Moving to Moldova from Serbia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Serbia to Moldova, you would find that Moldova is 16.0% cheaper than Serbia overall. A RSD7,694,475 salary in Serbia would need to be roughly MDL1,243,373 in Moldova to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Romanian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

RSD7,694,475 MDL1,243,373

To maintain the same standard of living in Moldova

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 32.4% less

Groceries

pay 13.4% less

Transportation

pay 29.1% less

Housing

pay 17.6% less

Childcare

pay 6.4% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 15.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 RSD = 0.1704 MDL (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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Moldova compared to Serbia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

RS
1.0
MD
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RS
7.4
MD
9.1

Serbia performs better than Moldova across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RS
$2,303
MD
$1,181
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RS
28.4
MD
32.5

Moldova generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia 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

RS
45.0
MD
58.0

Serbia performs better than Moldova 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

RS
29.3
MD
24.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RS
5.7%
MD
12.6%

Serbia performs better than Moldova across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RS
8.7%
MD
1.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RS
$24,500
MD
$15,700

Serbia generally does better on employment & economy, though Moldova leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RS
74.2 yrs
MD
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RS
4.8
MD
11.6

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

Data: Ministry of Finance, Republic of Serbia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Serbia and Moldova. To live, work, or study long-term in Moldova, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Moldova's immigration authority.

Serbia passport

Serbia passport holder visiting Moldova

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

Moldova passport holder visiting Serbia

Visa Free
Moldova passport holders can enter Serbia 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 Moldova than Serbia?

On average Moldova is about 5% less expensive than Serbia, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Moldova?

Budget about MDL310,843 for 3 months in Moldova (based on a RSD7,694,475 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Moldova?

Connectivity is usually fine (Moldova: 24.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Moldova offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Moldova safe for expats?

Serbia performs better than Moldova across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Moldova is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in Serbia.

How is healthcare in Moldova compared to Serbia?

Moldova generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia leads in health coverage index. There are 32.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Moldova, compared to 28.4 in Serbia. Moldova scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Serbia: 72).

What language do they speak in Moldova?

The official language in Moldova is Romanian. In Serbia, the official language is Serbian.

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At a Glance

RS MD
Population 6,739,471 3,287,326
Currency Serbian Dinar (RSD) Moldovan Leu (MDL)
Languages Serbian Romanian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +381 +373
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112