9,630

$113 RSD 11.3K

-46.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.5 ¥11.1K

$118 RSD 11.9K

-41.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 ¥68.6K

$852 RSD 85.7K

-49.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 ¥40.9K

$571 RSD 57.4K

-55.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$858 ¥137.2K

$1,569 RSD 157.8K

-45.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 ¥105.6K

$1,024 RSD 103.0K

-35.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,524 ¥723.8K

$5,218 RSD 524.8K

-13.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,701 ¥432.2K

$3,155 RSD 317.3K

-14.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,535 ¥245.6K

$1,234 RSD 124.1K

24.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.86

5.59

-66.73%

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

Last update for Saitama: May 30, 2026

Last update for Belgrade: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Saitama versus $852 in Belgrade. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Saitama, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Saitama versus $50.0 in Belgrade. Groceries tell a different story – $304 in Saitama vs $243 in Belgrade – so Belgrade wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Saitama vs Belgrade: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,126 in Saitama, $1,517 in Belgrade – roughly 35% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,689 per month in Saitama and $2,275 in Belgrade. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saitama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Saitama and $50.0 in Belgrade. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Belgrade – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,126, than in Belgrade at $1,517. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saitama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Saitama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgrade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.