Moving to Serbia from California
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from California to Serbia — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from California to Serbia, you would find that Serbia is 41.1% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly RSD4,138,812 in Serbia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Serbian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Belgrade averages 62°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from California to Serbia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → RSD4,138,812
To maintain the same standard of living in Serbia
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 35.7% less
Groceries
pay 50.3% less
Transportation
pay 16.5% less
Housing
pay 63.9% less
Childcare
pay 80.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 61.1% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Serbia cost about 45% less than cities in California.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from California to Serbia, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Serbia?
Top countries of origin for Serbia's foreign-born residents.
- 342,526
- 288,708
- 72,596
- 47,637
- 16,392
- 11,139
- · · ·
-
15.1,309
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
How California and Serbia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Serbia performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Serbia across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California performs better than Serbia across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
California performs better than Serbia across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 45°/33°F (7°/0°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 71°/53°F (22°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 53°/39°F (11°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Serbia. To live, work, or study long-term in Serbia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Serbia's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Serbia
Visa Free
Serbia passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Serbia than California?
Generally yes: Serbia runs about 46% cheaper than California on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Serbia?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around RSD1,034,703 in Serbia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Serbia?
Working remotely from Serbia's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Serbia.
How is healthcare in Serbia compared to California?
Serbia performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Serbia compared to California?
The average high temperature in Belgrade is 62°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Belgrade receives around 26.9 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Serbia?
The official language in Serbia is Serbian. In California, the official language is English.
