Moving to Ukraine from Serbia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Serbia to Ukraine, you would find that Ukraine is 34.7% cheaper than Serbia overall. A RSD7,704,225 salary in Serbia would need to be roughly UAH2,529,565 in Ukraine to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Ukrainian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

RSD7,704,225 UAH2,529,565

To maintain the same standard of living in Ukraine

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 51.4% less

Groceries

pay 22.8% less

Transportation

pay 35.2% less

Housing

pay 44.9% less

Childcare

pay 18.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 39.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 RSD = 0.4335 UAH (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 Ukraine cost about 41% less than cities in Serbia.

Serbia

Novi Sad 43%

Ukraine

Kiev 36%
Vinnytsya 30%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Ukraine compared to Serbia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

RS
1.0
UA
3.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RS
7.4
UA
10.5

Serbia performs better than Ukraine across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RS
$2,303
UA
$1,382
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RS
28.4
UA
29.9

Ukraine generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia leads in adult obesity rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RS
45.0
UA
66.0

Serbia performs better than Ukraine 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
UA
18.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RS
5.7%
UA
12.3%

Serbia generally does better on infrastructure, though Ukraine leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RS
8.7%
UA
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RS
$24,500
UA
$16,200

Serbia generally does better on employment & economy, though Ukraine leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RS
74.2 yrs
UA
73.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RS
4.8
UA
7.3

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

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

Kiev Rain: 23.8 in/yr (605 mm)
56° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Belgrade Kiev
Jan–Mar 45°/33°F (7°/0°C) 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/53°F (22°/12°C) 68°/51°F (20°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 76°/58°F (24°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/39°F (11°/4°C) 43°/33°F (6°/1°C)
View all months
Month Belgrade Kiev
Jan 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C) 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C)
Feb 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C) 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C)
Mar 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C) 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C)
Apr 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C) 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C)
May 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C) 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C)
Jun 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C) 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C) 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C) 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C)
Sep 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C) 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C)
Oct 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C) 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C)
Nov 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C) 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C)
Dec 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C) 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C)

Data: Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Serbia passport

Serbia passport holder visiting Ukraine

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

Ukraine passport holder visiting Serbia

Visa Free
Ukraine 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 Ukraine than Serbia?

On average Ukraine is about 24% less expensive than Serbia, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Ukraine?

Budget about UAH632,391 for 3 months in Ukraine (based on a RSD7,704,225 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Ukraine?

Connectivity is usually fine (Ukraine: 18.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ukraine offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Ukraine safe for expats?

Serbia performs better than Ukraine across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ukraine is 3.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in Serbia.

How is healthcare in Ukraine compared to Serbia?

Ukraine generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia leads in adult obesity rate. There are 29.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Ukraine, compared to 28.4 in Serbia. Ukraine scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Serbia: 72).

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

The average high temperature in Kiev is 56°F, compared to 62°F in Belgrade. Kiev receives around 23.8 in of rainfall per year, while Belgrade gets 26.9 in.

What language do they speak in Ukraine?

The official language in Ukraine is Ukrainian. In Serbia, the official language is Serbian.

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At a Glance

RS UA
Population 6,739,471 43,528,136
Currency Serbian Dinar (RSD) Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)
Languages Serbian Ukrainian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +381 +380
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112