Moving to Serbia

Although not the most conventional destination for you as an expat, Serbia is one of Europe's best-kept secrets. The country's natural beauty is truly something to behold, from deep blue lakes and rivers to soaring mountains.

Many internationals are moving to Serbia to work as diplomats or in one of its thriving industries, but often stay for the wonderful quality of life. While the locals generally welcome foreigners, you should try communicating in Serbian to cultivate a bond with them. 

Living in Serbia as an expat

English is widely spoken as a second language, but Serbian is the country’s official language. You may find it helpful to hire an interpreter to assist you in the workplace. Learning Serbian and having a basic understanding of the Cyrillic alphabet can be immensely useful in helping you navigate everyday activities.

Given the high level of unemployment in Serbia, it's typically best to secure a job before moving. Most of Serbia’s small expat community can be found in the capital, Belgrade, and comprises diplomatic personnel or employees of international organisations and NGOs. Other large sectors where you might find employment in Serbia are the energy, automotive, machinery, mining, and agriculture industries. The IT industry is booming, with high demand for software developers, IT specialists and engineers.

Accommodation in Serbia is affordable, and the standard of living in the country is reasonably high. Housing in rural areas may be older and sometimes more run-down than in big cities like Belgrade, and even larger metros can have older buildings and a lack of general infrastructure. As a foreign resident, you can freely buy property in the country, making it easy to settle down.

Public transport in Serbia mainly consists of buses, trams, and trolleybuses. The ticketing system, called BelgradePlus, makes it easy for you to buy tickets from local vendors. These tickets are relatively cheap and can be used on most forms of transport. The Beovoz, or railway system, connects suburban areas and smaller towns to Belgrade. Although road networks may be poorly upheld, especially in rural areas, driving in Serbia is relatively safe. Significant investments have been made in upgrading highways, with projects like the Morava Corridor improving connectivity.

The standard of healthcare in Serbia is not as good as in other Western European or North American countries. The country offers free emergency healthcare for those on the Euraxess universal health plan. You should be cautious when selecting hospitals. While Serbian doctors are well-trained and speak good English, medical supplies are limited, and some hospitals may not have the necessary equipment to carry out more complex procedures. 

In many cases, you might travel to another country for specialist care or seek out private healthcare institutes. Pharmacies in Serbia are either state-owned or private, and both have limited medicine supplies.

Cost of living in Serbia

Living in Serbia is comparatively cheap. Low-cost accommodation and cheap transport make the country ideal for expat workers, especially if you earn in foreign currencies. Food and eating out may be pricier, but will in no way break the bank. The most expensive aspects of expat life in Serbia are generally private healthcare and international schooling.

In the context of global living expenses, Mercer's 2024 Cost of Living City Ranking placed Belgrade 159th out of 226 cities. This makes it less expensive than nearby Bucharest, Romania (ranked 155) and significantly cheaper than capitals in Western Europe like Madrid, Spain (ranked 76).

Families and children in Serbia

Public schooling in Serbia tends to be rather underfunded. As an expat parent, you might prefer private or international schools to public schooling. There are several international schools in Belgrade that offer foreign curricula, like those in the US, the UK, and Germany. Places are limited, and waiting lists are long, so many parents send their children to boarding schools elsewhere in Europe instead.

With a range of monuments, monasteries and history-filled fortresses, you and your family can explore the culture of Serbia at length. Besides the unique architecture, the country also offers you the chance to get out into nature and explore the beautiful and serene landscape with hikes into impressive canyons and through interesting rock formations. In Belgrade, many tourist attractions offer insight into the city and playrooms for your young ones are always popular here.

Climate in Serbia

Serbia has a continental climate in the north with cold, dry winters and warm, humid summers. To the south, the climate becomes rather Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and milder, rainy winters and heavy snowfall in the mountains.

While Serbia's limited infrastructure can be frustrating for new arrivals, patience will reveal a charming country off the beaten path. Friendly locals, fascinating history and breathtaking natural features, paired with a low cost of living, make Serbia worth it for any hardened expat.

Fast facts

Population: About 6.7 million

Capital city: Belgrade

Neighbouring countries: Serbia is bordered by Hungary to the north, Romania and Bulgaria to the east, North Macedonia to the south, Montenegro to the southwest, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the west and Croatia to the northwest.

Geography: Serbia's southern half is mostly mountainous, while fertile plains characterise the north.

Political system: Unitary dominant-party parliamentary constitutional republic

Major religions: Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Main languages: Serbian

Money: The country's currency is the Serbian dinar (RSD). ATMs are easily found in large cities, but may be harder to come by in more rural areas. You should be able to open a Serbian bank account with relative ease.

Tipping: Tip 10 percent in a restaurant, or round up for smaller amounts.

Time: GMT+1 (GMT+2 from late March to late October)

Electricity: 230V, 50Hz. Plugs have two round pins.

Internet domain: .rs

International dialling code: +381

Emergency contacts: 192 (police), 193 (fire), 194 (ambulance)

Driving and transport: Belgrade is the public transport hub of the country, with buses, tramways, trolleys, and trains. Cars drive on the right-hand side of the road.