{"id":12635,"date":"2021-11-02T06:41:35","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T06:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/?p=12635"},"modified":"2025-12-18T07:50:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T07:50:59","slug":"cost-of-living-in-serbia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost of Living in Serbia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"770\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/living-costs-serbia.jpg\" alt=\"Expenses of living in Serbia\" class=\"wp-image-12875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/living-costs-serbia.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/living-costs-serbia-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/living-costs-serbia-768x449.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout this article, we explore housing, food, transportation, and more, giving you a comprehensive overview of the cost of living in Serbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1b1cb737136\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1b1cb737136\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/#Is_Serbia_a_good_country_to_live\" >Is Serbia a good country to live?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/#Opening_a_bank_account_in_Serbia\" >Opening a bank account in Serbia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/#Accommodation_costs_in_Serbia\" >Accommodation costs in Serbia<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/#Buying_property_in_Serbia\" >Buying property in Serbia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/#Renting_property_in_Serbia\" >Renting property in Serbia<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/#Cost_of_utility_bills_in_Serbia\" >Cost of utility bills in Serbia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/#Transportation_costs_in_Serbia\" >Transportation costs in Serbia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/#Cost_of_necessities_in_Serbia\" >Cost of necessities in Serbia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-serbia\/#Takeaways\" >Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Serbia_a_good_country_to_live\"><\/span>Is Serbia a good country to live?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With its combination of unspoilt countryside and well-developed cities offering diverse cultural experiences, Serbia appeals to many as a great country to move to. The economy is generally healthy and largely dominated by the tertiary sector which accounts for two-thirds of the total gross domestic product. Unemployment is still high so if you&#8217;re hoping to find employment there it would be wise to secure it before leaping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wages in Serbia are lower than in most of Europe. The minimum wage is around \u20ac366 while the average comes in at around \u20ac1,200. A social media manager can expect a salary of approximately \u20ac1,500, and a customer service manager around \u20ac1,600. If you&#8217;re hoping to work as a ski instructor, you may have to settle for a little less than the average Serbian wage and earn just under \u20ac1,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While wages are lower than in much of Europe the cost of living in Serbia is also lower. Living in Serbia is likely to cost you slightly less than half what it would in the UK, or 42% less than living in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Opening_a_bank_account_in_Serbia\"><\/span>Opening a bank account in Serbia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening a personal bank account in Serbia is a relatively simple process. Different banks have different requirements but generally speaking, you&#8217;ll need to present.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-red-check\">\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Your passport<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Proof of residential address<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Proof of a temporary address in Serbia (if you haven&#8217;t yet secured accommodation in the country)<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>A completed application form<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Accommodation_costs_in_Serbia\"><\/span>Accommodation costs in Serbia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An initial perusal of Serbian property law looks quite daunting. Foreigners have the right to buy property in Serbia only if their country of origin allows Serbians to own property there. Citizens of most EU countries and the United Kingdom can buy property in Serbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Buying_property_in_Serbia\"><\/span>Buying property in Serbia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most ex-pats live in the Serbian capital Belgrade where English is widely spoken and employment prospects are better than in rural areas. In a city centre location, the price per m2 for an apartment averages at just under \u20ac2,700, move to the outskirts of the city and this drops to around \u20ac1,500. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other Serbian cities often chosen by ex-pats include Novi Sad and Nis. Purchase prices for properties in these two locations are nearly 40% less than in Belgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Renting_property_in_Serbia\"><\/span>Renting property in Serbia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The monthly rent for an 85 m2 furnished apartment in an expensive area of Belgrade is around \u20ac750, in a less sought-after location, this drops to about \u20ac470. A smaller apartment, suitable for a single person should cost around \u20ac490 in premium locations or \u20ac280 in a &#8216;normal&#8217; area of the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rental costs in Novi Sad range between 10% and 30% less than in Belgrade, in Nis prices may drop by 30% to 50%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cost_of_utility_bills_in_Serbia\"><\/span>Cost of utility bills in Serbia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Two people living in an 85 m2 apartment will generally need to budget around \u20ac128 per month to cover the cost of gas, water, electricity and heating. A single person in a 45 m2 apartment will pay around \u20ac66 per month. This is an average amount, heating bills are of course seasonal so winter bills will be higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Home internet packages are available for around \u20ac10 per month. You&#8217;ll pay more for a faster connection and may find that to get the best rates you need to commit to a 2-year contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mobile phone coverage is generally good and all the major providers sell pre-paid cards, \u20ac20 will buy you 120 minutes of domestic calls, 30 minutes for international calls and 10 GB of internet,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Serbia is not yet in the EU so roaming charges using a sim card from an EU country can be high. Check the rates carefully before making or accepting international calls or using mobile internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Transportation_costs_in_Serbia\"><\/span>Transportation costs in Serbia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s a well-developed public transportation system in Belgrade and other large cities. In Belgrade, you can ride the bus, tram or trolleybus depending on your destination. The city uses a unified ticket system so the same ticket will allow you to use any of the available options. The price of a single journey is less than \u20ac1.00, around \u20ac0.77. A monthly bus pass will cost around \u20ac27.00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taxis are plentiful and affordable, with an initial fee of approximately \u20ac1.50 and a charge per km of between \u20ac0.600 and \u20ac1.20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you buy a car expect to pay around \u20ac19,600 for a new Volkswagen Golf with no extras, fuel is around \u20ac1.30 per litre. There is no vignette in Serbia but many motorways and other major roads do require a toll payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check also:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-albania\/\">Cost of Living in Albania<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-bulgaria\/\">Cost of Living in Bulgaria<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-in-croatia\/\">Cost of Living in Croatia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cost_of_necessities_in_Serbia\"><\/span>Cost of necessities in Serbia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Food, clothes or a visit to the doctor, it doesn&#8217;t matter where you live, all of these expenses need to be covered. How much you spend on feeding or clothing yourself will of course depend on if you&#8217;re a &#8216;fine dining, designer labels&#8217; sort of person or if you prefer wholesome home cooking and second-hand chic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-serbia-from-uk\/\">moving to Serbia<\/a> you&#8217;ll want to know how much it will cost to maintain your chosen lifestyle. The following prices should allow you to decide what your budget needs to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Food costs in Serbia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can treat yourself to a fast-food burger or basic meal for around \u20ac6.00, a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant should set you back around \u20ac26.00. Eating out in the ex-at area of Belgrade and adding some wine to your menu you could be looking at around \u20ac32.00. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n#customers {\n  font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\n  border-collapse: collapse;\n  width: 100%;\n}\n#customers td, #customers th {\n  border: 1px solid #ddd;\n  padding: 8px;\n}\n#customers tr:nth-child(even){background-color: #f2f2f2;}\n#customers tr:hover {background-color: #ddd;}\n#customers th {\n  padding-top: 12px;\n  padding-bottom: 12px;\n  text-align: left;\n  background-color: #F24945;\n  color: white;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<figure id=\"customers\" class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Product<\/th><th>Unit<\/th><th>Price<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>Milk<\/td><td>1 litre<\/td><td>\u20ac0.87<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Local cheese<\/td><td>500 gm<\/td><td>\u20ac3.50<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chicken breast<\/td><td>500 gm<\/td><td>\u20ac2.25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Eggs<\/td><td>12<\/td><td>\u20ac1.50<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bread<\/td><td>500 gm loaf<\/td><td>\u20ac0.48<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Potatoes<\/td><td>1 kg<\/td><td>\u20ac0.55<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tomatoes<\/td><td>1 kg<\/td><td>\u20ac1.10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Apples<\/td><td>1 kg<\/td><td>\u20ac0.92<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Coca-cola<\/td><td>2 litres<\/td><td>\u20ac1.08<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Domestic beer, bought at the supermarket<\/td><td>0.5 litres<\/td><td>\u20ac0.68<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Good quality red table wine<\/td><td>Bottle<\/td><td>\u20ac4.50<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Personal care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n#customers {\n  font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\n  border-collapse: collapse;\n  width: 100%;\n}\n#customers td, #customers th {\n  border: 1px solid #ddd;\n  padding: 8px;\n}\n#customers tr:nth-child(even){background-color: #f2f2f2;}\n#customers tr:hover {background-color: #ddd;}\n#customers th {\n  padding-top: 12px;\n  padding-bottom: 12px;\n  text-align: left;\n  background-color: #F24945;\n  color: white;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<figure id=\"customers\" class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Product<\/th><th>Price<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>Cold medicine for six days<\/td><td>\u20ac4.20<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A single visit to a private doctor<\/td><td>\u20ac21.00<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Shampoo 2-in-1 400 ml<\/td><td>\u20ac3.00<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Roll-on-deodorant<\/td><td>\u20ac3.50<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A box of 32 tampons<\/td><td>\u20ac7.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The standard of state health care may not meet that of your home country so if this is a concern for you consider budgeting for private health insurance. The cost of this varies widely depending on your age, health and the level of coverage you&#8217;re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Attire<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of all categories of living costs, this may be the one that varies most depending on your tastes. Costs for some common clothing items are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-red-check\">\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>A summer dress in a high street store \u20ac39.00<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>One pair of jeans (Levis or similar quality) \u20ac78.00<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>One pair of men&#8217;s leather business shoes \u20ac83.00<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>One pair of branded sports shoes (Nike, Adidas etc) \u20ac86.00<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cta_container_holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"title\">Moving to Serbia?<br \/>Let Fantastic Removals handle the international relocation for you!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/contact-us\/\" class=\"btn-regular btn-gfq\">Contact Us<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info_text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For questions about the services we offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/\">visit our main site<\/a> or you can always call us at <a href=\"tel:\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Takeaways\"><\/span>Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"list-red-check\">\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Serbia offers a generally high standard of living at a much lower cost than most European countries<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Salaries are lower than they are in many countries but this is offset by lower costs of living<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Most ex-pats live in the capital, Belgrade or one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-serbia\/\">other best places to live in Serbia<\/a><\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>The economy is well-developed but unemployment rates are high<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>It&#8217;s wise to secure employment before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/international-removals\/\"> moving to Serbia from the UK<\/a><\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/international-removals\/\"><br \/>\n<\/a><\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/international-removals\/\"><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Throughout this article, we explore housing, food, transportation, and more, giving you a comprehensive overview of the cost of living in Serbia. Is Serbia a good country to live? With its combination of unspoilt countryside and well-developed cities offering diverse cultural experiences, Serbia appeals to many as a great country to move to. The economy&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":12875,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[623],"class_list":{"0":"post-12635","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-moving-abroad","8":"tag-international"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12635"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21587,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12635\/revisions\/21587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}