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: $1,079 in Serbia versus $1,792 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,607 in Serbia versus $2,735 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,134 in Serbia versus $3,678 in Italy.

Living in Serbia costs about 40% less than in Italy on average.

Serbia (21% below) and Italy (30% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,168 to $2,645, compared to $786$1,641 in Serbia. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.16 RSD 1,027
$21.31 €18.39
-52.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.95 RSD 5,048
$81.6 €70.4
-38.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.91 RSD 1,204
$11.64 €10.04
2.32%
Cappuccino
$2.45 RSD 248
$2.02 €1.75
21.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 RSD 229
$3.15 €2.72
-27.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 RSD 193
$1.45 €1.25
31.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 RSD 296
$5.69 €4.91
-48.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 RSD 342
$5.94 €5.13
-43.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 RSD 143
$1.69 €1.46
-16.57%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 RSD 89.7
$2.48 €2.14
-64.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 RSD 241
$2.97 €2.56
-19.87%
Eggs
$2.69 RSD 271
$4.32 €3.73
-37.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.34 RSD 1,045
$17.42 €15.04
-40.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.05 RSD 712
$12.79 €11.04
-44.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.67 RSD 1,382
$21.28 €18.36
-35.76%
Apples (1kg)
$1.44 RSD 146
$2.64 €2.28
-45.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 RSD 185
$2.21 €1.91
-17.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 RSD 183
$2.79 €2.41
-35.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 RSD 247
$3.37 €2.91
-27.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 RSD 92.3
$2.10 €1.81
-56.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 RSD 71.7
$1.97 €1.70
-63.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 RSD 80.1
$1.60 €1.38
-50.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 RSD 71.1
$0.57 €0.49
22.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 RSD 458
$7.13 €6.15
-36.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.85 RSD 692
$7.59 €6.55
-9.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 RSD 84.0
$1.85 €1.59
-55.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 RSD 159
$2.50 €2.15
-37.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Serbia
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 RSD 76.3
$2.00 €1.72
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.58 RSD 1,473
$45.09 €38.91
-67.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 RSD 205
$5.80 €5.00
-65.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 RSD 98.7
$1.79 €1.54
-45.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.50 RSD 1,061
$34.95 €30.16
-69.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 RSD 192
$2.13 €1.83
-10.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K RSD 3.3M
$37.4K €32.2K
-13.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K RSD 2.6M
$36.3K €31.3K
-29.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 RSD 19.7K
$239 €206
-18.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48 RSD 2,272
$12.14 €10.48
85.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.21 RSD 3,155
$31.42 €27.11
-0.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.55 RSD 3,593
$54.9 €47.40
-35.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.75 RSD 1,491
$24.84 €21.44
-40.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 RSD 705
$10.92 €9.43
-36.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$342 RSD 34.6K
$568 €490
-39.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,020 RSD 911.6K
$12.2K €10.6K
-26.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 RSD 10.3K
$93.7 €80.8
8.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.69 RSD 4,416
$40.71 €35.13
7.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 RSD 11.3K
$105 €90.5
7.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 RSD 13.4K
$139 €120
-5.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Serbia
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 RSD 52.6K
$857 €740
-39.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 RSD 38.9K
$657 €567
-41.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$874 RSD 88.4K
$1,476 €1,274
-40.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 RSD 67.9K
$1,093 €943
-38.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,132 RSD 316.6K
$3,786 €3,267
-17.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,168 RSD 219.2K
$2,332 €2,012
-7.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$985 RSD 99.5K
$1,928 €1,664
-48.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.86
3.57
36.13%

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

Last update for Serbia: August 31, 2026

Last update for Italy: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $346 in Serbia, $758 in Italy. Capital cities: $874 in Belgrade vs $1,244 in Rome.

National salary averages: $798 in Serbia, $1,967 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 119% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 95% more in Italy.

Public transport is 291% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 146% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.

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 $1,907 per month in Italy and $1,214 in Serbia, there's a 57% 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 Serbia: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 $2,500 a realistic budget in Italy or in Serbia?
In Serbia, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Italy 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 Italy or to 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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