Moving to Belgrade, Serbia in 2026

Considering relocating to Belgrade? Expect rent from $851/month, one of the safer cities in its region, English is widely spoken. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.

🇷🇸 Belgrade, Serbia

Compare
1.8M peopleLivability: 70/100 · #34 of 6777% cheaper than NYC
How the Livability Score is calculated
Affordability
20.7/25 ptsNumbeo
Violent Crime
14/15 ptsUNODC
Perceived Safety
6.2/10 ptsNumbeo
Internet
5.1/15 ptsOokla
Democracy
9.5/15 ptsEIU
English
7.3/10 ptsEF EPI
Climate
8.8/10 ptsNumbeo
Stability
5.3/10 ptsWorld Bank

Total: 76.9 / 110 raw pts → normalized to 70/100

🌆

It's 6:03 PM in Belgrade

Kafana music is spilling out into the streets.

Affordability83/100
Safety81/100
Climate95/100
Connectivity34/100
Democracy63/100
English Ease73/100
Clear Days54%

Scores derived from: Numbeo (cost of living) · UNODC (crime) · Economist Intelligence Unit (democracy) · EF EPI (English) · Ookla/Speedtest (internet)

Weather in Belgrade

Spring

17°C

49% sunny

Summer

27°C

73% sunny

Fall

17°C

53% sunny

Winter

5°C

40% sunny

Best: Summer. Avoid: Winter if you dislike extremes.

Cost of Living in BelgradeNumbeo

Beer (0.5L)

$2.81

Cappuccino

$2.49

Cheap meal

$11.24

Fast food combo

$9.37

Bus/metro ticket

$0.47

Gym/month

$37

Internet/month

$27

Is it actually a democracy?

Democracy index: 6.33 (#58 globally)· Flawed democracy

Freedom House: 56/100

Press freedom rank: #96 of 180

Sources: EIU Democracy Index · Freedom House · RSF Press Freedom Index

Is Belgrade Safe?UNODC + Numbeo

81/100

Homicide rate: 1 per 100,000 (world average ~5.8)

Numbeo Safety Index: 62.2/100 (covers theft, property crime, perception)

Very safe. Crime exists in theory; you probably won't encounter it.

People generally feel safe day-to-day. Petty crime exists but isn't a constant worry.

Will the lights stay on?

Unreliable
31% electricity from renewables
Occasional outages

English in BelgradeEF EPI

High

Primary language is Serbian.

You can manage daily life, healthcare, and most bureaucracy in English. The language barrier is low.

For Russian/Ukrainian speakers: Slavic — easier to pick up

Who Has Offices in Belgrade?

MicrosoftSAPEPAM SystemsLuxoftNordeusNutanix

Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.

Is Belgrade Worth Moving To?

For

  • +At $851/mo for city-centre rent, your money will last until the end of the month. Novel concept.
  • +Safe enough that you stop thinking about it, which is exactly the point.
  • +English gets you far here. You can settle in before tackling the local language.

Can you actually live here?

Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay.

EU citizenEasy
US citizenEasy
RussianEasy
UkrainianEasy
3 years to permanent residency
6 years to citizenship
Work permit: Easy
Compare all countries by visa difficulty →

What you can actually do here

Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is.

Employment

ict softwareaigame devfintech

Startup Scene

Ecosystem: Nascent
VC: Rare

Corporate tax rate: 15%

Belgrade — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Belgrade safe?

Belgrade has a homicide rate of 1 per 100,000 people (source: UNODC), making it very safe. The world average is around 5.8 per 100,000. The Numbeo Crime Index is 37.8/100 (lower is safer), which reflects residents' self-reported concerns about property crime, theft, and everyday safety. As with any city, awareness of local neighborhoods is recommended before settling.

What is the cost of living in Belgrade?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Belgrade city centre costs around $851/month (Numbeo data). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $11.24, monthly transit pass: $21. A single person can expect total monthly costs of roughly $1251–$1651 depending on lifestyle — covering rent, food, transport, and utilities.

What is the weather like in Belgrade?

Belgrade has Summers reach around 27°C, winters drop to around -1°C. Summers are warm and pleasant for most people.

Can you get by in Belgrade without knowing the local language?

Belgrade has High English proficiency (EF EPI data). Daily life, healthcare, and business can largely be managed in English.

Is Belgrade a good place to settle long-term?

Belgrade is in Serbia, which scores 6.3/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. The political environment is reasonably stable, though worth monitoring for expats. Rent from $851/month.

What is the job market like in Belgrade?

Serbia has an unemployment rate of 7.1%, indicating a challenging job market; many expats rely on remote work or bring skills from abroad. For settlers planning to work locally, research your industry before committing. Remote workers and self-employed expats are less affected by local employment conditions.

Which companies have offices in Belgrade?

Notable companies with offices in Belgrade include Microsoft, SAP, EPAM Systems, Luxoft, Nordeus, Nutanix. The city's job market spans tech, finance, and other sectors — check company career pages for current openings.

Is Belgrade good for expats?

Belgrade attracts expats looking for long-term relocation in Serbia. Key facts: rent from $851/month; Serbia Visa-Free Stay (relatively easy to obtain); English is widely spoken, reducing the language barrier significantly. The Livability Score, safety data, and cost of living figures above give a data-driven picture of what to expect when settling here.

How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Serbia?

Serbia offers the Serbia Visa-Free Stay program. Duration: 90 days (extendable). Requirements: Most Western passports get 90 days visa-free. Many expats simply exit/re-enter. This is one of the more accessible long-term visa options in the region. Check the official government portal for the most up-to-date application process.

Other cities in Serbia

See all →

🇷🇸 Belgrade
Hot summersCold wintersRising economy

Expenses

$1,443 / mo

🍔 That's 254 Big Macs/mo

winter

❄️ 5°C / 🥶 -1°C

summer

🌞 27°C / 😊 16°C

Internet · Ookla Speedtest

68 Mbps

RS: 69 Mbps

Serbia

Economics · World Bank / IMF

GDP per capita (PPP)2024

$32,832

GDP Growth2024

+3.9%

Inflation Rate2024

4.7%

Unemployment2025

7.1%

Gini Index2022

32.8 

Population2024

1,770,000

Politics · EIU Democracy Index

Democracy Index

6.3358th

Regime

Flawed democracy

Safety · UNODC

Homicide per 100K

1

Language · EF EPI

Languages

Serbian

English Proficiency

High24th

Data sources

Cost of living: Numbeo crowd-sourced data

Homicide rate: UNODC 2022

Crime perception index: Numbeo Crime Index

Democracy index: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Freedom House score: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2025

Press freedom rank: RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025

GDP per capita: World Bank / IMF

English proficiency: EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)

Internet speed: Ookla Speedtest Global Index

Grid reliability & renewables: IEA / national grid operators

Residency & visa data: https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/permanent-residence