Moving to Serbia from Japan

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Serbia, you would find that Serbia is 4.2% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly RSD7,219,835 in Serbia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Serbian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

¥11,948,175 RSD7,219,835

To maintain the same standard of living in Serbia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 75.1% more

Groceries

pay 35.1% less

Transportation

pay 5.6% less

Housing

pay 13.6% less

Childcare

pay 29.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 25.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 JPY = 0.632 RSD (June 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
38 ↓ 3% vs 2015

people born in Japan 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 Japan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
RS
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
RS
7.4

Japan performs better than Serbia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
RS
$2,303
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
RS
28.4

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

JP
12.0
RS
45.0

Japan 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

JP
37.2
RS
29.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
RS
5.7%

Japan 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

JP
2.6%
RS
8.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
RS
$24,500

Japan 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

JP
84.8 yrs
RS
74.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
RS
4.8

Japan generally does better on family life, though Serbia leads in education spending.

Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Belgrade
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 45°/33°F (7°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 71°/53°F (22°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 79°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 53°/39°F (11°/4°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Belgrade
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Serbia

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

Serbia passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Free
Serbia passport holders can enter Japan 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 Japan?

On average Serbia is about 4% less expensive than Japan, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Serbia?

Budget about RSD1,804,959 for 3 months in Serbia (based on a ¥11,948,175 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?

Japan performs better than Serbia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Serbia is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Serbia compared to Japan?

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in health coverage index. There are 28.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Serbia, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Serbia scores 72 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Belgrade is 62°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Belgrade receives around 26.9 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Serbia?

The official language in Serbia is Serbian. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP RS
Population 124,214,766 6,739,471
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Serbian Dinar (RSD)
Languages Japanese Serbian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +381
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 112