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: $1,052 in Subotica versus $1,395 in Novi Sad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,541 in Subotica versus $2,120 in Novi Sad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,029 in Subotica versus $2,845 in Novi Sad.

Living in Subotica costs roughly 25% less than in Novi Sad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Subotica is 21% below, Novi Sad is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 RSD 990

$10.10 RSD 1,034

-4.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.55 RSD 3,023

$49.11 RSD 5,024

-39.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.91 RSD 912

$10.69 RSD 1,094

-16.65%

Cappuccino

$2.02 RSD 207

$2.26 RSD 231

-10.62%

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

$1.59 RSD 162

$2.10 RSD 214

-24.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 RSD 105

$1.70 RSD 174

-39.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 RSD 198

$3.03 RSD 310

-35.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 RSD 219

$3.74 RSD 383

-42.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 RSD 147

$1.60 RSD 164

-10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 RSD 90.5

$1.02 RSD 105

-13.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 RSD 307

$2.81 RSD 287

6.76%

Eggs

$2.71 RSD 277

$2.65 RSD 271

2.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 RSD 1,106

$12.03 RSD 1,231

-10.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.30 RSD 747

$6.77 RSD 693

7.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.48 RSD 1,072

$12.77 RSD 1,306

-17.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 RSD 141

$1.25 RSD 128

9.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 RSD 187

$1.85 RSD 190

-1.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 RSD 152

$1.58 RSD 161

-5.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 RSD 224

$2.51 RSD 257

-12.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 RSD 109

$0.94 RSD 95.9

13.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 RSD 81.1

$0.94 RSD 96.0

-15.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 RSD 58.8

$0.81 RSD 82.8

-29.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 RSD 71.8

$0.65 RSD 66.6

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.42 RSD 452

$4.55 RSD 466

-2.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.48 RSD 560

$7.93 RSD 812

-30.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 RSD 83.9

$0.86 RSD 87.7

-4.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 RSD 162

$2.24 RSD 229

-29.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 RSD 118

$0.95 RSD 96.8

21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.56 RSD 2,513

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 RSD 191

$1.90 RSD 194

-2.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 RSD 90.5

$0.63 RSD 64.6

39.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.60 RSD 982

$9.31 RSD 953

3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 RSD 185

$1.82 RSD 186

-0.55%

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

$30.1K RSD 3.1M

$30.6K RSD 3.1M

-1.65%

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

$26.9K RSD 2.8M

$28.7K RSD 2.9M

-6.05%

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

$120 RSD 12.3K

$203 RSD 20.7K

-40.68%

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

$13.08 RSD 1,339

$19.90 RSD 2,035

-34.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.76 RSD 3,351

$36.34 RSD 3,718

-9.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.30 RSD 3,305

$35.51 RSD 3,632

-9.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.99 RSD 1,022

$13.88 RSD 1,419

-28.03%

Cinema Ticket

$2.99 RSD 306

$6.28 RSD 642

-52.39%

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

$450 RSD 46.0K

$340 RSD 34.8K

32.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,144 RSD 935.4K

$7,127 RSD 729.2K

28.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.71 RSD 3,551

$109 RSD 11.2K

-68.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.09 RSD 2,669

$44.99 RSD 4,603

-42.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 RSD 9,211

$122 RSD 12.5K

-26.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 RSD 12.1K

$138 RSD 14.1K

-14.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$414 RSD 42.3K

$548 RSD 56.1K

-24.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 RSD 33.1K

$471 RSD 48.2K

-31.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$601 RSD 61.5K

$1,102 RSD 112.8K

-45.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 RSD 56.7K

$795 RSD 81.4K

-30.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,463 RSD 252.0K

$3,644 RSD 372.8K

-32.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,673 RSD 171.1K

$2,646 RSD 270.7K

-36.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$899 RSD 92.0K

$1,064 RSD 108.8K

-15.42%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $414 in Subotica and $548 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: $30.00 in Subotica vs $49.00 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 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 18% 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: $414 in Subotica versus $548 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 $1,052 per month in Subotica versus $1,395 in Novi Sad – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,052 in Subotica versus $1,395 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 33% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.