Life in Serbia: Many Pluses and a Couple of Minuses

Serbia is one of the most attractive European countries if you are a person with an entrepreneurial spirit.

14:39 08 April 2024

Serbia is one of the most attractive European countries if you are a person with an entrepreneurial spirit. It offers highly beneficial tax conditions: the corporate income tax rate is only 15% in Serbia. At the same time, the country has a well-developed business infrastructure. There you will find a large number of reliable banks, various business incubators, state support programs, tax deductions for businesses creating jobs, and everything else that you need for successful business operations.

One more important advantage that you can find in Serbia is the fact that most people speak English there. The Serbian language is rather hard to learn but you would not have to do it if you decided to settle down in Serbia. Even schoolchildren speak English and many university graduates speak English plus one or two other foreign languages.

Besides, the Serbian authorities offer several routes to foreigners seeking to establish legal residence in the country. Of all the ways of becoming a legal resident of Serbia, we will mention the three easiest ones. First, you can buy livable residential accommodations. This is the only requirement: the place has to be livable and its price is irrelevant.

Second, you can qualify for a residence permit if you enroll in an educational course. Join a Serbian language class, for instance, and this will serve as legal grounds for applying for residence in the country.

Third, you can register a company in Serbia and this will make you qualified for a residence permit too. Please note that you don’t have to engage in active business operations to qualify for residence. Registering a company is already enough and the process is not too demanding even though some bureaucracy is involved. You can find exhaustive information about company registration in Serbia at the serbiawealth website.

What should you expect to find in Serbia if you decide to relocate to the country? Below we discuss multiple advantages that the country offers and mention a couple disadvantages too.

Serbia is in Europe

Serbia is not among the wealthiest European countries but it is a European country anyway and there you will find the European level of comfort.

The two largest cities in Serbia are Belgrade (the capital of the country) and Novi Sad. You can get from one city to the other within 30 minutes if you take a high-speed train. If you take a car, it’s going to be a 60-minute drive.

You will find nice looking old Austro-Hungarian architecture both in Belgrade and in Novi Sad. Various cultural events take place in the cities on a regular basis: night farmer’s markets, exhibitions, concerts, street performances, etc. The cafes are packed in the evenings: Serbians love to socialize and that concerns all people: young and old. Garbage is sorted, bicycle paths are everywhere and bicyclists are plentiful, and paid parking lots are available.

Food in Serbia

The food is rather plain in Serbia but it is healthy. Serbians love meat and they eat a lot of bread and vegetables. You will find a supermarket within walking distance in any large Serbian city and farmers’ markets are common too.

You probably would not expect to learn that but some good wine is made in Serbia. You will find many vineyards and wineries in the region of Voevodina in particular.

Prices in Serbia

Serbia is a very affordable country. The food is cheap and renting a 2-bedroom apartment in Novi Sad could cost you 600 euros per month only. The utility bills would not exceed 100 euros per month. Having your apartment fully cleaned would cost you as little as 20 euros.

Shopping in Serbia

Serbians are not fond of online shopping so much but there are several websites in the country that you can use if you are used to shopping via the Internet. Brands such as H&M, Zara, Oysho, Levi's, etc. can be found in any city in Serbia. You will also always find a grocery store or a supermarket next door.

Medicine in Serbia

State medical institutions are not super-efficient in Serbia but if you buy a medical insurance policy, you will have access to private clinics where the level of medical services in high. The price of an insurance policy starts at 8 euros per month.

Education in Serbia

Schools and kindergartens are excellent in the country. Children start learning English in kindergarten and the state supports families with children. Graduates of Serbian universities easily find jobs both in Serbia and abroad because the higher education quality is superb in the country. 

Social infrastructure in Serbia

You can find all sorts of social infrastructure objects in Serbia: hipster cafes, fitness centers, swimming pools, galleries, museums, theaters, beaches with white sand on the banks of the Danube River, and so on and so forth. Socialization is an important part of life for Serbians.

Serbian way of life

What may strike you when you relocate to Serbia is the slow pace of life in the country. Nobody is in a hurry. Nobody overworks. Things can wait. We live only once and we have to enjoy life. These short sentences describe the attitude to life that you will find in Serbia.

Admittedly, getting things done in Serbia can be challenging. For example, you may ask the realtor if you can see an apartment at 6 p.m. and he/ she will reply that they work strictly between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. So, you won’t be able to see the apartment at six in the evening.

On the other hand, Serbians are extremely hospitable. You will have to sit at the table and eat a lot if you visit a Serbian house. You will also be offered a shot of rakia (local brandy) in many cases. Serbians love to communicate and their questions can be rather personal at times. You should be prepared for that. Please do not mention Kosovo when talking to Serbs: they can be very emotional over the issue.

Negative sides of Serbia

Below please find a list of disadvantages that you will find in Serbia:

• There is no sea – Serbia is a landlocked country;
• Banking services can be slow;
• Plastic cards are not accepted at some places;
• Many Serbians smoke even in public places such as cafes and restaurants – it is not prohibited;
• You will find a lot of graffiti in the city outskirts and not all of the pictures look nice;
• The conflict with Kosovo has not been resolved: it is pending.

If you are ready to put up with these drawbacks, Serbia has a great number of positive things to offer! Why don’t you go there and see it for yourself?