Cost of Living Comparison Between Samara and Nis Cost of Living Comparison Between Samara and Nis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $994 per month in Samara vs $1,048 in Nis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,708 per month in Samara vs $1,519 in Nis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,422 per month in Samara vs $1,991 in Nis, rent included.

Samara is about 5% cheaper than Nis, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Samara and Nis are more affordable than the global median – Samara 26% lower, Nis 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samara
Nis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.58 ₽987
$7.55 RSD 773
66.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.0 ₽4,005
$30.06 RSD 3,075
69.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.64 ₽442
$9.85 RSD 1,007
-42.74%
Cappuccino
$2.41 ₽189
$1.90 RSD 195
26.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 ₽92.0
$1.80 RSD 184
-35.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₽54.5
$1.28 RSD 131
-46.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.13 ₽88.5
$2.41 RSD 247
-53.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 ₽203
$3.01 RSD 308
-14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samara
Nis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 ₽87.6
$1.33 RSD 136
-15.79%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 ₽46.52
$0.69 RSD 70.3
-14.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 ₽97.3
$1.79 RSD 183
-30.73%
Eggs
$1.72 ₽135
$2.40 RSD 246
-28.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 ₽733
$8.19 RSD 838
14.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.18 ₽406
$6.97 RSD 713
-25.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.30 ₽652
$11.87 RSD 1,215
-30.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.55 ₽122
$1.17 RSD 120
32.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 ₽142
$1.79 RSD 183
1.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 ₽179
$1.51 RSD 154
50.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 ₽185
$1.85 RSD 189
27.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 ₽48.83
$1.08 RSD 111
-42.59%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 ₽36.92
$1.13 RSD 116
-58.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 ₽143
$0.59 RSD 60.3
208.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₽44.12
$0.58 RSD 59.3
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10 ₽243
$4.21 RSD 431
-26.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.51 ₽354
$5.79 RSD 593
-22.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ₽73.8
$0.68 RSD 70.1
38.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₽176
$2.13 RSD 218
5.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Samara
Nis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 ₽36.49
$0.81 RSD 82.7
-43.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.89 ₽3,210
$26.01 RSD 2,661
57.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.39 ₽266
$1.49 RSD 153
127.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 ₽32.94
$0.45 RSD 46.09
-6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ₽304
$6.84 RSD 699
-43.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 ₽59.0
$1.75 RSD 179
-57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.8K ₽3.8M
$30.1K RSD 3.1M
58.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0K ₽3.4M
$26.7K RSD 2.7M
61.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samara
Nis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₽9,488
$139 RSD 14.3K
-13.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.43 ₽504
$16.85 RSD 1,724
-61.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.24 ₽647
$22.12 RSD 2,263
-62.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samara
Nis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.32 ₽2,772
$28.83 RSD 2,949
22.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.69 ₽1,075
$19.09 RSD 1,953
-28.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.20 ₽330
$4.91 RSD 502
-14.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samara
Nis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$323 ₽25.4K
$239 RSD 24.4K
35.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,976 ₽469.1K
$5,102 RSD 521.9K
17.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samara
Nis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.7 ₽7,823
$89.0 RSD 9,109
11.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.73 ₽3,668
$46.12 RSD 4,718
1.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₽9,903
$95.6 RSD 9,777
32.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.3 ₽5,911
$102 RSD 10.4K
-25.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samara
Nis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$458 ₽35.9K
$402 RSD 41.1K
13.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 ₽21.7K
$291 RSD 29.8K
-5.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ₽98.3K
$564 RSD 57.7K
122.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 ₽55.7K
$402 RSD 41.2K
76.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,570 RSD 262.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,889 RSD 193.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samara
Nis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$990 ₽77.7K
$880 RSD 90.0K
12.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.33
7.45
105.77%

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

Last update for Samara: July 14, 2026

Last update for Nis: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $458 in Samara versus $402 in Nis. 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 13% higher in Samara, 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 $51.0 in Samara versus $30.00 in Nis. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Samara vs $198 in Nis – so Samara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Samara vs Nis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Samara or Nis?
Nis costs about 5% more than Samara, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Samara and in Nis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,491 per month in Samara and $1,572 in Nis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Samara or Nis?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Samara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Samara compared to Nis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $994 in Samara and $1,048 in Nis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Samara compared to Nis?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Samara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Samara or in Nis?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samara, where all-in costs run around $994, than in Nis at $1,048. In Samara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Samara or Nis?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samara costs $994 versus $1,048 in Nis. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Samara compared to Nis?
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.
Should I move to Samara or to Nis?
If budget matters most, go with Samara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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