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: $1,018 in Subotica versus $1,384 in Novi Sad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,526 in Subotica versus $2,085 in Novi Sad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,034 in Subotica versus $2,786 in Novi Sad.

Living in Subotica costs roughly 26% less than in Novi Sad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Subotica is 24% below, Novi Sad is 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.63 RSD 969

$9.61 RSD 966

0.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.49 RSD 2,966

$50.2 RSD 5,044

-41.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 RSD 864

$10.68 RSD 1,074

-19.57%

Cappuccino

$2.03 RSD 204

$2.29 RSD 231

-11.35%

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

$1.61 RSD 162

$2.13 RSD 214

-24.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 RSD 104

$1.64 RSD 165

-36.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 RSD 199

$2.94 RSD 296

-32.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 RSD 216

$3.72 RSD 374

-42.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 RSD 147

$1.53 RSD 154

-4.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 RSD 93.9

$1.04 RSD 104

-10.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.93 RSD 295

$2.74 RSD 276

6.93%

Eggs

$2.67 RSD 269

$2.55 RSD 257

4.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.70 RSD 1,077

$12.18 RSD 1,225

-12.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.24 RSD 728

$6.76 RSD 680

7.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.59 RSD 1,065

$12.46 RSD 1,253

-15.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 RSD 139

$1.29 RSD 129

6.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 RSD 181

$1.85 RSD 186

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 RSD 144

$1.64 RSD 165

-12.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 RSD 216

$2.42 RSD 243

-11.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 RSD 109

$1.00 RSD 100

8.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 RSD 78.1

$0.95 RSD 95.6

-17.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 RSD 61.1

$0.80 RSD 80.1

-23.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 RSD 71.2

$0.70 RSD 70.4

1.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.43 RSD 445

$4.42 RSD 445

0.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.53 RSD 556

$8.12 RSD 817

-31.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 RSD 84.6

$0.92 RSD 92.8

-8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 RSD 161

$2.23 RSD 224

-28.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 RSD 121

$0.95 RSD 95.1

26.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.77 RSD 2,491

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 RSD 179

$1.94 RSD 196

-8.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RSD 91.1

$0.69 RSD 69.3

31.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.98 RSD 1,004

$9.67 RSD 972

3.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 RSD 177

$1.92 RSD 194

-8.33%

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

$30.1K RSD 3.0M

$30.5K RSD 3.1M

-1.04%

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

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

$28.3K RSD 2.8M

-6.41%

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

$119 RSD 12.0K

$208 RSD 21.0K

-42.73%

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

$13.12 RSD 1,319

$20.00 RSD 2,011

-34.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.67 RSD 3,286

$35.49 RSD 3,569

-7.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.71 RSD 3,189

$36.28 RSD 3,649

-12.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.66 RSD 972

$14.17 RSD 1,425

-31.83%

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 RSD 296

$6.20 RSD 623

-52.42%

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

$452 RSD 45.5K

$335 RSD 33.7K

34.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,348 RSD 940.1K

$7,325 RSD 736.7K

27.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.02 RSD 3,422

$109 RSD 10.9K

-68.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.47 RSD 2,663

$45.57 RSD 4,583

-41.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 RSD 8,959

$124 RSD 12.4K

-27.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 RSD 12.1K

$138 RSD 13.9K

-12.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$415 RSD 41.8K

$563 RSD 56.7K

-26.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 RSD 33.4K

$471 RSD 47.3K

-29.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 RSD 59.6K

$1,075 RSD 108.1K

-44.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 RSD 54.4K

$777 RSD 78.1K

-30.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,480 RSD 249.4K

$3,778 RSD 380.0K

-34.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,719 RSD 172.9K

$2,758 RSD 277.4K

-37.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$908 RSD 91.3K

$1,069 RSD 107.5K

-15.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.59

7.31

-23.53%

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

Last update for Subotica: May 31, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $415 in Subotica and $563 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 18% 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: $29.00 in Subotica vs $50.0 in Novi Sad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $233 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 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Novi Sad earns 18% less. 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: $415 in Subotica versus $563 in Novi Sad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Novi Sad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,018 per month in Subotica versus $1,384 in Novi Sad – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,018 in Subotica versus $1,384 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 36% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.