Austria vs Serbia

Serbia costs roughly 42% less than Austria, though Austria scores higher on healthcare, making it one of the more financially compelling destinations for Austria expats. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.

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Serbia is approximately 42% less expensive than Austria based on cost of living including rent. This makes Serbia a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

Serbia has a FIRE Score of 87/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 62.8, which is relatively safe.

Recommended profile: Serbia is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.

About Austria

Austria has a digital nomad visa available or a fast path to citizenship, neither exists here. High earners also face a 55% top tax rate above EUR 1M. But retirees clearing EUR 2,548/mo qualify for a settlement permit, and with a 70.5 safety index and strong healthcare, it suits those prioritizing stability over low taxes or easy paperwork.

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$774/mo

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Living Costs (excl. rent)

Single (excl. rent)$1,223
Family (excl. rent)$4,251

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)
$1,003
1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$818
3 Bedroom (City Centre)
$1,815
3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$1,456

Attractiveness Scores

FIRE Score
39/100
Retiree Score
68/100
Nomad Score
70/100


Country Details →
Overall Winner

About Serbia

A 1BR in central Belgrade runs $514, less than a studio in most mid-size US cities, with a flat 10% income tax and a $711 monthly budget covering essentials easily. Retirement visa needs just EUR 400/mo income, among the lowest thresholds in Europe. The catch: no digital nomad visa and a path to permanent residency exists, but permanent residency does not necessarily lead to EU stability.

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$1,775/mo

🛂

Not sure which Serbia visa you qualify for?

Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.

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Living Costs (excl. rent)

Single (excl. rent)$712
Family (excl. rent)$2,475

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)
$514
1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$381
3 Bedroom (City Centre)
$956
3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$686

Attractiveness Scores

FIRE Score
87/100
Retiree Score
54/100
Nomad Score
74/100


Country Details →

Battle of Lifestyles

Scroll to compare

MetricAustriaSerbia
Travel Advisory
Level 1: Normal PrecautionsLevel 2: Increased Caution
Quality of Life Index
192.9 +68.1
124.8
Healthcare Index
77.9 +25.852.1
Safety Index
70.5 +7.7
62.8
Cost of Living Index
60.7 42.6 +18.1
Living Costs (Single, excl. rent)$1,223.3 $711.5 +511.8
Living Costs (Family, excl. rent)$4,250.6 $2,474.6 +1,776
1BR Apartment (Center)$1,002.63 $513.94 +488.69
1BR Apartment (Outside)$817.87 $380.7 +437.17
3BR Apartment (Center)$1,814.94 $956.49 +858.45
3BR Apartment (Outside)$1,455.52 $686.17 +769.35
Avg Internet Speed199.98 Mbps +89.7110.27 Mbps

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Frequently Asked Questions

Click any question to expand the answer.

We use a "Pure Data" approach, pulling raw facts from high-authority sources including private sources for real-time crowd-sourced pricing, the World Bank for stability metrics, and official government visa portals.

The FIRE Score is a dynamic metric based on your Monthly Income vs. Total Expenses. It calculates your potential savings rate; the more you save, the higher the score.

Our indices (Quality of Life, Healthcare, Safety, Cost of Living) are relative metrics. For example, a higher Quality of Life Index indicates better purchasing power, safety, and healthcare, while a higher Cost of Living Index means the country is more expensive relative to others.

The Retiree Score is a holistic measure of how suitable a country is for long-term retirement. It is calculated from three main factors: healthcare system quality, safety index, and the general cost of living.

The Nomad Score measures how well a country supports remote workers. It is calculated from average internet speeds, the cost of living, and the safety index.

The "Single" toggle calculates costs based on a 1-Bedroom apartment. "Family" assumes a 3-Bedroom apartment and the expenses for a household of four.