Novi Sad for Expats: IT Capital, EXIT, Prices

## Basic Facts

- **Population (2022)**: 260,438 in the city, 372,136 in the agglomeration
- **Area**: 83 km² (city), 699 km² (administrative district)
- **Elevation**: 80 m above sea level
- **Climate**: Cfa
- January minimum -2.5 °C
- Heat record - 41.6 °C (July 24, 2007)
- Cold record - -30.7 °C (January 24, 1963)

## Achievements

- European Capital of Culture 2022
- UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts 2023
- European Youth Capital 2019
- EXIT Festival home - one of the largest music festivals in Europe

## Economy

The city is home to around **900 IT companies** (according to Wikipedia). The financial center of Vojvodina is concentrated around **Erste Bank** and **Vojvođanska banka** (head office). In addition to this, the region has developed oil refining, a thermal power plant, and agriculture, which supports the rich Vojvodina.

## Districts

| District | What's characteristic | 2-room apartment rent (median) |
|---|---|---|
| **Liman** | Modern district along the Danube, many parks, convenient for families | €450-700 |
| **Centar** | Historic center, town hall, pedestrian street Zmaj Jovina | €500-800 |
| **Petrovaradin** | Fortress with EXIT, quieter, across the bridge | €350-550 |
| **Detelinara** | New buildings, budget option, but more distant | €300-450 |
| **Telep** | Quiet residential area | €350-500 |

## Transportation

- There is no airport in the city; the closest one is Belgrade Nikola Tesla (≈85 km, 1 hour by highway).
- Urban buses JGSP: ticket around **75 RSD** (≈€0.64).
- Bike paths are better than in Belgrade; Liman parks are particularly adapted for cyclists.
- Intercity buses to Belgrade (operator Lasta) run every 30 minutes, cost **€5-8**, travel time ≈ 1 hour.
- Soko train to Belgrade - €4, 35 minutes (new EU-funded project).
- To Budapest - 90 minutes by E75 highway.

## Cost of Living (median)

- 2-room apartment rent - €450 (about 55% cheaper than in Belgrade).
- Purchase of a 2-room apartment - €175,000.
- Food (according to Numbeo) - €280-380 per person per month.
- Utilities for an apartment ~70 m² - €100-140.
- Dinner for two - €25-40.

## Russian-speaking Diaspora

Since 2022, the city has been rapidly growing a community of IT specialists. Active Telegram chats:
- "Music of Serbia / newcomers" (41K messages in our database)
- "Parents in Serbia Novi Sad"
- "Serbia and Wine"

Russian-speaking residents are scattered, but most live in Liman and Centar, not in separate "Russian" quarters, like in Belgrade.

## Pros

- Housing is twice as cheap as in Belgrade, with a developed IT scene.
- Cleaner air, convenient conditions for families.
- 900 IT companies - a wide labor market for developers.
- Only 90 minutes to the EU border (Hungary) - short trips.

## Cons

- No international airport - about an hour to BEG.
- Fewer English-speaking services compared to Belgrade.
- Cold winters (record -30.7 °C).
- Limited choice of international schools.

## Our Content on Novi Sad

- **617 active job openings**
- **826 establishments** in the catalog
- **44 upcoming events**

Explore [/places?cityKey=novi_sad](/places?cityKey=novi_sad), [/housing?cityKey=novi_sad](/housing?cityKey=novi_sad).

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Novi Sad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novi_Sad)
- SerbiaHub.com - live data