15 Living in Serbia Pros and Cons 2023

Are you weighing the pros and cons of living in Serbia? As an expat who lived in Serbia, I’ve got you covered!

In 2018, I moved to Serbia to meet my cousins. My grandfather on my mom’s side is Serbian and he still has family over there who I’d never met before. At the time I was broke and needed a free room to sleep in, so I moved into my cousin’s apartment in Belgrade.

I quickly fell in love with Serbia, the people, and the amazing food.

But it’s not all sunshine and roses – it never is. So let’s look at the pros and cons of living in Serbia from a foreigner/expat perspective.

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Pros of Living in Serbia:

1. Low Cost of Living

I found that the cost of living in Serbia is incredibly low compared to most Western countries. Whether it’s groceries, rent, or public transportation, you’ll find that all your costs are significantly reduced when compared to other places in Europe.

You can easily live in Serbia as a single person for under $900 USD, including rent and eating out.

When I ate out (which I did all the time cause it was so inexpensive!), my meals were about $10 USD. And that’s an average including some expensive places, and places where I had 3 courses.

2. Great for Digital Nomads

Serbia has been a great place for digital nomads. This is mainly due to the low cost of living and abundance of coworking spaces. In Belgrade especially, there are many coworking spaces where you can rent a desk by month.

I prefer to work solo, so I didn’t take advantage of this. If I had, I’d probably have made more friends than I did during my time in Belgrade.

Cities outside of Belgrade aren’t as popular for digital nomads since the internet connection can be weaker.

In Belgrade, you won’t find Starbucks to work at. Some local cafes have WIFI, but most aren’t super chill with us nomads working for hours on end – even if we buy drinks and food.

I always asked at the counter before I bought anything to see if they were ok with it.

Also, many historical buildings don’t have any outlets, so check before you commit to a cafe for the day.

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3. Safe Cities and Friendly People

I never felt unsafe while I lived in Serbia. People are friendly and there is a sense of community that you don’t find in many places anymore.

Belgrade especially was incredibly safe. I used to walk through the city at night without any problems or issues.

It’s not uncommon for people to stay out until 4 am, especially in the summertime.

The only crime I heard about was pickpockets after people went out clubbing at night. So keep your bag close, and you’ll be fine.

Slavic people are incredibly kind – even if they can be a bit direct. Like the Germans, they will bluntly tell you things so some people assume they’re being rude. But they’re not!

And once you befriend some Serbs, you’ll quickly realize they are overflowing with love and hospitality.

Be careful: do not tell them you have a favourite food or dish, or they will literally make it for you every single time you see them. I accidentally told my cousin I really liked the plum pita they made, and soon I had a dish in front of me full of it every day.

It’s not a bad problem to have, but it certainly won’t help your diet!

4. Delicious Food

Speaking of food, let’s talk about the deliciousness that is Serbian cuisine. Seriously, it’s amazing. From ćevapi and pljeskavica to ajvar and burek, you’ll find yourself going back for more.

My personal favourite is uštipci with yogurt (you can also try it with ajvar if you are feeling adventurous). Uštipci is basically deep-fried dough, which goes incredibly well with the yogurt sauce.

The other thing I love about Serbia is the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. You can find such a variety of fruits that you won’t even recognize some of them!

My grandma grew up outside of Belgrade and would go mushroom hunting and foraging for berries with her dad regularly. That tradition lives on today, although most people leave it to the professionals and reap the rewards at farmer’s markets.

Seriously, the mushrooms in Serbia are divine!

5. Amazing, and Cheap, Nightlife

If you love to party, then Serbia is the place for you. Nightlife starts late (around midnight) and usually goes until 4 or 5am.

Most bars are incredibly cheap – a beer can cost as little as $1 USD.

There are also some great clubs in Belgrade that charge a cover of about $10 USD. The music is great and the vibe is always fun.

If you’re looking for something a bit more low-key, there are plenty of places to get drinks and hang out with friends. Many bars have outdoor patios where you can sit and watch the world go by.

My cousin and I went to quiet pubs around 8pm since I’m not a night owl. It was still quite lively and fun – but I’m told the full on club scene is even more amazing.

They even have clubs on boats in the Danube!

6. Beautiful Nature

Serbia is not all about the cities. If you’re looking for something a bit more outdoorsy, then Serbia has plenty of options for you as well.

From mountains and forests to rivers and lakes, there are endless opportunities for adventure in Serbia.

I used to visit Zlatibor, an amazing mountain town about 4 hours from Belgrade. It’s a great place to go hiking and explore nature.

Back in Belgrade, you can take cruises down the Danube or hikes around Avala mountain. And of course, there is plenty of swimming and sunbathing to do at Ada Ciganlija lake near Belgrade.

Serbia is a great place to explore nature and take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life.

You probably know I love hiking, so you can expect me to love a place with great hikes!

7. Inexpensive Healthcare

If you’re looking for a place to get quality healthcare at an affordable price, then Serbia is the perfect spot for you. Healthcare in Serbia is incredibly inexpensive and of high quality.

The only downside is that it can be difficult to find English-speaking doctors and staff, so it helps to have someone who speaks the language with you.

I got the worse hayfever of my life in Serbia and thankfully my cousin is an eye doctor so they were able to help me communicate my allergies to certain medications with a pharmacist to get something that would make me less of a swollen puffball.

They are also incredibly efficient – which seems weird considering how much they prioritize time off and slow coffee breaks. You can get a pair of glasses for 1/4 of the price of Canada or the US in a few days!

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8. Easy to Use Public Transportation

One thing I loved about living in Serbia is the public transportation system. It’s incredibly easy to use and the tickets are very affordable.

The trams and buses run 24/7, so you can get around Belgrade at any time of day or night.

For longer distances, you can take a train or bus from one city to another. The tickets are very cheap and the rides are usually comfortable and punctual.

So, if you’re ever in Serbia, don’t hesitate to use public transportation! It’s a great way to get around without breaking the bank.

However, even if you do rent a car, you’re paying pennies compared to the car rental I recently did in Vancouver and the other one in California. Those were more than 4x the cost of living in Serbia for a month!

Cons of Living in Serbia:

1. Lower Wages

The average wages in Serbia are much lower than in other developed countries. This can make it difficult to save up enough money to buy a home or travel the world.

Most people in Serbia try to find US companies to work at so they get paid a higher wage. The second best is to work for a German company that also has higher wages.

Digital nomads can benefit by working for US companies (or having a blog like me!) and getting paid higher wages, while having a lower cost of living.

I recommend this platform to find jobs as a foreigner.

2. Meat Heavy Cuisine

The food in Serbia is delicious, but can be quite heavy and meat-centric. This can be a bit hard for vegetarians. The few non-meat options I can think of off the top of my head are usually still cooked in the same pans or are full of cheese.

For example, cheese pita is delicious but literally stuffed with feta.

You’ll likely be sticking to salads or just have to accept cross-contaminated cooking dishes.

Also, some of the dishes are quite spicy, so if you’re not used to that kind of cuisine it may take some getting used to!

3. Smoking Inside

Serbia is one of the few countries in Europe where smoking inside restaurants and bars is still allowed. So if you’re not a smoker, this can be an issue.

It’s definitely something to keep in mind when considering living in Serbia!

Small towns are especially bad for this. I’d go to the cafe with my cousin in the mornings where he and his cousin (it’s a whole web of cousins I won’t begin to untangle!) would smoke while they drank coffee and read the paper – then argue about the paper – as seems to be custom for Serbian men. You’d open the door to walk in and get his with a literal wall of smoke.

It’s becoming less common in Belgrade, or at least there are non smoking sections now. But if you have asthma like I do, you’ll end up leaving a lot of cafes early.

4. Lots of Pollen and Hayfever

If you’re someone who suffers from hayfever, Serbia in the spring can be pretty miserable. There’s a lot of pollen in the air and it gets into everything!

It’s especially bad for people with allergies or asthma like me.

I was so stuffy and swollen that I thought I had the flu! Thank god for allergy meds.

5. High Unemployment Rates

Despite the low cost of living, unemployment rates in Serbia are quite high. This makes it difficult for young people to find jobs and can be disheartening for those looking for work.

That said, there are still plenty of opportunities if you look hard enough, from teaching English to working remotely.

Unfortunately this also means a lot of inequality and homelessness, especially in cities.

I recommend this platform to find jobs as a foreigner.

6. Limited Internet – and No Internet Cafes

Internet in Serbia is not always reliable or fast. Which can be a challenge for digital nomads who need to stay connected and working.

There are also no internet cafes like you’d find in other cities, so if your own connection goes down while traveling, you’re out of luck!

Get a SIM card to help prevent this. You can get ones with unlimited data very cheap, and then hot spot for connection.

📱 I use this e-SIM when I travel for data globally

7. Not LGBTQ+ Friendly

The LGBTQ+ community is still very much in the closet in Serbia. There’s no legal protection for them and there are still many outdated and discriminatory laws.

This makes it difficult (especially for queer people) to live openly in Serbia, even if they feel safe among friends or family.

I remember telling my cousins about Ru Paul’s Drag Race when I arrived (I had just learned what it was and become obsessed) and they stared at me like I had 3 heads for just watching the show.

I don’t think most Serbians would be openly aggressive, but they’re definitely not as accepting as other countries I’ve lived in.

FAQs about Living in Serbia

✈️ Considering moving to Serbia? You’ll want to save money on flights with this platform!

Conclusion: Living in Serbia Pros and Cons

Living in Serbia has its pros and cons, just like any other country. On the one hand, it’s a beautiful and safe place with friendly people and delicious food. It also has some of the lowest cost of living in Europe.

On the other hand, there can be language barriers, limited internet access, high unemployment rates, and limited LGBTQ+ rights.

In the end, it all comes down to personal preference and needs. If you’re looking for an affordable place to live with great food and interesting history, Serbia may be the perfect place for you!

If you’re ready to move abroad, check out the checklist I use to prepare myself for moves around the world!

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