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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,396 in Novi Sad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $2,091 in Novi Sad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,786 in Novi Sad.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 15% less than in Novi Sad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Novi Sad is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$9.71 RSD 975
14.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$49.38 RSD 4,955
-12.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$10.71 RSD 1,075
-23.25%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$2.35 RSD 236
33.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$2.13 RSD 214
-65.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$1.63 RSD 164
-72.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$2.92 RSD 293
-27.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$3.69 RSD 371
-18.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.53 RSD 154
23.53%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$1.03 RSD 103
-29.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$2.80 RSD 281
-33.93%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$2.57 RSD 257
-4.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$11.80 RSD 1,184
-33.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$7.13 RSD 715
-12.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$12.69 RSD 1,273
-23.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$1.26 RSD 126
-3.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.83 RSD 183
-13.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$1.63 RSD 164
9.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$2.45 RSD 245
-5.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$0.99 RSD 99.8
-28.28%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$0.93 RSD 93.4
-27.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$0.79 RSD 79.3
49.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.65 RSD 65.1
9.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$4.54 RSD 456
-35.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$8.22 RSD 825
-11.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$0.87 RSD 87.2
78.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$2.18 RSD 218
5.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$1.03 RSD 103
-63.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$24.69 RSD 2,477
-40.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$1.96 RSD 197
-24.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$0.69 RSD 69.2
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$9.27 RSD 930
-19.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.83 RSD 183
-37.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$30.2K RSD 3.0M
-40.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$28.7K RSD 2.9M
-30.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$205 RSD 20.5K
-64.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$19.68 RSD 1,974
-40.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$35.95 RSD 3,607
-50.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$36.63 RSD 3,675
65.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$14.21 RSD 1,425
15.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$6.29 RSD 631
3.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$346 RSD 34.8K
-24.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$7,317 RSD 734.1K
-29.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$108 RSD 10.8K
-28.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$45.66 RSD 4,581
-2.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$122 RSD 12.3K
-3.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$139 RSD 14.0K
-17.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$557 RSD 55.9K
24.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$459 RSD 46.1K
0.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$1,084 RSD 108.7K
23.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$776 RSD 77.9K
0.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$3,670 RSD 368.2K
-31.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$2,614 RSD 262.3K
-45.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Novi Sad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$1,083 RSD 108.6K
-41.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
7.31
62.65%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $557 in Novi Sad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novi Sad pays 71% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $49.00 in Novi Sad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $233 per month, with Tbilisi 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
Tbilisi vs Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novi Sad cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Novi Sad?
On paper, Novi Sad earns 71% less. 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $557 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 Novi Sad?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $49.00 in Novi Sad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Novi Sad?
All in, you'll spend $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,396 in Novi Sad – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Novi Sad?
At $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,396 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 18% 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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