Cost of Living in Belgrade

My wife and I visited Belgrade May 2019 not as tourists but to see how many buildings we're damaged with bombs from NATO 20 years ago. We weren't impressed to see so few buildings destroyed,or to find out the small number of Serbs that died during the 78 days of NATO bombing.You never send boys to do a man's job.Be happy that NATO pilots were flying those U S bombers and not real U S pilots, otherwise Belgrade would've been leveled and no Serbs left.As we were looking at some damaged buildings a Serbian man told my husband NATO most vicious military on earth my husband laughed and said give the U S military a reason and we'll show Serbia what vicious really looks like afterall the U S military does one thing very well anialating countries and people, best in the world, practice makes perfect.

Also, 67,864 RSD is netto (after tax). Many European countries and US calculate average salary in brutto (before tax). Average Belgrade salary before tax is 941 eur, which is 110,906 RSD. But as you can see, government taxes are high so basically person who earns 576eur after tax, pays about 365 in taxes (original salary would be 941eur)

IT sector brings the average salary up in Belgrade, I'm netting (after taxes) around 140K, and I'm not even a senior yet...

I visited Belgrade Novi Sad and Nis on a one month vacation in April.The weather was nice not very expensive either.

Things may improve but it's doubtful especially since many from small towns left Belgrade for economic reasons.If monthly saleries would increase to RSD 65k throughout Serbia the economy would turn around quickly on a positive note.It'll take time if that happens but it won't happen soon.

I've read so many comments on Numbeo and the majority of them are negative as to salaries and different opinions according to how life is.Theres no such thing as the perfect salary, never will be.Numbeo is a format asking others to be truthful about current costs of living, and that's something everyone should appreciate because honest input is essentially needed,atleast that's how I feel it should be.Instead of contributors just putting numbers out there try to make them accurate because it helps everyone.Numbeo is about cost of living not life experiences, remember that too. Thank you

# Anton Grosic Yes there's alot of trolls here, maybe you're one too maybe not.It remains to be seen the level of low pay which is a reality for the majority of Serbs.Eastern Europe is spinning out of control just as Western Europe with low wages.There's nothing to look forward to even the youth simply because the government is moving backwards not forwards.Painting a Rosey picture as you've done is easy but when Serbs look at their wages the cost of living doesn't match the wages people receive.My brother is a mechanical engineer,his pay very low.Hes been trying to get a work visa for the U S for almost two years now.He's highly qualified,a professional.The U S keeps on rejecting his applications for a visa.My brothers friends say the same.Europe and the European Union should've treated the U S better over the years but they didn't.The U S has walked away from all of Europe and honestly I don't blame them.

Numbeo gives the net monthly salary after taxes.510eur 600eur to 700eur in New Belgrade net per month? Sorry to burst your bubble# Nicole but I have a professional position in New Belgrade,a doctor of 16 years,a specialist.My brother lives in Western Europe, salaries there aren't calculated before taxes.I don't know which official statistics you're speaking about other than your own.The information you provided isn't correct by any means.Let Numbeo calculate salaries and listen to people that actually live in Belgrade instead of giving false salaries and other information as you've done.My net pay after taxes averages between 480 to 550 each month tops.I know general workers that make half of that each month net.How do I know that? Because their patients of mine and I extend them credit after looking at their monthly salary from their employers.

Hey Gory just asking me if I'm from Albania or Kosovo says you're just like all of the other losers in Serbia.Take your narrow minded tiny little dick down your rat hole because that's all your needle dick could ever satisfy,a rat. Abigail

@Anonimus - Man, you are a total idiot and I am sure you know that. My name is Goran, not short for anything. What is your name and where are you from? Albania, Kosovo???
But, even if you go to Serbia from time to time, which I doubt, why you do that if you hate it so much? It is obvious that you are a CNN type of idiot since your comments are completely removed from reality. For you, and those like you, Serbia is land of good , kind people. Inform yourself before you start embarrassing yourself even though you are not using your real name. So, go back to your rat hole where you belong!

@Anonymous -
There are so many 'Anonymous' comments here so it is hard to answer some of them. But, one of these 'Anonymous' (comment dated February 28th) is obviously very miserable and unhappy with being in Serbia. Why don't you leave and go some place where you will be happy. Besides, your nonsense comments about US and Russia in relations to events is Serbia are so ridiculous. US has inflicted damage to Serbia worth billions of $$ and now they are 'helping' for free??
He said - 'Serbia is nothing more than a shithole, literally, just as their people are, let Serbia rot no other countries care'.
I wonder if even a mother could love an idiot of this magnitude? My condolences to your mother, wherever she is.

Serbia can't seem to get along with any country especially countries in the Balkans.The U S walked away from Serbia recently since the U S got tired of helping Serbia for free.Russia is so broke they can't help Serbia much.Let Serbia fight their own battles,the majority of which they start when Serbia picks fights with other countries around them needlessly.Russia is mad at the U S for pulling out of Serbia and ending the INF treaty which is long over due.I visited Serbia which was supposed to be a two week vacation last year but I left two days later and finished my vacation in Germany.Serbia is nothing more than a shithole, literally, just as their people are,let Serbia rot no other countries care.The U S is rapidly closing the door on the world and soon the majority of countries won't be allowed to even visit the U S which makes us very happy,we don't need anyone, period.

As somebody said a graduated IT junior worker will agreed to work in IT outsourcing web developing jobs here even for 200 euro a month for 150 working hours which is about only 1.3 euro an hour starting hourly rate if you give him/her a proper accomodation-a room with all facilities and free food.

Renting a house in suburbs of Belgrade area is an excellent idea for foreign entrepreneurs coz you can put 2 people on site in 2 separate rooms and an additional 3rd room is an official office.That way people here do not travel to work and they work to the maximum coz they have everything free of charge(accommodation+food) and a salary.90% of IT professionals and in my own opionon highly skilled IT professionals in Belgrade are coming from undeveloped small cities outside Belgrade from undeveloped areas in country and they are agreed to work for 200-250 euro any IT outsourcing task with accommodation/food provided.

Accommodation in suburbs is about 50 euro per person per room in 3-4 bedroom house and the food is about 100 euro from cheap online food distributors they bring the food at your doors without any additional cost per worker to fill up their freezer so they can cook and take as much as they want.The pain is you have to deal with Serbian language.Almost 95% of online services are in Serbian and Google translate option doesn't help a lot since you will get wrong translation due to high complexity of Serbian/Slavic language.

So in all 250 euro is a cost to rent for a large 3 bedroom house in suburs+200 euro per IT worker+200 euro per additional IT worker with free room and food provided+100 euro per person for food,that's all about 850 euro a month for a large fully furnished house,2 workers on site per month all expenses.Setting up your business in centre of city is 300% more expensive anywherea between 1500-2000 euro.

Those 2 IT workers can make about anything between 2-5 thousands euro in outsourced IT projects to rich EU and USA countries with foreign IT manager/local company(DOO)owner who is native english/german/french/scandinavian speaker.

Public transport in Belgrade sucks unfortunatelly.In order to manage Belgrade public transport you need a local people to assist you,the service and quality of buses and trams are out of any comments.

Usual salary in private sector is 170-250 euro a month.In public sector much higher about 400 euro but that's for vip people reserved.Shops,bars,shopping malls,social activities are great.Many Serbian people from smaller places invest their savings in Belgrade's tourism industry and activities for EU tourists.It is a city to relax and to forget all your worries but you must find some relieble and honest people before you come.

A city has many fake real estate agents and fake tourist guider.Be aware of unregistered airport's taxi drivers.

Do not enter into any taxi on Belgrade's airport.

Get a bus no 72/A1 which are passing each 10 minutes.

The bus 72/A1 ticket is less than a euro/80 eurocents.

If you get a fake taxi from airport they will charge you 100 or 150 euro for 20 km half an hour drive from airport to the centre ,once you arrive in centre of city.One of the most bad experience with tourists in Belgrade are unregistered and fake taxi drivers on Belgrade's airport.Be aware of them and do not trust them any word they say to you.

Be aware of many scammers although majority of people if very honest and they will assist you free of charge.The best rule to have a good time in Belgrade is to first find local honest people from FB or similiar social network to wait for you on airport then to come.

A friend of mine is renting a fully furnished house in Zeleznik area which is about 17 km from centre of Belgrade for 170 euro a month,3 bedrooms 85 m2-900 square feet total space,large kitchen,balcony and a guard dog in yard with frequent bus lines you're in less than 20 minutes in the centre of city.Each room is fully furnished with central heating and he has plenty of trees,greens and fresh air around.Utility bills are about 50 euro a month in summer time increasing up to 80 euro in winter snowy time for all house not per room,but not more than that.In all for =250 two hundred fifty euro for a fully furnished house 85m2/900sqf with all utility bills included in winter time/220 euro in a summer.There are 4 persons there staying and paying each 60 euro per person for 30 days in month of staying,that's 2 euro a day with all bills included.
Finding houses in suburbs of Belgrade is much easier and 2-3 times cheaper than in centre of city.One of them is from England and he says nobody had asked him anything about permision of stay or similiar papers unlike renting a house in England or Netherlands or Germany.He just gave the money to the landlord/owner and he got a house key after 15 minutes of inspection of house.No hassles no deposits no stupit bureaucracy like in EU.He works there as a native english teacher part time 3-4 hours a day and he makes about 50-60 euro a day after one on one english clasess to the local low age young students from rich Belgredian families who are lookgin especially for native English teacher,billed on hourly basis about 12-15 euro per 2 persons by table.His wife is about to come soon.He says he enjoyed in Belgrade for last couple of months like never in his life in boring England.After giving english classed he spends his 50 euro a day salary in Belgrade pubs and sightseeing all day.No taxes on that income.Nothing.

Average salary is totally correct. Some people need to make difference between average and median salary. Average salary is definitely 46,000rsd per month. There're plenty of people (Teachers, Doctors, Policemen, Lawyers, Accountants, Bank employees etc. who make more). Of course that bakery laborers make the least because it's starter job. Just take a look around, Serbians should not be considered as "poor" while almost all are dressed well, shoping malls/caffes are full, everyone have new smartphones, almost all have car etc. It's true Serbia is much much poorer than Germany, USA, UK but our people ain't living much worse. I don't say there are no poor people out there, but take a look even the most developed countries have poor people, in the fact more developed countries have even more % of homeless than Serbia.

Salaries are much lower than 391 euro a month as shown especially in private sector.

I know a girl working as a seller in a local bakery in the centre of city for just 24k dinars which is 195 euro a month/25 working days a month/180 working hours.That way Belgrade is one of the lowest paid city in Europe but people agreed to work for that.

Best thing for foreigner is to register a DOO(Limited liability company in Serbian) and employ Serbians to work in tourism industry or any outsourcing field for EU/USA clients.An average rent for 3 rooms apartments that can be easily remande into working office is just 150-180 euro a month.Bills are about 50-60 euro in summer,100 euro in winter.

With 1 worker and and an working premises of about 50-60 m2 a foreigner(s) has a fully working firm/company in Europe for just 200+200=400 euro a month all together.

Unbelievable but truth.

Do not trust local lawyers or consultancy firms ever.Find a local educated person from a local universities they are many or from any local/internet craig list/ads.

Prices Are v different in all serbia,some where water bottle is in 40 local currency,and aome where its 60 and 80

To find apartment to rent use halooglasi or nekretnine.rs they're like craiglist.

people, statistics don’t work in Belgrade, most of the people officially earn 200 euro, and in reality it is more like 4-5 times as much because of cache tax evasion, once when you arrive in Belgrade you will understand it

friends of mine are waiters, one works as a waiter “Kod Dace” he makes 700 euros plus tips 700 euros in all 1400 euros, other friend works at “splav” for similar money, and th third one at “Lavina restaurant” and if you are a waiter making less than 1000 either you work in some dump or aren’t waiter at all . Many people make a good living in Belgrade and buy apartments in cache money, I also know a surgeon who takes 2000 per surgery and every day has at least 2 he works in private clinic as maxio facial, many doctors make 500 a month plus have their own fee of at least 4 times as much, ask dentists etc how much they make so you will understand why Ablok almost 1000 apartments bought in cache

By the way,
Average salary is 46,000 din but it's average those on top of pyramid are making the average salary high.

It's better to take a look at median monthly salary after tax for Belgrade it's maybe max 35,000 din.
If you wanna live good here you need to be an IT specialist, manager for top corporations, run a good private business either you'll need to work 12hrs a day to achieve "normal" life standards. There's no place on earth that is the best but definitely Belgrade isn't near the best. Don't come here unless you have a job that pays at least 1000eur net monthly or you will just regret!

The salary index is wrong. People who work in retail/shops/factories/etc (and A LARGE NUMBER of those people have University degrees) don't earn more than 200EUR per month. When it comes to private businesses, only people who work in the IT sector can earn more than 400/500 EUR. People who work in government-funded places (schools, libraries, post offices, city halls etc) make 400 EUR on average. However, an average person in Serbia is working for 200 EUR, sadly. Even those jobs are hard to get. You must be a ruling party activist or you have to have strong connections to get a better job. My best friend is a DOCTOR OF MEDICINE and she can't find a job!!! She is working as a waitress for 180EUR a month! And she ghad graduated with the best grades. Her family is poor and they don't have any connections! This is Serbian reality.

@Alejandro. I pay for my 5 year old BMW arround 200 euros a year ( insurance, taxes, yearly inspection - registration) . The best city after Belgrade is Novi Sad with strong IT sector and cheaper accomodiation. This city is not far from international airpot Nikola Tesla which is in Belgrade and Novi Sad is some 80km closer to Vienna and Budapest

Serbia is not a third world country, as some possibly paid propagandists like to put it, I could say it is 2nd world country, while Belgrade being close to 1st world country, especially New Belgrade in which 800 euros is average wage. Belgrade's infrastructure can be compared to any city in the EU.
I used to live in 5 EU and 2 US states.

I am the owner of a small company, and shop assistant I pay 500 euros, while car-mechanics 750-1500 euros, and I still have a problem to find them, since really good ones have a small shop on their own and probably make more money on their own.
The city is very safe, and every corner of it is very safe, compared to other cities in Europe.

Nice 55sq apartment in inner city area is arround 200e plus 100e utilities with internet. You can get a cell phone plan for as low as 10e a mont with unlimited calls/sms and 2gb interent. The food is cheap, if you cook you won't need more than 100e. Add 30e for the montly bus pass and you another 50-60e for the occasional nightout and you get to a total of 500e. I've lived like this for the past 3 years.

Nick is pretty accurate in his statements but I'd like to give some extra insight, lived in Belgrade for 1.5 years now and I spent around $500/mo

Garsonjera (one room apartment, don't need more in Belgrade IMO) in the center is 200 euros and ~30-40eur utilities. Bigger apartments are more like what Nick said but maybe a little further from the center.

Food 5eur a day is a good estimate but I've spent less on occasion, KFC and other fast food chains often have promotions for a full meal for 200 dinars, and it can get even cheaper if you cook for yourself

No sense in getting the bus pass unless you absolutely must travel by bus every day and don't have the time to avoid patrol. Tons of people don't pay and I've never known anyone to ever actually get the fine if they pretend not to understand serbian

I've living in Belgrade for 10 years and this city is good for life if you speak fluent English and work in interational company.

For examle my monthly salary is 40000 din (about 330 euros). Just to mention that I graduated at Faculty with GPA 9/10.

If you don't have your own apartment, you should pay about 200 euros for 40-50m2 apartment.
Hopefully I have my own apartment.

Utilities costs are about 100 euros.
If you have your own apartment calculation is following: 330 - 100 = 230 euros monthly for food.

If you don't have your own apartment 330 - 200 - 100 = 30 euros monthly for food.
That mean that you have only 0.3 euros for food per day. So you can only eat bread every day.
So if you don't have your own apartment you can't live in Belgrade if you have average salary in Serbia (which is about 350 euros).

This country is sucks.
Every year 30000 young people go from this country. That is one million people in ten years, and Serbia now has about 6 million people.
So statistic tells everything.

#Anny they are ripping you of i am renting a 70 m2 for 300 eu in the city center

@#Anny Why are you lying? For 800 eur you can rent a HUGE appartment in the best area of the city.

I love Belgrade,culture, people,real food, they have green markets or Maxi and other supermarkets where you can buy real non GMO food,Serbia is the only country in Europe without GMO food.Yes I agree prices of flats are not correct you should check cityexpert.rs for the prices.I'm paying one bedroom flat 800 euros.

Dane, don"t comment if you don²t know nothing, not every internet page needs to have racist haters like you, first of all Belgrade is not dirtier than other huge cities (lot cleaner then Berlin) there are some really clean parts and some really dirty ones, second "unfriendly for live" - biggest lie of them all , Serbs in general are now quite known as quite friendly people ,especially to foreigners , third Belgrade is not poor, I am sick and tired of people like you because everytime I want to find out something more about Serbia ,there are some people who want just to bullshit against them like they are on some payed agenda. Du sollst mit das aufhören !!! ( I am a German who has allready visited that country for 14 times and I find it amazing)

belgrade is very dirty, poor poeple and very unfriendly for live

just to add to my previous comment..2k includes 2 kids birthday a year, winter nad summer vacation, dentist, you need to buy new phone sometime, I need good clothing for job, weekend are dining out, modest during worl week, and so on... this is price for middle class life all inclusive, few Ks saving a year.

Cool website, I didn't even know something like this even existed.

#mohamed
try http://www.infostud.com/ or https://www.halooglasi.com/posao for general work

#Yousuf
yeah, 100k should be enough for 10 days, no problem.

Belgrade is really not that expensive if you have an average European salary. Problem is, most of the residents don't - average net salary is ~500e, maybe even lower.

I don't know about the "living like a god" part, though. My current salary is ~1850e; and yeah, it's true, i can save like 900e per month, no problem. But that's because I really don't have anything to spend it on. There is only so much that you can do in this city, it gets boring rather quickly. City is not that great, it's dirty and people are mean, rude and frustrated (unless you are a stranger, they have a fetish for strangers for some reason). People is Hamburg, where I lived before, are much friendlier, but the city is more expensive.

How much would my total expense in serbia be for 10 days of visit? Is 100,000 dinars enough or do i need more? I this includes just my expense excluding my residence. Just whoring around and weed with food. Anyone please?

I was wondering...How much does it costs to buy an apartment or a single family house in Belgrade?
Is it easy to buy if you are a tourist in Belgrade?

#FX27

I recomendate you to rent an apartment in part of Belgrade called Vidikovac.It's nice part of town with many trees, parks, resturants, caffe...It has bus lines: 23 - each 4 min, 53 - each 6 min, 89 each 10 min.And near Vidikovac stop bus 37 which goes each 6-7 min, I think that 37 go near Viline Vode.For 200 euros per month, you can rent a 90 square meters apartment in Vidikovac ( renovated ).In Vidikovac, you can rent a flat 37 sq. meters 150 euros.Bus 37 need 35 min from Vidikovac to Viline Vode.But if you want to be near city, you should try to find a flat on Banovo Brdo.It's great too, and it has over 10 bus lines + tramway lines.Its 15 min from Trg Republike with bus.On Banovo Brdo, you can rent a flat 42 sq. meters ( luxury ) 200 euros.

is a base salary of 1000eur net plus bonus(cca 500eur)enough to live in BG, I am single?

#optimist Definitely, I'm living on less than 67000 dinars a month in the center of the city. 700 euros is 86392 dinars

filip i am renting an apartment in stari grad for 180 euros a month

#Filip that's for a luxury/huge apartment. If you're paying over 200 euros for an apartment as a single person in Belgrade you're paying for space you don't need or you're getting scammed. Search on serbian listings for apartments and you'll find decent one person apartments in stari grad/novi beograd for 200 euros or under.

#Marko gives a HUGE overestimation

Unless you're getting ripped off or renting a luxury apartment rent will be around 150-200 euros in the center, depending on your needs. A single room apartment (which is all you're going to need unless you plan on staying in it for a majority of the time) in the center will be around 170 eur. Bills will be 50-100 eur depending on the size of the apartment.

300 eur for food is ridiculous unless you're exclusively eating out every day. Most expats/foreigners spend maybe 4-5 euros a day on food and that's with eating the more pricey food. Maybe 180 eur with a few nights of eating out.

300 euros for other expenses is way too high unless you want a car, which you definitely won't need in Belgrade.

This is all outdated. I checked srbija-nekretnine.org for real estate in serbia, also average salary on national bureau and prices of flats decreased a little bit, while the cost of food increased.

-rent and bills 350 eur a month

-food 300 eur a month

-300 eur for other expenses

With 1k you will live like a king, and would not have to worry about anything...

You'll be fine here with 700 euros a month. You can live like a king with 900 or more a month. Any non luxury apartment is going to be around 150-200 euros a month and garsonjeras (single room apartments, perfect for if you're single and don't plan on staying in it too much, or just plain don't mind it like me) will usually be 130-170 euros a month. Utilities vary a lot but are between 50 euros for the garsonjeras to 100-200 for bigger apartments. On average you'll be spending around 310 euros on utilities/rent if you don't rent a garsonjera. Although I was there during winter of 2015-2016, so my utilities were higher due to heating costs.

$3-4/day food budget is all you need if you don't eat out much and eat healthy. Produce is LAUGHABLY cheap in Belgrade. Like, you could probably feed a family of 4-5 WELL on $10/day if you aren't too picky with your veggies and meat. Contrary to at least the U.S. (and probably much of the western world), snacks and fast food are much more expensive than healthy home meals. For the same price as two snickers (around 80 din) I could buy a meal worth of fresh veggies.

I spent around $700/mo while I was in Belgrade and I was constantly ordering out/going out for coffee and buying gifts for my girlfriend and taking taxis. I never went hungry (well, except when the stores and restaurants were all closed because of holidays, but that wasn't a money issue!) and I lived a very comfortable life there. My costs went like:

-Food (non take out): 17% of budget
-Taxi: 5% of budget
-Rent and utilities: 43%
-Take out/entertainment/gifts/etc (luxuries): 35%

People generally don't have a problem over there living with $500/mo salaries, but for western quality of life I'd recommend $650-700. You don't need a car because the bus transportation system is pretty good for getting around the city. It's cheap but barely anyone pays for it anyway, if you're not taking a very popular line it's unlikely patrol would even get on. But patrol doesn't seem to like to card foreigners anyway, I always get ignored by them because I'm obviously an American.

Anyone telling you that you need more than $700 to have a good life here is either spoiled or is not living alone. Just stay clear of the luxury apartments those prices are ridiculous.

#Luis

With 1000€ montly in Belgrade you can live like a God