Cost of Living in Belgrade

Belgrade's rental market has become increasingly favorable for tenants through 2025-2026, with prices declining 15-25% from the pandemic-era peak and supply exceeding demand in most neighborhoods. A studio apartment in the city center averages 55,000 RSD (~$510/month), with a range of 40,000-70,000 RSD ($370-$650) depending on condition and exact location. A one-bedroom apartment in the center averages 91,500 RSD (~$840/month), ranging from 65,000 to 120,000 RSD ($600-$1,110), while the same outside the center drops to 54,000-75,000 RSD ($500-$695). Two-bedroom apartments in central Belgrade average 112,500 RSD (~$1,040/month), ranging from 85,000 to 150,000 RSD ($785-$1,390). Furnished units command a premium of 10,000-20,000 RSD ($90-$185) over unfurnished equivalents, and about 65-70% of tenants prefer furnished options. Utilities for a standard apartment (electricity, heating, water, garbage collection) run $130-$200 per month, with winter heating pushing costs toward the higher end -- electric heating can exceed $200 in the coldest months. Internet service averages $27-$29 per month for 60+ Mbps plans, though many landlords include it in the rent for furnished places.

Belgrade is one of Europe's most rewarding cities for eating on a budget, with Serbian street food and traditional kafana dining offering exceptional value. The undisputed king of cheap eats is the burek -- a flaky phyllo pastry stuffed with cheese, meat, or spinach -- available at bakeries across the city for around 200 RSD ($1.85). A portion of cevapi (grilled minced-meat sausages served with onions and flatbread) runs 310-620 RSD ($2.90-$5.75) depending on whether you order five or ten pieces, with popular spots like Dorcol and Zeleni Venac area joints charging at the lower end. The mighty pljeskavica -- Serbia's answer to the hamburger, a seasoned patty often topped with kajmak (clotted cream) and tucked into lepinja bread -- costs around 250-350 RSD ($2.30-$3.25) at street stands. For a sit-down budget meal, look for restaurants advertising a dnevni meni (daily menu), which typically includes soup, a main course, and bread for 800-1,400 RSD ($7.40-$13.00). Traditional kafanas (tavern-restaurants) like Kafanica in Dorcol or Kafana Pavle Korcagin serve classics such as prebranac (baked beans), sopska salata, and grilled meats at prices that rarely exceed 1,000 RSD ($9.25) per person for a filling meal. Even a McDonald's combo meal runs just 1,200 RSD ($11.10), giving you a sense of how cheap local alternatives are by comparison.

Belgrade is well served by several major supermarket chains, each with a slightly different price positioning. Lidl is generally the cheapest option for staples and is popular among budget-conscious locals, with locations throughout the city including a convenient one on Bulevar Despota Stefana. Maxi (owned by Delhaize) is the most widespread chain and carries a broader selection of Serbian and imported products, though prices are slightly higher. Idea and Roda (both part of the Mercator group) fall somewhere in between, while Univerexport caters to the mid-market. Based on current Numbeo and 3Pulse data (updated February 2026), key staple prices at Belgrade supermarkets are: milk 1L at 91-141 RSD ($0.85-$1.30), white bread 500g at 76-99 RSD ($0.70-$0.92), eggs (dozen) at 166-278 RSD ($1.54-$2.57), white rice 1kg at 142-289 RSD ($1.31-$2.68), chicken breast 1kg at 547-774 RSD ($5.06-$7.16), beef 1kg at 1,100-1,453 RSD ($10.19-$13.45), local cheese 1kg at 725-1,044 RSD ($6.71-$9.67), and potatoes 1kg at 63-106 RSD ($0.58-$0.98). A half-liter bottle of local beer from the supermarket costs just 71 RSD ($0.66), and a decent bottle of Serbian wine runs around 514 RSD ($4.76). These prices put Belgrade's supermarkets at roughly 20-30% cheaper than the US or Western Europe for comparable items.

Belgrade made headlines in January 2025 by becoming the largest European city to offer completely free public transportation, covering all city and suburban bus lines, trams, trolleybuses, and the BG Train system across 222 local and 90 suburban routes. This is an extraordinary perk for digital nomads -- you can hop on any of the 12 tram lines, numerous trolleybus routes, or city buses without paying a single dinar. The old BusPlus ticketing system has been replaced by Belgrade Plus, but since fares are now zero, you simply board and ride. The only exceptions are minibus express "E" lines, which still charge around 150 RSD ($1.40), and the A1 airport shuttle minibus at 400 RSD ($3.70). Regular public bus line 72 also serves the airport and is completely free. Before the free-transport policy took effect, monthly passes cost 2,500 RSD ($23) for one zone and 3,500 RSD ($32) for two zones -- money that now stays in your pocket. Service runs from roughly 4:00 AM to midnight on most lines, with night buses covering key corridors after hours.

Serbia's three mobile operators -- MTS (Telekom Srbija), A1, and Yettel (formerly Telenor) -- all offer prepaid SIM cards that are easy to purchase at shops throughout Belgrade, including at the airport. As of February 2025, registration with a passport or ID card is required for all new SIM cards. MTS offers a Tourist SIM with 75 GB of 4G/5G data valid for 5 days at around 700 RSD ($6.50), or a Super Tourist SIM with 200 GB plus unlimited MTS-to-MTS calls for about 2,050 RSD ($19). Yettel's Tourist plan provides 50 GB valid for 30 days at 999 RSD ($9.25), making it the best value for a monthly stay. A1's Hello Stranger package gives you 100 GB for 3 days at just 500 RSD ($4.60), useful for short visits. For longer stays, Yettel's prepaid top-up options range from 500 RSD ($4.60) for 5 GB over 7 days up to 3,000 RSD ($27.80) for 150 GB over 30 days. MTS also offers standard prepaid bundles from 120 RSD ($1.10) for 1 GB to 825 RSD ($7.65) for 10 GB. Mobile data speeds in Belgrade average around 63 Mbps download and 24 Mbps upload, with MTS rolling out 5G coverage in central Belgrade districts.

Belgrade offers a surprisingly accessible and affordable healthcare experience for digital nomads, with a dual system of public and private facilities that caters well to foreign visitors. The public healthcare system, funded through the National Health Insurance Fund, provides universal coverage to Serbian citizens, but foreigners without bilateral health agreements typically cannot access it for free. Fortunately, Belgrade's private healthcare sector is extensive and well-developed, with major networks like MediGroup (the largest private healthcare system in Serbia and the wider region), Belmedic, and Euromedic operating modern, well-equipped facilities throughout the city. These private clinics offer English-speaking doctors, minimal waiting times, and services ranging from routine check-ups to complex surgical procedures. International-friendly hospitals like MediGroup General Hospital and New Hospital provide transparent pricing, online appointment booking, and staff accustomed to treating foreign patients. Emergency care is available 24/7 at the public emergency clinic on Pasterova 2 in central Belgrade (ambulance: 194, general emergency: 112), and emergency rooms generally do not charge for genuinely urgent or life-threatening conditions regardless of nationality.

Serbia is remarkably welcoming to digital nomads from a visa perspective, offering visa-free entry for up to 90 days within a 180-day period to citizens of the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and many other countries -- and since Serbia is not part of the Schengen Area, these 90 days are entirely separate from your Schengen allowance, making Belgrade an excellent "Schengen break" destination. For those wanting to stay longer, Serbia introduced a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa that grants up to 12 months of legal residency, with the possibility of renewal; the main requirement is proving a monthly income of at least 3,500 EUR from foreign clients or employers (you cannot work for Serbian companies on this visa). Registration with the local police within 24 hours of arrival is mandatory for all foreigners (hotels do this automatically, but Airbnb hosts may not), and failing to register can cause issues when leaving the country. Regarding taxes, Serbia technically taxes worldwide income for tax residents, but digital nomads staying under 90 days benefit from an exemption on foreign-sourced income. If you stay longer or establish tax residency (183+ days), Serbia's flat 10% income tax rate is still very attractive, though you should be aware that once income surpasses approximately 42,000 EUR annually, an additional supplementary tax pushes the effective rate to 20%. Do not attempt repeated "visa runs" -- Serbian border officers are increasingly aware of this tactic and can deny re-entry if they determine you are effectively residing in Serbia without proper permits.