Moving to Serbia from Sweden

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sweden to Serbia, you would find that Serbia is 17.8% cheaper than Sweden overall. A SEK728,567 salary in Sweden would need to be roughly RSD5,322,900 in Serbia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Serbian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Belgrade averages 62°F vs 52°F in Stockholm, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

SEK728,567 RSD5,322,900

To maintain the same standard of living in Serbia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 27.4% less

Groceries

pay 44.0% less

Transportation

pay 34.4% less

Housing

pay 28.6% less

Childcare

pay 67.0% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 51.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 SEK = 10.57 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 15% less than cities in Sweden.

Sweden

Vasteras 51%
Jonkoping 48%

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 Sweden to Serbia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
1,212 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in Sweden 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 Sweden to Serbia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

SE
2.1
RS
7.4

Sweden generally does better on safety, though Serbia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

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

affects wait times and access to care

SE
71.5
RS
28.4

Sweden 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

SE
8.0
RS
45.0

Sweden 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

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

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SE
3.6%
RS
5.7%

Sweden performs 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

SE
7.6%
RS
8.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SE
$64,200
RS
$24,500

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

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SE
2.3
RS
4.8

Sweden performs better than Serbia across all family life metrics.

Data: Skatteverket, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden 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.

Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Serbia

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

Serbia passport holder visiting Sweden

Visa Free
Serbia passport holders can enter Sweden 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 Sweden?

Yes — Serbia is on average about 31% cheaper than Sweden. 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 RSD1,330,725 in Serbia on a SEK728,567 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?

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

How is healthcare in Serbia compared to Sweden?

Sweden 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 71.5 in Sweden. Serbia scores 72 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).

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

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

What language do they speak in Serbia?

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

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At a Glance

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