Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Novi Sad

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,242 a month against $1,371 in Novi Sad, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,242
/mo nomad
Novi Sad
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,371
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Novi Sad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Novi Sad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,242 in Tbilisi versus $1,371 in Novi Sad.

  • Tbilisi $1,242
  • Novi Sad $1,371

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,962 in Tbilisi versus $2,114 in Novi Sad.

  • Tbilisi $1,962
  • Novi Sad $2,114

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,682 in Tbilisi versus $2,856 in Novi Sad.

  • Tbilisi $2,682
  • Novi Sad $2,856

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 9% less than in Novi Sad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 7% below, Novi Sad is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.98 ₾28.47
$9.93 RSD 1,037
10.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.21 ₾99.0
$49.70 RSD 5,188
-23.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.58 ₾24.84
$12.00 RSD 1,253
-20.17%
Cappuccino
$3.59 ₾9.31
$2.61 RSD 273
37.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₾2.66
$2.32 RSD 243
-55.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₾1.64
$1.83 RSD 192
-65.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 ₾7.10
$2.91 RSD 303
-5.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 ₾8.22
$3.78 RSD 394
-16.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ₾5.53
$1.40 RSD 146
52.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$0.95 RSD 99.2
-22.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 ₾4.46
$2.68 RSD 280
-35.82%
Eggs
$2.78 ₾7.21
$2.54 RSD 265
9.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.48 ₾24.56
$13.09 RSD 1,367
-27.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 ₾16.71
$7.52 RSD 785
-14.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.02 ₾33.76
$14.35 RSD 1,499
-9.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 ₾4.37
$1.71 RSD 179
-1.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.76
$1.98 RSD 207
-7.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₾4.90
$1.66 RSD 173
13.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 ₾6.22
$2.55 RSD 266
-5.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₾2.17
$1.01 RSD 105
-16.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.75
$0.68 RSD 71.0
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.68
$0.96 RSD 100
47.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$0.66 RSD 68.5
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56 ₾9.22
$4.84 RSD 505
-26.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.48 ₾19.39
$7.46 RSD 779
0.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₾4.44
$0.92 RSD 95.7
85.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₾5.94
$2.21 RSD 231
3.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₾1.04
$0.99 RSD 104
-59.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.15 ₾39.27
$24.45 RSD 2,552
-38.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$2.33 RSD 244
-48.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.03
$0.93 RSD 96.9
-16.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.77 ₾30.51
$10.35 RSD 1,081
13.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ₾3.65
$1.83 RSD 191
-22.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K ₾62.9K
$30.7K RSD 3.2M
-21.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ₾56.4K
$26.3K RSD 2.7M
-17.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.6 ₾227
$223 RSD 23.2K
-60.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.56
$20.57 RSD 2,147
-35.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.51 ₾50.6
$33.21 RSD 3,467
-41.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.7 ₾168
$36.61 RSD 3,823
76.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85 ₾48.87
$11.06 RSD 1,155
70.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55 ₾16.97
$7.30 RSD 763
-10.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ₾978
$372 RSD 38.8K
1.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K ₾27.5K
$7,710 RSD 804.9K
37.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾265
$119 RSD 12.4K
-14.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36 ₾105
$43.40 RSD 4,531
-7.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾302
$137 RSD 14.3K
-14.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ₾314
$124 RSD 12.9K
-2.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$675 ₾1,749
$495 RSD 51.6K
36.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,170
$405 RSD 42.3K
11.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 ₾3,305
$955 RSD 99.7K
33.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 ₾2,288
$753 RSD 78.6K
17.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,415 ₾6,259
$3,527 RSD 368.2K
-31.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,404 ₾3,640
$2,586 RSD 270.0K
-45.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$706 ₾1,830
$1,240 RSD 129.5K
-43.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
5.21
142.23%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 4, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$451
Novi Sad
$405 10.2% $46
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$232
Novi Sad
$244 5.1% $12
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$186
Novi Sad
$186 0.4% $0.8
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
Novi Sad
$190 11.2% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$120
Novi Sad
$276 129% $156
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Novi Sad
$51 34.2% $27
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Novi Sad
$35 61.9% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $675 in Tbilisi and $495 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 76% 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: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $50.0 in Novi Sad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $244 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇷🇸 Novi Sad
🕒 Local time
11:36 11:36 AM
09:36 9:36 AM
2 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
260,438
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RSD, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.58 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.54 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Novi Sad 2,040 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Novi Sad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Tbilisi vs Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novi Sad cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and utilities. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Novi Sad?
On paper, salaries run 76% 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.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Novi Sad?
Rent for a central apartment: $675 in Tbilisi versus $495 in Novi Sad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Novi Sad?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $50.0 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Novi Sad?
All in, you'll spend $1,242 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,371 in Novi Sad – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Novi Sad?
At $1,242 in Tbilisi versus $1,371 in Novi Sad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Novi Sad. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Novi Sad more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Novi Sad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Novi Sad?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Novi Sad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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