Cost of Living in Belgrade

Belgrade is by far the richest city of all cities in former Yugoslavia, except Zagreb and Ljubljana who are much smaller cities.
So in Belgrade you have all kinds of people, rich, poore, etc. but the fact is Belgrade can offer you lots of chances you would not have in smaller exYU cities.
Belgrade has been growing at fast pace since 2000, and during the last few years the city is even faster transforming itself, faster than anytime in history. Many people lifted up themselves out of poverty.
For example you can not find a good electrician, for less than 50 euro per 2 hours, good independent car-mechanic won't come to work in your service if you don't pay him 1000-2000 euro, professional waiter won't work if you don't pay him 600 euro plus at least 600 tips, hairstylist 500euro + tips 500 euro.
Of course if you are not skilled, or independently working, but just a helper of a professional, you can not earn even a third of what I wrote.
I lived during the 90es outside of Serbia, in West Europe and USA, and I returned in 2001, with a little savings started my own business, on the market, everything was lacking at those times in Belgrade, and enterpreneurs who knew how to fulfill the gap made millions. I muself know a few self-made millionaires (from 2-3 to 40 million) who during the 90es could not afford to eat, and after selling some little estate, invested into machines, started production or import of things everyone needed.
There are many such cases, so everyone can come and visit Belgrade, and many haters will start loving it, or hate it even more, it's all up to you guys!

CHEAP HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I live in Serbia and so many things are expensive
If there is a thing for 300$ in Serbia it would cost 400$

If one man is eating meat and another man is eating cabbage, they are eating sarma on average

How much paid for a skilled/unskilled construction worker in Belgrade?

A blok 3000 eur. Zemun 2200+ to buy 1m2 of apartment.!!!!

Average salary in Belgrade is 600€/mo, and in few neighbourhoods it's over 700€/mo.

People working in IT/or for foreign enterprises, banking sector make over 1,000€ without doubt.

I was reading some of the comments and can't believe what I am reading. I used to live in Serbia and miss it every day. It is truth that Western Europeans think of the whole 'Eastern Europe' including Serbia as a bad place, but it is only due to propaganda. People are brainwashed to believe that they are better there. On the contrary, their people (I live in the G. Britain and will return to live in Serbia as soon as I can) are lacking basic education and some of the natives speak English worse than anybody who has finished Grammar school in Serbia. There is nothing better in great Britain but the amount of money you earn. Food is rubbish, people are robots who get drunk every weekend in a pub so they can stand their meaningless little lives. People in Serbia are lovely, polite and friendly and I think that some of the people there don't know how lucky they are to be there. I know many people want to leave because of bigger salaries and opportunities for work, but quality of life is so much better in Serbia because what you have there cannot be bought with money. I wasn't lucky to be able to stay and find work in Serbia, but I hope that this will change in the future.

Numbers numbers numbers people can calculate and put incorrect numbers out there all day.Salarys even within the same company for the same jobs can and normally are different pay because it all depends upon skill levels and actually the astetics ie attractiveness of the employee being male or female hired.The anonymous post July 24 is just putting numbers out there but once again calculating pay scales is impossible.

The average salary posted for Belgrade, is average salary for Serbia. In Belgrade region, average salary in 2019 was 576 eur, which is 67,864 RSD.

There is no point relying on any open discussion about Serbia on whole internet. That Country is surrounded by so many "forum psychopaths", that one's gonna end up reading all sorts of disgusting words against anything comes from there, and end up with no conclusion or with the wrong one. I suggest, if you're open minded, to go to any country. All of them are good. Serbia is cheap, Belgrade too if you shop around, as anywhere else, it's high on the food, drinks and night life scale. What else do we need?

2019 minimum monthly wage for serbia is 36,341.60 RSD which is $342.97 USD

Average salary in Belgrade is about 65K rsd, but median salary is around 42K. This is changing slowly because a lot of people come from inside the country to take any jobs here. In their native places they have none. At the same time there are no major industrial developments here.

Things may improve only when the small towns exhaust their pool of workers coming in or try to get more investments.

# To Anonymous Post April 14. A friend told me the same thing you posted, she worked for Google as a design engineer back in 2004.I guess Bill Gates must have done something really bad with past and present employees involved but she hung up when I asked that question. April-London

Hello everyone !
I read the 20 last comments and I can say that there are some trolls here.
Of course, life in Belgrade is hard. There are a lot of people who don't earn enough to live in Stari Grad or Dorcol, but it's the same thing in Paris or Berlin or London. Working class works in centre and lives in suburbs as everywhere in Europe or US.
The average net salarys are low but a emerging sectors pay good salarys (IT sector in Belgrade is exceptionnal for example. With a little bit more support from the government the Belgrade IT sector could be the best in Eastern Europe. I think the young generation (20-35) must look forward and they are well educated so they can attract foreign companies. Be patient, look forward !

Average salary in Belgrade is 510 Euro by official statistics, and in rich municipalities New Belgrade it's over 600eur, and Vracar over 700eur. That's netto. One big confusion is about salaries. When we talk about salaries in Serbia they are calculated as netto (means after tax). Average Belgrade salary neto-after tax is 510eur, which is roughly before tax 830eur. People in western Europe and in US calculate salary as before tax.

Hey Goran Gory,I'm from Britian and not a fan of CNN.I only visit Belgrade rarely to get 16% interest rates on large deposits I make for 6 month interest rate returns on my money.I've seen first hand how Serbians ie locals react to each other and the outcome is bleak to say the least.You're only defending Serbia because you live in that shithole,no other reasons.All of Eastern Europe in the Balkans are the same.Dreary negative towards everyone including others that have lived there all of their lives.That's always been the mindset,no progression just nothingness they portray.FYI all of Western Europe considers Eastern Europe a shithole full of mindless infidels including Serbia.Look in the mirror and you'll see one yourself.

It's called war Serbia got what it deserved.Obviously you live there Goran but I don't only visited briefly.GORAN what a name.Is that short for GORY? I've never been miserable just the facts about Serbia and their people.Enjoy your war torn shithole in Serbia you deserve it.Truth is truth let serbians rot.FYI Russia doesn't want Serbia either.

I'm a Brit I lived in Serbia for 5 years.Eight months in Belgrade and my other time spread out living in different areas near Belgrade.Its a shame wages are so low for natives of Serbia and people in general.Slums abound not only in Belgrade but neighboring areas near Belgrade.Rents are very reasonable in general.Serbia wouldn't be a bad place to live but between government corruption and multitudes of scammers whom openly try to scam people even locals scam each other.I left Serbia last week and I'll never return.The people are viscious to put it mildly and quite dangerous not only to foreigners but unto themselves.

I forgot to mention if you buy any real estate in Serbia not just in Belgrade anywhere in country it can be a house even priced for 5000 euro ready for living,unbelievable but truth,coz many people are leaving country to EU to work for higher salaries in last couple of years and real eastate prices are going down dramaticaly especialy in east part of coountry,once you buy any real estate you get an ongoing permision of stay from local authorities,you do not need to mary Serbian etc.Many people from Turkey and Eastern Europe and Russia did get an official permision of staying.Then with permision of staying and registered company (DOO) which you can register with just 1 euro deposit/50 euro in settling up the papers/lawyer they provide officianly services to foreign tourists in Belgrade in cooperation with local people,and they live quite well without any work and they make 2-3K euro a month at least doing nothing,just a website from local web agency for 50-100 eur with credit card procesement as a registered company(DOO)and a local people working as a tourist guider/hostess/salons/bars...Serbia has one of the lowest salary in Europe but if you can manage investments here you can live very pleasantly with just 5-10K euro invested with 1-2 worker onsite and at least 1K euro in profit a month from tourism sector.

Finding accomodation on local craiglist is the most expensive way due to high commisions of sub-agents and ads cost.The cheapest way to find cheap and good accomodation is through local people,Serbian students with local friendships etc.One french girl did find a fuly equieped room for 65 euro a month with bills included as well in prica in a shared flat of one old granny from an sticky ad on local bus stop 5 km from centre of city.A similiar room on local ads in that area is adverstised 150 euro due to many sub-agents and real estate unneccary commisions.Get a local serbian buddy and you will see that Belgrade is cheaper than most of African or Asian cities.Local ads are full with scammers.Find a local human conenection they will assist you free of charge honestly do not believe in local craiglist nor internet ads.

Two previous comments look very untrue. It's enough to look up property prices on halooglasi.com, nekretnine.rs or any other local property website to see that in a good location to rent decent 3bedroom apt you need at least 500eur per month, probably more.

I know a lady from UK she came in Belgrade 6 years ago,she is renting a 3 bedroom apartmant in a Belgrade suburb area for 150 euro,in 1 bedroom is a IT professional for sleeping/living and other 2 rooms are redo into office space.

In one of the room a young freshly graduated IT professional aged 22 years is working on IT outsourcing project for UK clients that mentioned English lady is supplying from UK.

The guy gets about 260 euro monthly salary for extensive website admin works 150 hours a work and UK's lady/firm owner is making about 5K euro a month from just that one single guy in IT outsourcing services in Belgrade with free room to stay and free food as well along with 260 euro a month salary.

I do talk just a primer how easily is to make a money in Belgrade and to live pleasantly if you know to deal with EU/USA companies as a foreigner.A UK's lady came in Belgrade 6 years ago as a tourist,but she made a lot o local networks and friendships and she started IT outsourcing business with just 500 euro/400 GBP.She say in UK/England you can just survive with that money for a week or two without any worker.In Belgrade she has a large 3 bedroom house/office and an IT worker.

Prices for renting in Belgrade do vary a lot.Local people can easily find a 30 square meters furnished apartmant in a suburbs area about 15-20 km from center of the city for just 100 euro without bills.The cheapest way to rent anything in Belgrade is a room or house in suburbs,you just pay rent 100-120 euro and the bills are small indeed about 30-40 euro for electricity,water and internet/wi-fi.

Centre of city is horribly expensive for rent and is almost reserved for tourists.The prices shown in list abour rents are a bit high.The more you go from center of the city the cheaper sometimes 2-3 times than numbers shown.

Hostle industry is booming.I had a friend in centre of Belgrade she is the owner of several hostels.If you rent an apparmtent for your self alone it can goes up to 30-35 euro a day.If you rent a bed you can find in for 5 euro a day.

She rents a bed for 5 euro a night.Belgrade is quite cheap if you know local people to assist you.Stay away from wild unregistered taxi drivers from local airport at any price.

Never jump into any taxi from airport a usually fee will be about 100 euro although official price is just 15-20 euro.Use bus no.72 or A1 the difference is about 10-15 minutes and it cost just 89 dinars/0.8 euro bus ticket for 20 km long way from airport to the centre.

All these prices shown are for people who come straight away.Knowing local people will help you a lot.I personaly live with 200-250 euro a month in Belgrade single.120 euro for a fully furnished 35 m2 in a suburb with all bills included,dialy expenses for food are about 2-3 euro per person if you are not food lover and if you do not eat like a pig.

Belgrade is one the cheapest capital in Europe but you must be carefuly do not trust anybody 100%.Tourism is huge here and many people from small cities in Serbia are coming to Belgrade to work in tourism industry.

Public transport is a pain one of the worst in Europe rent a car of find a a local driver.Anything else is ok.Good bars,shops,people,very cheap 1st class medical and dental services,I know many people from USA and Western Europe coming here for surgery and dental services,they say it is up to 90% cheaper than in their countries.

Just to complete information, you didn't add median monthly salary on the list. The median net monthly salary in Serbia is 38,500 that means more than 50% earn less.

Hello, I will move to Beograd in end of August and I am looking for a furnished appartment to rent by month. Could someone help me? with any information? rent site etc?
Thank you

Well only 10 percent of 7 million inhabitants in Serbia live good as mentioned below. You cannot take as reliable information a surgeon salary because how many of us are a surgeon?? Just take compare of avg. salary and you already see that its struggling! Avg salary as mentioned above is 46,000 and estimate for one person to live without rent is 52,000! That means each month without rent you need to earn extra money just to survive!

Belgrade is very very expensive city compared to Serbian salaries. With average monthly salary of 46,000 you pay rent in suburb that is 22,000 and you are left with 24,000. The bills are at least 15,000 and you are left with 9,000. That's enough for one person for food max. for 10-15 days what about other quarter of month???

Shame for government, in Chicago,IL with average salary you can make a rent, pay bills, buy food and even save money!

I'm living in Belgrade for 15 years, and I'll share with you net salaries after tax for some fields (these are average of course some get more or less because maybe they are better/worser in that field or they work more/less time so it's just avg amount per month for that field.)

Retail/Supermarket workers - 220$-300$
Teachers in public schools - 400$-490$
Bank tellers - 350$
Pharmacy workers - 350$-600$
Bank Branch Managers - 900$-1000$
Post Office worker - 400$-450$
Aircraft Mechanic - 700$-800$
Starter IT workers - 500$
Average IT worker salary - 1000$
Managers in top corporations - 750-1200$
Managers in international(European,American) companies - 1000-1500$

This is not 100% true because everything can vary on situation but this is average.

Making comment because I'm seeing a lot of scams targeted towards foreigners.

Any one bedroom apt in Belgrade over 250eur is a SCAM, they're targeting foreigners that don't know enough Serbian to get the "real" rental prices - usually 200eur+bills in center but cheaper everywhere else

Groups like "Belgrade Foreign Visitor Club" on FB are where a lot of these scam artists congregate.

The average serb can not afford a 300eur one bedroom apt plus bills reasonably. Use your head when looking to rent

*prices might be higher for short rentals, but 6 month and over they're solid

Hello, question, is education and healthcare free? What is the second nicest city after Belgrade? how expensive is a motorcycle and car insurance, thank you!

#Hop

Dear, prices of descend apartments are expensive! But in Serbia people can't afford those so they end up living in some old "grandma's furniture" aprartments. No one that I know looked for an apartment on cityexpert.com
I've lived in one room with my husband for three years, working all day 6 days per week, and still didn't have enough money for food after paying rent and utilities (300e). Not to mention travel or restorants - nothing.
Is life suppose to be like that?

We left Serbia two months ago and found descend jobs with our MA university education.

Living in Serbia is impossible.
If you are in your twenties no one wants to hire you because of the lack of experience or politics, and you will never be able to afford your own apartment or car...
Young people are very bad threated in Belgrade who has mostly old population.
Serbia is the third world dieing country.

Lived in Belgrade for my entire adult life, currently I am 29 years old. The cheapest way to live is to share a small apartment with a roomate outside the city center(I mean really outside) wich will cost you arround 100e a month with utilities. Buy food at a big supermarket, cook at home and never go out. You need at least 500e/month for a decent life.

Belgrade one room apartment costs 200eur+100eur utilities= ~300eur
For food you need at least 5eur/day= 150e monthly. Let's take into account monthly bus pass ~50eur. That's about 500eur circa. For apartment, some modest food and transportation. The average person here makes 200eur per month. Basically Serbia is surviving due to its large diaspora $$ donations. Population is dropping rapidly cause most of the young people are leaving for the West.

Hello everyone? i am planning to move to Belgrade in the summer. Single guy, no dependents. Are there any other online resources besides cityexpert.rs to find apartments? Thanks in advance.

Theo you will live like a god with 300 000 dinars. Most 4 person families live with 70 000 dinars so you have 5x more.

Hello guys! I have a question! 300.000 dinars to live in Belgrade, with my wife and my 2 kids, is it a good salary?

I'm not a consumist person, I love cook and I don't like expensives clothes.

Is it possible have a good life in Belgrade and to enjoy some trips in Europe?

Thank you!!

I am foreigner livng in Belgrade and I love it, there is lot coworking spaces, great food, generous people, just these aparment prices are not right. Apartments are much more expensive, don't know why they are leaving incorrect prices, just type https://cityexpert.rs/en and search the apartments and prices by yourself.

well, welcome to Balkans mr.Dane. Some people are actually fed up with steryle clean and boringly empty northern cities and they come to the south to breath a fresh air of exotic mix of euro-orient. I find Belgrade fine, it is cheap, with good food and friendly people. People are very cosmopolitan and educated and love to have good time.

@yousuf - depends on company, from 700/800e up to 1.5k.

guys, so much fake info here that I must comment. If you are a student or very modest person okay but if you want western more or less relaxed life and of course to save a bit a side for vacation or tickets back to home from time to time you will need 2000 eur a month for family of 2 adults and 2 small children and modest car without rent like myself. Bus transport is not ao good but better than before. Most suburbs area are bad bad with bad infra, it is oposite of west, if you have money you live downtown not outside since downtown has better infra. yes you need car if you are busy person that goes around alot. I assume you are not living to eat so for full package of 1 person that wants all western amaneties and plane ticket here and there you need 1000 eur with flat and you wont be living like king, that is perception of student. wardrobe is expensive and selection is bad. dinning out is cheap. technics and mobiles are expensive.

Stay

Hello ; Any idea about the expected salary for Engineers with Master Degree ( MSc) in Belgrade ? Any idea of part time wages for the same

hello every body is there any website offer job in serbia ?

Ai its hard.There will be many unreal prices.So you need to low price.. 49M2 in city centre is 95000e, 49m2 in pheriphery is 49000e..

#kfx

For 1000e you can live like a god.If you rent a flat, if you want to live in centre, rent cost 200-300 euros ( small flat ) + 100-150 euros for Utilities.For one person, without rent and without parties every night, can live in Belgrade for 250-350 euros.If you want to go to suburb ( which is 1000% better), you can save on rent because on suburb you can rent a flat 50 square meters for 100-150 euros.I mean, families in Belgrade live with 500-600 euros ( four person without rent )...

Everybody I need a bit help form you,
I need to find myself a appartment in BG, my working place is at Viline Vode, I am looking for appartement in the range of 30-45 square meteres and am ready to spend 200-250euros per month.
Any help is appriciated.

#Anonymous thanks for your respond. So, 700 euros is ok and as I saw you conversations, that includes also monthly rent flat?

Is it enough 700 euros salary for living costs in Belgrade? Thank you in advance guys! :)