Moving to Sweden from Serbia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Serbia to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 57.2% more expensive than Serbia overall. A RSD7,551,075 salary in Serbia would need to be roughly SEK1,003,176 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Stockholm averages 52°F vs 62°F in Belgrade, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

RSD7,551,075 SEK1,003,176

To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 41.4% more

Groceries

pay 95.9% more

Transportation

pay 94.2% more

Housing

pay 71.1% more

Childcare

pay 40.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 RSD = 0.0918 SEK (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?

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

Moved in 2023
593 ↓ 28% vs 2022

people moved from Serbia to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Sweden?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

RS
1.0
SE
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RS
7.4
SE
2.1

Serbia generally does better on safety, though Sweden leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

RS
$2,303
SE
$7,770
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RS
28.4
SE
71.5

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden 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

RS
45.0
SE
8.0

Sweden performs significantly 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

RS
29.3
SE
40.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RS
5.7%
SE
3.6%

Sweden performs significantly better than Serbia 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%
SE
7.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RS
$24,500
SE
$64,200

Sweden 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

RS
74.2 yrs
SE
82.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RS
4.8
SE
2.3

Sweden performs significantly better than Serbia across all family life metrics.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Stockholm Rain: 21.5 in/yr (546 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Belgrade Stockholm
Jan–Mar 45°/33°F (7°/0°C) 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/53°F (22°/12°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 69°/56°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/39°F (11°/4°C) 43°/36°F (6°/2°C)
View all months
Month Belgrade Stockholm
Jan 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C) 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C)
Feb 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C) 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C)
Mar 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C) 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C)
Apr 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C) 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C)
May 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C) 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C)
Jun 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C) 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C) 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C) 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C)
Sep 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C) 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C)
Oct 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C) 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C)
Nov 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C) 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C)
Dec 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C) 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C)

Data: Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Serbia passport

Serbia passport holder visiting Sweden

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

Sweden passport holder visiting Serbia

Visa Free
Sweden 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 Sweden than Serbia?

No — Sweden is on average about 45% more expensive than Serbia. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Sweden?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SEK250,794 in Sweden on a RSD7,551,075 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Sweden?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sweden has 40.4 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 Sweden safe for expats?

Serbia generally does better on safety, though Sweden leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in Serbia.

How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Serbia?

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 28.4 in Serbia. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Serbia: 72).

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

The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 62°F in Belgrade. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Belgrade gets 26.9 in.

What language do they speak in Sweden?

The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Serbia, the official language is Serbian.

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At a Glance

RS SE
Population 6,739,471 10,483,647
Currency Serbian Dinar (RSD) Swedish Krona (SEK)
Languages Serbian Swedish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +381 +46
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112