Montenegro vs Serbia
Serbia costs roughly 0% less than Montenegro. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Serbia is approximately 0% less expensive than Montenegro 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 Montenegro
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a built-in expat scene, both are limited here. But at $701/mo living costs plus sub-$700 rent, a 9% entry-level income tax rate, and a low-bar digital nomad visa ($1,542/mo), it suits budget-focused remote workers and early retirees comfortable navigating a small expat footprint.
$1,630/mo
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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.
$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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Country Details →Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Montenegro | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 1: Normal Precautions | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 129.8 +5.0 | 124.8 |
| Healthcare Index | 56.4 +4.3 | 52.1 |
| Safety Index | 58.7 | 62.8 +4.1 |
| Cost of Living Index | 42.7 | 42.6 +0.1 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $701.6 +9.9 | $711.5 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $2,566.9 | $2,474.6 +92.3 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $668.38 | $513.94 +154.44 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $487.17 | $380.7 +106.47 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1,197.76 | $956.49 +241.27 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $914.4 | $686.17 +228.23 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 74.5 Mbps | 110.27 Mbps +35.8 |
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in Serbia. File confidently from abroad.
File your taxes →International health insurance from $45/mo
Get covered before you move to Serbia. Genki Traveler offers insurance designed for nomads and expats.
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