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: $1,077 in Serbia versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,582 in Serbia versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,086 in Serbia versus $846 in India.

Living in Serbia is roughly 178% more expensive than in India on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Serbia 19% lower, India 71% lower.

Serbia ($863$1,508) and India ($265$913) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Serbia
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.05 RSD 1,029
$2.53 ₹244
297.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.81 RSD 5,096
$13.73 ₹1,322
262.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.67 RSD 1,092
$4.00 ₹385
166.75%
Cappuccino
$2.37 RSD 243
$1.91 ₹184
24.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 RSD 219
$0.43 ₹41.85
397.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 RSD 173
$0.17 ₹16.11
894.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 RSD 297
$1.93 ₹186
50.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 RSD 357
$3.54 ₹341
-1.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Serbia
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 RSD 152
$0.73 ₹69.9
104.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 RSD 83.3
$0.52 ₹50.1
55.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.63 RSD 269
$0.73 ₹69.9
260.27%
Eggs
$2.78 RSD 285
$0.95 ₹91.4
192.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.41 RSD 1,065
$5.32 ₹512
95.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.24 RSD 740
$3.10 ₹299
133.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.53 RSD 1,282
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 RSD 134
$2.16 ₹208
-39.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 RSD 188
$0.70 ₹67.7
162.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 RSD 183
$1.05 ₹101
70.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.38 RSD 244
$0.53 ₹50.8
349.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 RSD 108
$0.39 ₹37.66
171.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 RSD 91.2
$0.48 ₹46.64
85.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 RSD 78.6
$0.52 ₹49.78
48.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 RSD 68.6
$0.36 ₹34.33
86.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 RSD 455
$4.02 ₹387
10.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.59 RSD 674
$7.28 ₹701
-9.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 RSD 81.7
$1.90 ₹183
-57.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 RSD 176
$3.03 ₹292
-43.23%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.84 ₹562
-
🚌 Getting Around
Serbia
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 RSD 78.2
$0.36 ₹34.66
111.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.58 RSD 2,003
$9.84 ₹948
98.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 RSD 198
$0.95 ₹91.8
104.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 RSD 88.6
$0.30 ₹29.03
190.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.78 RSD 1,205
$1.79 ₹172
558.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 RSD 184
$1.21 ₹117
48.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K RSD 3.2M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
124.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K RSD 2.8M
$22.4K ₹2.2M
21.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serbia
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 RSD 19.5K
$40.16 ₹3,867
375.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.24 RSD 2,071
$3.76 ₹362
438.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.32 RSD 3,204
$8.04 ₹774
289.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Serbia
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.99 RSD 3,579
$16.25 ₹1,565
115.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.56 RSD 1,899
$7.56 ₹728
145.50%
Cinema Ticket
$7.06 RSD 723
$3.43 ₹330
105.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Serbia
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$360 RSD 36.8K
$69.7 ₹6,713
415.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,253 RSD 844.3K
$1,852 ₹178.3K
345.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Serbia
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9 RSD 9,813
$25.59 ₹2,463
274.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71 RSD 4,370
$26.30 ₹2,532
62.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 RSD 11.4K
$44.89 ₹4,322
148.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 RSD 12.5K
$33.20 ₹3,197
267.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Serbia
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$595 RSD 60.9K
$174 ₹16.8K
241.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 RSD 43.8K
$112 ₹10.8K
280.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 RSD 105.8K
$405 ₹39.0K
155.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 RSD 76.0K
$258 ₹24.8K
188.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,107 RSD 317.9K
$1,263 ₹121.6K
146.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,133 RSD 218.2K
$653 ₹62.8K
226.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Serbia
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$934 RSD 95.5K
$424 ₹40.8K
120.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.95
9.02
-22.95%

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

Last update for Serbia: July 12, 2026

Last update for India: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $376 in Serbia, $127 in India. Capital cities: $876 in Belgrade vs $242 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $770 in Serbia, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 196% higher in Serbia.

Dining out costs 218% more in Serbia.

Public transport is 156% more expensive in Serbia.

Salaries are 93% 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 $589 per month in India and $1,186 in Serbia, there's a 101% 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.

Serbia vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries