Cost of Living Comparison Between Serbia and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Serbia and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Serbia versus $1,717 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,580 in Serbia versus $2,624 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,086 in Serbia versus $3,530 in Italy.

Living in Serbia costs about 37% less than in Italy on average.

Serbia (20% below) and Italy (28% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,170 to $2,508, compared to $871$1,517 in Serbia. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.09 RSD 1,015
$17.44 €15.00
-42.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.57 RSD 4,884
$79.5 €68.4
-38.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.52 RSD 1,058
$11.76 €10.11
-10.54%
Cappuccino
$2.34 RSD 236
$2.00 €1.72
17.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 RSD 221
$3.00 €2.58
-27.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 RSD 167
$1.35 €1.16
23.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 RSD 304
$5.94 €5.11
-48.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 RSD 357
$5.36 €4.61
-33.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 RSD 147
$1.64 €1.41
-10.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 RSD 84.2
$2.41 €2.07
-65.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.59 RSD 260
$2.99 €2.58
-13.38%
Eggs
$2.75 RSD 277
$3.96 €3.41
-30.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.29 RSD 1,035
$16.84 €14.49
-38.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.10 RSD 714
$12.43 €10.69
-42.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.54 RSD 1,261
$20.29 €17.46
-38.20%
Apples (1kg)
$1.30 RSD 131
$2.47 €2.13
-47.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 RSD 191
$2.15 €1.85
-11.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 RSD 183
$2.65 €2.28
-31.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 RSD 246
$3.40 €2.92
-28.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 RSD 106
$1.92 €1.65
-44.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 RSD 90.0
$1.81 €1.56
-50.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.82 RSD 82.3
$1.55 €1.33
-47.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 RSD 73.0
$0.54 €0.46
35.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 RSD 458
$6.79 €5.84
-32.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.86 RSD 690
$7.18 €6.18
-4.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 RSD 82.9
$1.80 €1.55
-54.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 RSD 173
$2.42 €2.08
-28.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Serbia
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 RSD 82.1
$2.00 €1.72
-59.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.72 RSD 1,983
$42.35 €36.43
-53.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.93 RSD 194
$5.94 €5.11
-67.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.88 RSD 88.2
$1.51 €1.30
-41.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.81 RSD 1,187
$34.04 €29.28
-65.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 RSD 179
$2.05 €1.76
-13.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K RSD 3.1M
$32.8K €28.2K
-5.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K RSD 2.7M
$33.7K €29.0K
-18.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 RSD 19.3K
$225 €194
-15.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.23 RSD 2,034
$13.25 €11.40
52.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.89 RSD 3,106
$30.95 €26.62
-0.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.47 RSD 3,567
$55.7 €47.95
-36.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.29 RSD 1,839
$25.15 €21.63
-27.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 RSD 680
$10.25 €8.82
-34.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$365 RSD 36.7K
$576 €495
-36.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,538 RSD 858.6K
$10.5K €8,998
-18.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.0 RSD 9,854
$91.8 €79.0
6.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.24 RSD 4,348
$40.72 €35.03
6.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 RSD 11.0K
$98.0 €84.3
11.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 RSD 12.0K
$131 €112
-8.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Serbia
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 RSD 59.9K
$860 €740
-30.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 RSD 43.1K
$667 €573
-35.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,032 RSD 103.8K
$1,475 €1,269
-30.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$746 RSD 75.0K
$1,087 €935
-31.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,205 RSD 322.3K
$3,850 €3,312
-16.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,274 RSD 228.7K
$2,359 €2,029
-3.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$966 RSD 97.1K
$1,933 €1,663
-50.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.95
4.41
57.60%

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

Last update for Serbia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Italy: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $377 in Serbia, $743 in Italy. Capital cities: $852 in Belgrade vs $1,325 in Rome.

National salary averages: $787 in Serbia, $1,949 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 97% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 111% more in Italy.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 148% higher in Italy, giving Italy stronger purchasing power.

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 Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Serbia?
At $1,839 per month in Italy and $1,194 in Serbia, there's a 54% 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?
Serbia is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Italy beats Serbia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Italy or Serbia?
In Serbia, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or Serbia?
It depends on what you're after. Serbia wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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