Why expats move to Belgrade
Belgrade is one of Europe's most underrated cities — large enough for world-class restaurants, nightlife, and culture, but affordable enough that living well costs a fraction of what it would in Western Europe.
The city has grown significantly as an expat destination since 2020. There is now a real international community, coworking infrastructure, English is widely spoken among younger residents, and the quality of daily life — cafés, food, social scene — is genuinely excellent.
Population — Serbia's largest city
Typical comfortable monthly budget for one person
Minutes from the airport to city centre
Cost of living
Belgrade has seen rent increases in recent years due to the expat influx, but it remains very affordable by European standards.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, city centre | €450–700/month |
| 1-bedroom apartment, suburbs | €300–500/month |
| Coffee in a café | €1–2 |
| Lunch at a local restaurant | €5–8 |
| Monthly public transport pass | €22 |
| Gym membership | €25–50/month |
Full cost of living breakdown →
Where to live
Belgrade's most popular expat neighbourhoods:
- Vracar — Most popular overall. Central, residential, full of cafés. Best all-round choice.
- Dorcol — Old-town character, narrow streets, Bohemian atmosphere.
- Savamala — Nightlife and arts district. Great if you are young and social.
- New Belgrade — Modern, cheaper, practical. Less charming but very convenient.
- Zemun — Quieter, cheaper, Danube views. Further from the centre.
Detailed neighbourhood guide →
Getting around
Belgrade has good public transport — buses, trams, and trolleybuses covering the whole city. A monthly unlimited pass costs about €22. For taxis, use the CarGo app (Serbia's Uber equivalent) — trips across the city typically cost €3–7.
Working legally from Belgrade
The most popular route for remote workers and freelancers: register as a pausalac (sole trader), which gives you a legal basis for a residence permit and access to Serbia's flat-rate tax system (typically €80–250/month all-in). Marko handles this registration in 2–5 days.
Working remotely from Serbia →
The expat community
Belgrade has a well-established expat community. Facebook groups "Expats in Belgrade" and "Belgrade Expat Housing" are the main hubs — very active, friendly, and useful for everything from apartment hunting to doctor recommendations. Regular meetups happen through these groups and through Meetup.com.
Belgrade in short
- Excellent food and café culture at very affordable prices
- Nightlife that rivals any European capital
- Genuinely safe and relaxed day-to-day atmosphere
- Fast internet (fibre standard in most apartments)
- Good flight connections to rest of Europe
- Air quality can be poor in winter — worth researching if you have respiratory issues