Cost of Living Comparison Between Serbia and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Serbia and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,079 in Serbia versus $365 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,607 in Serbia versus $579 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,134 in Serbia versus $792 in India.

Living in Serbia is roughly 196% more expensive than in India on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Serbia 21% lower, India 73% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Serbia: monthly costs span $786 to $1,641, compared to $231$827 in India. City choice carries more weight in Serbia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Serbia
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.16 RSD 1,027
$2.06 ₹196
393.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.95 RSD 5,048
$10.63 ₹1,009
369.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.91 RSD 1,204
$3.70 ₹352
221.89%
Cappuccino
$2.45 RSD 248
$1.74 ₹165
40.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 RSD 229
$0.37 ₹35.32
513.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 RSD 193
$0.17 ₹16.34
1023.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 RSD 296
$1.93 ₹183
51.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 RSD 342
$3.06 ₹290
10.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Serbia
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 RSD 143
$0.62 ₹58.9
127.42%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 RSD 89.7
$0.49 ₹46.69
81.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 RSD 241
$0.63 ₹60.1
277.78%
Eggs
$2.69 RSD 271
$0.94 ₹88.9
186.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.34 RSD 1,045
$4.67 ₹444
121.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.05 RSD 712
$2.88 ₹274
144.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.67 RSD 1,382
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.44 RSD 146
$1.91 ₹181
-24.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 RSD 185
$0.64 ₹60.9
185.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 RSD 183
$0.98 ₹93.3
84.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 RSD 247
$0.51 ₹48.14
378.43%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 RSD 92.3
$0.34 ₹32.08
167.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 RSD 71.7
$0.42 ₹39.88
69.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 RSD 80.1
$0.48 ₹45.68
64.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 RSD 71.1
$0.29 ₹27.41
141.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 RSD 458
$4.91 ₹466
-7.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.85 RSD 692
$7.27 ₹690
-5.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 RSD 84.0
$1.65 ₹157
-49.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 RSD 159
$2.66 ₹253
-40.98%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.22 ₹495
-
🚌 Getting Around
Serbia
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 RSD 76.3
$0.27 ₹25.81
177.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.58 RSD 1,473
$8.45 ₹803
72.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 RSD 205
$0.96 ₹91.3
111.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 RSD 98.7
$0.27 ₹25.87
262.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.50 RSD 1,061
$1.60 ₹152
556.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 RSD 192
$1.12 ₹106
69.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K RSD 3.3M
$12.7K ₹1.2M
152.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K RSD 2.6M
$20.4K ₹1.9M
26.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serbia
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 RSD 19.7K
$37.48 ₹3,559
419.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48 RSD 2,272
$3.50 ₹332
542.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.21 RSD 3,155
$7.16 ₹680
335.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Serbia
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.55 RSD 3,593
$14.79 ₹1,405
140.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.75 RSD 1,491
$7.08 ₹672
108.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 RSD 705
$3.06 ₹291
127.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Serbia
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$342 RSD 34.6K
$57.0 ₹5,409
501.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,020 RSD 911.6K
$1,679 ₹159.4K
437.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Serbia
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 RSD 10.3K
$22.56 ₹2,142
350.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.69 RSD 4,416
$24.04 ₹2,283
81.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 RSD 11.3K
$40.60 ₹3,856
176.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 RSD 13.4K
$30.39 ₹2,886
334.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Serbia
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 RSD 52.6K
$145 ₹13.8K
258.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 RSD 38.9K
$91.4 ₹8,674
321.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$874 RSD 88.4K
$335 ₹31.8K
161.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 RSD 67.9K
$209 ₹19.9K
221.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,132 RSD 316.6K
$1,233 ₹117.1K
153.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,168 RSD 219.2K
$626 ₹59.4K
246.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Serbia
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$985 RSD 99.5K
$443 ₹42.1K
122.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.86
8.94
-45.64%

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

Last update for Serbia: August 31, 2026

Last update for India: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $346 in Serbia, $120 in India. Capital cities: $874 in Belgrade vs $272 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $798 in Serbia, $408 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 188% higher in Serbia.

Dining out costs 290% more in Serbia.

Public transport is 57% more expensive in Serbia.

Salaries are 96% higher in Serbia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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
Serbia vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Serbia?
At $529 per month in India and $1,214 in Serbia, there's a 129% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Serbia is consistently higher than in India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Serbia?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Serbia it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Serbia?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Serbia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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