Moving to Serbia from Netherlands

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Netherlands to Serbia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Netherlands to Serbia, you would find that Serbia is 44.1% cheaper than Netherlands overall. A €65,577 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly RSD4,211,853 in Serbia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Serbian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Netherlands to Serbia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 RSD4,211,853

To maintain the same standard of living in Serbia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 45.9% less

Groceries

pay 40.3% less

Transportation

pay 44.0% less

Housing

pay 57.5% less

Childcare

pay 61.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 54.6% 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 33% less than cities in Netherlands.

Netherlands

Rotterdam 72%
Eindhoven 67%
Zwolle 62%

Serbia

Novi Sad 43%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Netherlands to Serbia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
764 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in Netherlands 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Netherlands to Serbia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
RS
7.4

Netherlands 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

NL
$8,195
RS
$2,303
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
RS
28.4

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NL
13.0
RS
45.0

Netherlands 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

NL
44.4
RS
29.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
RS
5.7%

Netherlands 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

NL
3.6%
RS
8.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
RS
$24,500

Netherlands 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

NL
82.2 yrs
RS
74.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
RS
4.8

Netherlands performs better than Serbia across all family life metrics.

Data: Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Belgrade
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 45°/33°F (7°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 71°/53°F (22°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 79°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 53°/39°F (11°/4°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Belgrade
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Netherlands 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.

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Serbia

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

Serbia passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Free
Serbia passport holders can enter Netherlands 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 Netherlands?

Yes — Serbia is on average about 45% cheaper than Netherlands. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Serbia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly RSD1,052,963 in Serbia on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Serbia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Serbia has 29.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Serbia safe for expats?

Netherlands 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 Netherlands.

How is healthcare in Serbia compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 28.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Serbia, compared to 39.1 in Netherlands. Serbia scores 72 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Belgrade is 62°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Belgrade receives around 26.9 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Serbia?

The official language in Serbia is Serbian. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

NL RS
Population 17,400,824 6,739,471
Currency Euro (€) Serbian Dinar (RSD)
Languages Dutch Serbian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +31 +381
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112