Moving to Serbia from Germany

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Germany to Serbia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Germany to Serbia, you would find that Serbia is 37.8% cheaper than Germany overall. A €65,577 salary in Germany would need to be roughly RSD5,067,376 in Serbia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Serbian.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Germany and Serbia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 RSD5,067,376

To maintain the same standard of living in Serbia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 38.9% less

Groceries

pay 37.4% less

Transportation

pay 33.3% less

Housing

pay 51.5% less

Childcare

pay 52.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 47.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 117.34 RSD (July 2026)

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 22% less than cities in Germany.

Germany

Munich 66%
Frankfurt 63%
Hamburg 63%
Oldenburg 55%

Serbia

Novi Sad 43%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Germany to Serbia.

Living there in 2020
16,392 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in Germany live in Serbia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Serbia?

Top countries of origin for Serbia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Serbia compared to Germany.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

DE
0.8
RS
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

DE
3.3
RS
7.4

Germany performs better than Serbia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

DE
$8,826
RS
$2,303
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

DE
45.2
RS
28.4

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

DE
15.0
RS
45.0

Germany performs better than Serbia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

DE
45.0
RS
29.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DE
35.4%
RS
5.7%

Germany generally does better on infrastructure, though Serbia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

DE
3.0%
RS
8.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

DE
$61,900
RS
$24,500

Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Serbia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

DE
81.5 yrs
RS
74.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DE
3.2
RS
4.8

Germany performs better than Serbia across all family life metrics.

Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Berlin Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Belgrade Rain: 26.9 in/yr (683 mm)
62° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Berlin Belgrade
Jan–Mar 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 45°/33°F (7°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) 71°/53°F (22°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) 79°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) 53°/39°F (11°/4°C)
View all months
Month Berlin Belgrade
Jan 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C)
Mar 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C)
Apr 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C)
May 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C)
Jun 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C)
Jul 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C)
Oct 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C)
Dec 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C)

Data: Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst, Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany 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.

Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting Serbia

Visa Free
Germany passport holders can enter Serbia without a visa.
Serbia passport

Serbia passport holder visiting Germany

Visa Free
Serbia passport holders can enter Germany without a visa.

Data: 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 Germany?

On average Serbia is about 34% less expensive than Germany, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Serbia?

Budget about RSD1,266,844 for 3 months in Serbia (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Serbia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Serbia: 29.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Serbia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Serbia safe for expats?

Germany performs better than Serbia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Serbia is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany.

How is healthcare in Serbia compared to Germany?

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 28.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Serbia, compared to 45.2 in Germany. Serbia scores 72 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).

What's the weather like in Serbia compared to Germany?

The average high temperature in Belgrade is 62°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Belgrade receives around 26.9 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.

What language do they speak in Serbia?

The official language in Serbia is Serbian. In Germany, the official language is German.

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At a Glance

DE RS
Population 84,316,622 6,739,471
Currency Euro (€) Serbian Dinar (RSD)
Languages German Serbian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +49 +381
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112