Moving to Serbia from Switzerland

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Switzerland to Serbia, you would find that Serbia is 61.0% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF60,626 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly RSD2,907,677 in Serbia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Serbian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

CHF60,626 RSD2,907,677

To maintain the same standard of living in Serbia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 63.4% less

Groceries

pay 59.9% less

Transportation

pay 49.5% less

Housing

pay 62.3% less

Childcare

pay 85.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 68.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CHF = 127.08 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 54% less than cities in Switzerland.

Switzerland

Zurich 102%
Geneva 101%

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 Switzerland to Serbia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
2,910 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in Switzerland 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 Switzerland to Serbia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

CH
2.4
RS
7.4

Switzerland performs better than Serbia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

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

affects wait times and access to care

CH
44.4
RS
28.4

Switzerland 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

CH
10.0
RS
45.0

Switzerland 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

CH
47.1
RS
29.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CH
6.5%
RS
5.7%

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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

CH
$82,900
RS
$24,500

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

CH
83.2 yrs
RS
74.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CH
3.6
RS
4.8

Switzerland performs better than Serbia across all family life metrics.

Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.

Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Serbia

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

Serbia passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Free
Serbia passport holders can enter Switzerland 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 Switzerland?

Yes — Serbia is on average about 62% cheaper than Switzerland. 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 RSD726,919 in Serbia on a CHF60,626 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?

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

How is healthcare in Serbia compared to Switzerland?

Switzerland 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 44.4 in Switzerland. Serbia scores 72 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).

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

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

What language do they speak in Serbia?

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

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At a Glance

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