Cost of Living: Hoi An vs Novi Sad (2026)

Vietnam vs Serbia — relocation comparison

TL;DRNovi Sad is safer — homicide rate 1.0 vs 1.5 per 100k. Novi Sad scores 6.3 vs 2.6 on democracy. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
52
Livability Score
🇻🇳 Hoi An
Vietnam
Full profile
69
Livability Score
🇷🇸 Novi Sad
Serbia
Full profile
Novi Sad scores 69 to Hoi An's 52 on livability — the gap is real. Hoi An has its charms, but the numbers favor Novi Sad.
🔒
Safety
Novi Sad
1.0 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Novi Sad
6.3/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
34°C vs 27°C summers
🗣️
English
Novi Sad
higher proficiency score
Hoi An
Metric
Novi Sad
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$559/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$558/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$2,427
1.5 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.0 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
39 / 100
34°C
☀️
Summer high
27°C
20°C
❄️
Winter low
-2°C
Internet speed
28 Mbps
2.6 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
6.3 / 10
Moderate (52/100)
🗣️
English ease
High (73/100)
$16k
💼
GDP per capita
$33k
3.6%
📈
Inflation
4.7%
52 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
69 / 100
Grid reliability
58/100 — Patchy
🗽
Freedom House
53/100
📋
Time to PR
3 years

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

468
PISA
country avg
442
13
Intl schools
2
Public school
Yes (Serbian)
Childcare
full-day
$367/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

declining
Democracy trend
stable
Industries
ict-softwareaieducation-techfintech
Startup ecosystem
nascent
Grid reliability
58/100
Time to PR
3 yrs
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Easy
UA visa
Easy
Spouse works
⚠️ Your partner can exist, with paperwork

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Hoi An (34°C vs 27°C).
  • Novi Sad is safer by homicide rate (1.0 vs 1.5 per 100k).
  • Novi Sad scores higher on democracy (6.3 vs 2.6 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Novi Sad (73/100 vs 52/100 English proficiency).

Hoi An vs Novi Sad — Common Questions

Which is safer, Hoi An or Novi Sad?

Novi Sad is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Hoi An has a rate of 1.53 per 100,000 and Novi Sad has 1.02 per 100,000.

Should I move to Hoi An or Novi Sad?

Novi Sad scores 69 to Hoi An's 52 on livability — the gap is real. Hoi An has its charms, but the numbers favor Novi Sad. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Hoi An or Novi Sad?

Hoi An: no specific remote work visa. Novi Sad: Serbia Visa-Free Stay (easy to get, 90 days (extendable)). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Hoi An or Novi Sad?

Hoi An is warmer in summer (34°C vs 27°C). Novi Sad has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Hoi An or Novi Sad without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Novi Sad (EF EPI score: 73/100) than in Hoi An (52/100). In Novi Sad, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Hoi An, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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