Cost of Living Comparison Between Subotica and Novi Sad Cost of Living Comparison Between Subotica and Novi Sad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,156 in Subotica versus $1,468 in Novi Sad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,733 in Subotica versus $2,245 in Novi Sad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,310 in Subotica versus $3,021 in Novi Sad.

Living in Subotica costs roughly 21% less than in Novi Sad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Subotica is 16% below, Novi Sad is 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 RSD 1,004

$10.43 RSD 1,055

-4.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.17 RSD 3,454

$52.1 RSD 5,267

-34.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.49 RSD 1,162

$12.85 RSD 1,299

-10.58%

Cappuccino

$2.14 RSD 216

$2.71 RSD 274

-21.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 RSD 202

$2.47 RSD 250

-19.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 RSD 187

$1.90 RSD 192

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 RSD 254

$2.99 RSD 302

-16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 RSD 307

$4.04 RSD 408

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 RSD 133

$1.45 RSD 147

-8.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 RSD 117

$1.03 RSD 104

12.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 RSD 227

$2.84 RSD 287

-20.77%

Eggs

$3.29 RSD 333

$2.71 RSD 274

21.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.07 RSD 1,220

$14.12 RSD 1,427

-14.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 RSD 686

$7.54 RSD 762

-9.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.23 RSD 1,337

$14.42 RSD 1,458

-8.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 RSD 144

$1.83 RSD 185

-21.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 RSD 209

$2.02 RSD 204

1.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 RSD 153

$1.69 RSD 171

-10.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 RSD 227

$2.75 RSD 278

-18.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RSD 105

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 RSD 62.4

$0.71 RSD 71.7

-12.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 RSD 62.0

$0.99 RSD 100

-38.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 RSD 63.6

$0.72 RSD 72.9

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 RSD 451

$4.83 RSD 488

-7.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.53 RSD 559

$8.08 RSD 817

-31.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 RSD 91.5

$0.97 RSD 97.7

-7.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 RSD 252

$2.36 RSD 239

5.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 RSD 118

$1.01 RSD 102

15.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.96 RSD 3,533

$25.60 RSD 2,587

36.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 RSD 199

$2.42 RSD 245

-18.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 RSD 128

$0.96 RSD 96.9

32.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.28 RSD 1,140

$10.92 RSD 1,104

3.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 RSD 183

$1.85 RSD 187

-2.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.1K RSD 3.2M

$31.1K RSD 3.1M

3.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K RSD 2.7M

$26.8K RSD 2.7M

-2.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$175 RSD 17.7K

$240 RSD 24.2K

-27.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.01 RSD 1,619

$20.60 RSD 2,082

-22.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.66 RSD 4,009

$35.23 RSD 3,561

12.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.97 RSD 3,534

$38.86 RSD 3,927

-10.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 RSD 993

$11.59 RSD 1,171

-15.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 RSD 509

$7.51 RSD 759

-32.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$249 RSD 25.2K

$376 RSD 38.0K

-33.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,932 RSD 801.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.29 RSD 4,476

$126 RSD 12.7K

-64.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.08 RSD 2,333

$45.45 RSD 4,594

-49.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 RSD 9,816

$144 RSD 14.5K

-32.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.9 RSD 7,568

$143 RSD 14.5K

-47.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 RSD 44.3K

$513 RSD 51.8K

-14.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 RSD 30.6K

$425 RSD 42.9K

-28.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$628 RSD 63.5K

$1,010 RSD 102.1K

-37.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 RSD 56.5K

$810 RSD 81.8K

-30.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,544 RSD 257.1K

$3,740 RSD 378.0K

-32.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,682 RSD 170.0K

$2,733 RSD 276.2K

-38.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$927 RSD 93.7K

$1,246 RSD 126.0K

-25.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.79

5.23

-8.41%

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

Last update for Subotica: August 29, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Subotica and $513 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Subotica vs $52.0 in Novi Sad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $255 per month, with Subotica cheaper across the board.

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

Subotica vs Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Subotica is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Novi Sad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Subotica versus $513 in Novi Sad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Subotica – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $52.0 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,156 per month in Subotica versus $1,468 in Novi Sad – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,156 in Subotica versus $1,468 in Novi Sad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Subotica but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Subotica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Subotica and Novi Sad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Subotica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.