Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Serbia

Name: Serbia
Address: RS

For one person, living is cheaper in Serbia: $1,221 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $17,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

133

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
59

Cost of Living Index in Serbia
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Serbia Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,701

/mo nomad

🇷🇸 Serbia

$1,221

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Serbia

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

A single person spends $2,701 per month in the United States vs $1,221 in Serbia, rent included.

United States $2,701
Serbia $1,221

A couple spends around $3,980 per month in the United States vs $1,856 in Serbia, rent included.

United States $3,980
Serbia $1,856

A family of three spends $5,258 per month in the United States vs $2,490 in Serbia, rent included.

United States $5,258
Serbia $2,490

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($980–$5,162) than in Serbia ($759–$1,554), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in the United States is about 121% higher than in Serbia on average.

The United States sits 100% above the global median, while Serbia is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$9.51 RSD 991

109.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 $81.0

$47.40 RSD 4,941

70.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.51 RSD 1,200

4.87%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$2.29 RSD 239

142.36%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$2.24 RSD 234

19.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.76 RSD 183

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$2.78 RSD 290

114.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$3.31 RSD 345

134.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.29 RSD 135

-18.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$0.92 RSD 96.3

285.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$2.12 RSD 221

118.87%

Eggs

$4.18 $4.18

$2.55 RSD 266

63.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$9.48 RSD 988

34.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.63 $12.63

$6.76 RSD 705

86.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.22 $17.22

$13.20 RSD 1,376

30.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$1.36 RSD 142

278.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.76 RSD 183

-6.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$1.73 RSD 181

157.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$2.38 RSD 248

109.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$0.96 RSD 99.7

195.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$0.67 RSD 70.0

361.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.73 RSD 75.8

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$0.65 RSD 67.4

249.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.61 $10.61

$4.49 RSD 469

136.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$6.57 RSD 685

123.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$0.80 RSD 83.4

162.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.54 RSD 161

148.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.79 RSD 82.0

197.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.1 $64.1

$14.29 RSD 1,490

348.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.91 RSD 199

86.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$0.98 RSD 102

88.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.19 $30.19

$9.30 RSD 970

224.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.87 RSD 195

-42.78%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$30.1K RSD 3.1M

17.42%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.9K RSD 2.6M

3.92%

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

$217 $217

$188 RSD 19.6K

14.98%

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

$61.4 $61.4

$21.28 RSD 2,218

188.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$29.51 RSD 3,077

152.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.08 $45.08

$33.59 RSD 3,502

34.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.07 $23.07

$14.04 RSD 1,463

64.32%

Cinema Ticket

$14.79 $14.79

$6.48 RSD 676

128.24%

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

$1,480 $1,480

$330 RSD 34.4K

348.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.5K $25.5K

$8,608 RSD 897.4K

195.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$96.1 RSD 10.0K

-44.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.75 $42.75

$42.21 RSD 4,400

1.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 $94.3

$108 RSD 11.2K

-12.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$125 RSD 13.0K

-7.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$487 RSD 50.8K

244.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 $1,313

$356 RSD 37.1K

268.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,649 $2,649

$815 RSD 85.0K

224.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$618 RSD 64.4K

253.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,374 $3,374

$2,844 RSD 296.5K

18.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,661 $2,661

$2,021 RSD 210.7K

31.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,404 $4,404

$939 RSD 97.9K

369.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

4.86

34.77%

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

Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026

Last update for Serbia: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 48.6%

Serbia

$356 29.2% 72.9% $957

Groceries & Markets

United States

$411 15.2%

Serbia

$214 17.5% 47.9% $197

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$352 13%

Serbia

$239 19.6% 32.1% $113

Eating Out

United States

$327 12.1%

Serbia

$175 14.3% 46.5% $152

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5.1%

Serbia

$167 13.7% 21.4% $29

Getting Around

United States

$86 3.2%

Serbia

$24 2% 71.9% $62

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$75 2.8%

Serbia

$47 3.8% 37.6% $28

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,609 in the United States vs $327 in Serbia. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,730 in Washington, DC and $805 in Belgrade.

Average salary: $4,533 in the United States vs $771 in Serbia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 392% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 103% more in the United States.

Public transport is 145% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are 488% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇷🇸 Serbia

🕒 Local time

04:42 4:42 AM

10:42 10:42 AM

6 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

6,647,003

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Serbian Dinar RSD din

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1,000 RSD = 9.59 USD

1,000 RSD = 8.53 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

RSD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇷🇸 Serbian Dinar (din)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.59 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.53 EUR).

RSD to USD in detail →

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Between locations

United States Serbia 8,480 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
Serbia

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

United States vs Serbia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Serbia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 121% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 versus $327 in Serbia.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Serbia, adding to the overall 121% price gap.

$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Serbia, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Serbia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.