Where I Can Live
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Europe · Serbian · updated 2026-10

Moving to Serbia: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $1,350 a month to live in Belgrade, and a family of four about $3,000, including rent. Serbia usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 8 yrs, and dual citizenship is limited. You can move here without a job offer through the Digital nomad residence.

Monthly budget
$1,350
Very low cost
Safety
58
Moderately safe
Stability
36
Fragile
Family
58
Good
Main city
Belgrade
Language
Serbian
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
Dual citizenship
Limited
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Serbia?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Serbia, per month in US$

One person
$1,350
Family of four
$3,000
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Belgrade centre
$600
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$1,100
Estimate
Price level
51
US = 100
Income per person
$1,123
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
58
Moderately safe
Homicides per 100k
1.31
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability−0.32
Rule of law−0.32
Control of corruption−0.60
Government effectiveness+0.03
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Fragile overall (36/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
58
Good
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.677
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
5.4
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
76 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$984
per person / year
Education spending
3.4%
of GDP

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
Digital nomad residenceCase-by-case under the 2024 law; about €3,500/month.
Job offer
Single permit (work + residence)With a Serbian employer, or through your own registered company.

Who gets easier access to Serbia

Serbia is not part of a free-movement area in the index.

Visiting: 90 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 108 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
3 years after permanent residence
Dual citizenship
Limited

Last checked 2026-10.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Serbia?

About $1,350 a month for one person and $3,000 for a family of four in Belgrade, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $600 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,100. Prices are 51% of US levels. Serbia is the 26th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Serbia safe to live in?

Serbia scores 58/100 for safety (moderately safe), ranking 52nd of 76. The homicide rate is 1.31 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Serbia politically stable?

Serbia scores 36/100 for stability (fragile), ranking 65th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Serbia good for families?

Serbia scores 58/100 for family-friendliness (good), ranking 45th of 76. Life expectancy is 76 years and under-5 mortality is 5.4 per 1,000 births.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Serbia?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Serbia?

Usually 8 yrs of residence. 3 years after permanent residence. Dual citizenship: limited.

Can I move to Serbia without a job offer?

Yes. Digital nomad residence: Case-by-case under the 2024 law; about €3,500/month.

Does Serbia have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Digital nomad residence. Case-by-case under the 2024 law; about €3,500/month.

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Serbia can move