Cost of Living: Bali vs Belgrade (2026)

Indonesia vs Serbia — relocation comparison

TL;DRBelgrade is 16% cheaper on rent ($904/mo vs $1082/mo). Serbia gets you to permanent residency 2 years faster (3 vs 5 years). Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
65
Livability Score
🇮🇩 Bali
Indonesia
Full profile
69
Livability Score
🇷🇸 Belgrade
Serbia
Full profile
Too close to call — 69 vs 65. Belgrade has a slight edge, but Bali might suit you better depending on your priorities.
💰
Cost of Living
Belgrade
$178/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Bali
0.3 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Bali
6.8/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
29°C vs 27°C summers
🗣️
English
Belgrade
higher proficiency score
📋
Residency
Belgrade
PR in 3 years
Bali
Metric
Belgrade
$1082/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$904/mo
$268/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$551/mo
$2,914
🧳
Cost to land
$3,462
0.3 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.0 / 100k
51 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
38 / 100
29°C
☀️
Summer high
27°C
25°C
❄️
Winter low
-1°C
36 Mbps
Internet speed
68 Mbps
6.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
6.3 / 10
Moderate (41/100)
🗣️
English ease
High (73/100)
$16k
💼
GDP per capita
$33k
2.2%
📈
Inflation
4.7%
65 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
69 / 100
60/100 — Patchy
Grid reliability
58/100 — Patchy
56/100
🗽
Freedom House
53/100
5 years
📋
Time to PR
3 years

For the Kids

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

369
PISA
country avg
442
15
Intl schools
2
Yes, but limited for foreigners (Indonesian)
Public school
Yes (Serbian)
$498/mo
Childcare
full-day
$459/mo

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

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
tourismhospitalitydigital-nomadsurfing-culture
Industries
ict-softwareaigame-devfintech
nascent
Startup ecosystem
nascent
60/100
Grid reliability
58/100
5 yrs
Time to PR
3 yrs
Easy
EU visa
Easy
Easy
RU visa
Easy
Easy
UA visa
Easy
Your partner gets to watch you work
Spouse works
⚠️ Your partner can exist, with paperwork

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

The Short Version

  • Rent is 16% cheaper in Belgrade ($904/mo vs $1082/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Bali (29°C vs 27°C).
  • Bali is safer by homicide rate (0.3 vs 1.0 per 100k).
  • Bali scores higher on democracy (6.8 vs 6.3 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Belgrade (73/100 vs 41/100 English proficiency).

Bali vs Belgrade — Common Questions

Is Bali cheaper than Belgrade?

Belgrade is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $904/month in Belgrade vs $1082/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bali or Belgrade?

Bali is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bali has a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 and Belgrade has 1.02 per 100,000.

Should I move to Bali or Belgrade?

Too close to call — 69 vs 65. Belgrade has a slight edge, but Bali might suit you better depending on your priorities. 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 Bali or Belgrade?

Bali: Indonesia Second Home Visa (complex process, 5 or 10 years). Belgrade: Serbia Visa-Free Stay (easy to get, 90 days (extendable)). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Bali or Belgrade?

Bali is warmer in summer (29°C vs 27°C). Belgrade 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 Bali or Belgrade without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Belgrade (EF EPI score: 73/100) than in Bali (41/100). In Belgrade, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Bali, 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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