Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Serbia Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Serbia

Name: Serbia
Address: RS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,642 per month in United States vs $1,077 in Serbia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $1,582 in Serbia, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,072 per month in United States vs $2,086 in Serbia, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 145% higher than in Serbia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 98% above the global median, while Serbia is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in United States ($1,335–$5,182) than in Serbia ($863–$1,508), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$10.05 RSD 1,029

95.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$49.81 RSD 5,096

51.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.57 $11.57

$10.67 RSD 1,092

8.43%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$2.37 RSD 243

120.25%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$2.14 RSD 219

16.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.69 RSD 173

21.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$2.90 RSD 297

103.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$3.49 RSD 357

104.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.49 RSD 152

-26.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$0.81 RSD 83.3

339.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$2.63 RSD 269

80.23%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$2.78 RSD 285

56.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 $12.68

$10.41 RSD 1,065

21.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$7.24 RSD 740

69.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$12.53 RSD 1,282

32.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$1.31 RSD 134

293.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.84 RSD 188

-7.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$1.79 RSD 183

148.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.38 RSD 244

101.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.06 RSD 108

176.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$0.89 RSD 91.2

247.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.77 RSD 78.6

188.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.67 RSD 68.6

235.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 $9.90

$4.45 RSD 455

122.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$6.59 RSD 674

131.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.80 RSD 81.7

138.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.72 RSD 176

108.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.76 RSD 78.2

223.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.6 $64.6

$19.58 RSD 2,003

230.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$1.94 RSD 198

94.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.87 RSD 88.6

96.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.08 $30.08

$11.78 RSD 1,205

155.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.80 RSD 184

-46.67%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$31.0K RSD 3.2M

-3.78%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.2K RSD 2.8M

-3.96%

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

$210 $210

$191 RSD 19.5K

10.13%

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

$56.3 $56.3

$20.24 RSD 2,071

178.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$31.32 RSD 3,204

132.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 $45.39

$34.99 RSD 3,579

29.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 $21.60

$18.56 RSD 1,899

16.38%

Cinema Ticket

$14.04 $14.04

$7.06 RSD 723

98.87%

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

$1,377 $1,377

$360 RSD 36.8K

282.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$8,253 RSD 844.3K

170.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$95.9 RSD 9,813

-45.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.41 $42.41

$42.71 RSD 4,370

-0.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 $91.8

$112 RSD 11.4K

-17.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$122 RSD 12.5K

-6.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 $1,765

$595 RSD 60.9K

196.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,462 $1,462

$428 RSD 43.8K

241.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,849 $2,849

$1,034 RSD 105.8K

175.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,369 $2,369

$743 RSD 76.0K

218.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,364 $3,364

$3,107 RSD 317.9K

8.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,665 $2,665

$2,133 RSD 218.2K

24.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,378 $4,378

$934 RSD 95.5K

368.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.95

-6.33%

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

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Last update for Serbia: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $376 in Serbia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,625 in Washington, MI and $876 in Belgrade.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $770 in Serbia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 335% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 109% more in United States.

Salaries are 484% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 175% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Serbia, contributing to the overall 175% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Serbia, but in 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.