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: $1,077 in Serbia versus $1,718 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,582 in Serbia versus $2,621 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,086 in Serbia versus $3,524 in Italy.

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

Serbia (19% below) and Italy (29% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,176 to $2,467, compared to $863$1,508 in Serbia. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.05 RSD 1,029
$17.58 €15.36
-42.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.81 RSD 5,096
$82.5 €72.0
-39.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.67 RSD 1,092
$11.72 €10.24
-8.96%
Cappuccino
$2.37 RSD 243
$1.92 €1.68
23.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 RSD 219
$2.99 €2.61
-28.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 RSD 173
$1.36 €1.19
24.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 RSD 297
$5.76 €5.03
-49.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 RSD 357
$5.22 €4.56
-33.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 RSD 152
$1.69 €1.48
-11.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 RSD 83.3
$2.33 €2.04
-65.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.63 RSD 269
$3.05 €2.67
-13.77%
Eggs
$2.78 RSD 285
$3.99 €3.49
-30.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.41 RSD 1,065
$16.68 €14.57
-37.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.24 RSD 740
$12.57 €10.98
-42.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.53 RSD 1,282
$20.53 €17.94
-38.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 RSD 134
$2.56 €2.23
-48.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 RSD 188
$2.20 €1.93
-16.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 RSD 183
$2.68 €2.34
-33.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.38 RSD 244
$3.37 €2.95
-29.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 RSD 108
$2.04 €1.78
-48.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 RSD 91.2
$1.88 €1.64
-52.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 RSD 78.6
$1.47 €1.29
-47.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 RSD 68.6
$0.54 €0.47
24.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 RSD 455
$7.00 €6.11
-36.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.59 RSD 674
$7.09 €6.19
-7.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 RSD 81.7
$1.80 €1.57
-55.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 RSD 176
$2.51 €2.19
-31.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Serbia
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 RSD 78.2
$1.96 €1.71
-61.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.58 RSD 2,003
$41.58 €36.33
-52.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 RSD 198
$5.80 €5.07
-66.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 RSD 88.6
$1.60 €1.39
-45.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.78 RSD 1,205
$35.07 €30.64
-66.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 RSD 184
$2.13 €1.86
-15.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K RSD 3.2M
$32.6K €28.5K
-4.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K RSD 2.8M
$33.8K €29.5K
-19.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 RSD 19.5K
$225 €197
-15.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.24 RSD 2,071
$13.14 €11.48
54.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.32 RSD 3,204
$31.19 €27.25
0.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.99 RSD 3,579
$57.2 €49.94
-38.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.56 RSD 1,899
$25.85 €22.58
-28.20%
Cinema Ticket
$7.06 RSD 723
$10.34 €9.03
-31.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$360 RSD 36.8K
$564 €493
-36.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,253 RSD 844.3K
$10.3K €9,035
-20.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9 RSD 9,813
$91.9 €80.3
4.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71 RSD 4,370
$40.54 €35.42
5.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 RSD 11.4K
$98.2 €85.8
13.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 RSD 12.5K
$132 €115
-7.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Serbia
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$595 RSD 60.9K
$855 €747
-30.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 RSD 43.8K
$663 €580
-35.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 RSD 105.8K
$1,522 €1,330
-32.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 RSD 76.0K
$1,089 €951
-31.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,107 RSD 317.9K
$3,747 €3,274
-17.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,133 RSD 218.2K
$2,299 €2,009
-7.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Serbia
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$934 RSD 95.5K
$1,897 €1,657
-50.76%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Italy: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $376 in Serbia, $742 in Italy. Capital cities: $876 in Belgrade vs $1,328 in Rome.

National salary averages: $770 in Serbia, $1,912 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 91% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 148% 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 $1,822 per month in Italy and $1,186 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?
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 $1,500 a realistic budget in Italy or in Serbia?
In Serbia, $1,500 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.

Serbia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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