Moving to Switzerland from Serbia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Serbia to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 3.5 times more expensive than Serbia overall. A RSD7,551,075 salary in Serbia would need to be roughly CHF155,226 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

RSD7,551,075 CHF155,226

To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.9 times more

Groceries

pay 2.9 times more

Transportation

pay 3.0 times more

Housing

pay 3.3 times more

Childcare

pay 7.5 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 RSD = 0.0078 CHF (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 Serbia to Switzerland.

Moved in 2023
1,149 ↑ 1% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Switzerland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland compared to Serbia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

RS
1.0
CH
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RS
7.4
CH
2.4

Switzerland performs significantly better than Serbia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RS
$2,303
CH
$10,602
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RS
28.4
CH
44.4

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland 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
CH
10.0

Switzerland 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
CH
47.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RS
5.7%
CH
6.5%

Switzerland 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

RS
8.7%
CH
4.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RS
$24,500
CH
$82,900

Switzerland 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
CH
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RS
4.8
CH
3.6

Switzerland 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

Bern Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Belgrade Bern
Jan–Mar 45°/33°F (7°/0°C) 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/53°F (22°/12°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 70°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/39°F (11°/4°C) 46°/36°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Belgrade Bern
Jan 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C) 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C)
Feb 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C)
Mar 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C) 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C)
Apr 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C) 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C)
May 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C) 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C)
Jun 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C) 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C) 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C)
Sep 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C) 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C)
Oct 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C) 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C)
Nov 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C) 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C)
Dec 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C)

Data: Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Serbia passport

Serbia passport holder visiting Switzerland

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

Switzerland passport holder visiting Serbia

Visa Free
Switzerland 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 Switzerland than Serbia?

On average Switzerland is around 165% pricier than Serbia, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?

Budget about CHF38,806 for 3 months in Switzerland (based on a RSD7,551,075 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Switzerland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Switzerland: 47.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Switzerland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Switzerland safe for expats?

Switzerland performs significantly better than Serbia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in Serbia.

How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Serbia?

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 28.4 in Serbia. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Serbia: 72).

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

The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 62°F in Belgrade. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Belgrade gets 26.9 in.

What language do they speak in Switzerland?

The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Serbia, the official language is Serbian.

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At a Glance

RS CH
Population 6,739,471 8,508,698
Currency Serbian Dinar (RSD) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages Serbian French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +381 +41
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112