Cost Of Living For a Student in Serbia 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: RSD
Average monthly spending for students in Serbia
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Serbia?
Students in Serbia spend around 68,000 RSD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 10,000 RSD or as high as 460,000 RSD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Serbia
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
| 470 RSD | 700 RSD | 1,400 RSD |
Fine dining meal for one
| 940 RSD | 1,400 RSD | 5,600 RSD |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
| 700 RSD | 940 RSD | 1,900 RSD |
Average car 1-day rental
| 700 RSD | 940 RSD | 1,400 RSD |
Average car price
| 350,000 RSD | 700,000 RSD | 940,000 RSD |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 940 RSD | 1,400 RSD | 2,800 RSD |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 420 RSD | 2,700 RSD | 18,000 RSD |
Internet and cable
| 700 RSD | 1,400 RSD | 1,900 RSD |
Mobile phone charges
| 560 RSD | 940 RSD | 2,800 RSD |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 1,100 RSD | 1,400 RSD | 2,800 RSD |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
| 830 RSD | 1,200 RSD | 1,800 RSD |
Woman dress
| 780 RSD | 1,100 RSD | 3,500 RSD |
Woman shoes
| 740 RSD | 1,000 RSD | 2,300 RSD |
Men's shoes
| 640 RSD | 780 RSD | 1,600 RSD |
Men suit
| 700 RSD | 880 RSD | 4,700 RSD |
Regular t-shirt
| 350 RSD | 470 RSD | 1,400 RSD |
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 12,000 RSD | 18,000 RSD | 47,000 RSD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 18,000 RSD | 28,000 RSD | 70,000 RSD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 23,000 RSD | 35,000 RSD | 94,000 RSD |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
1-bedroom apartment
| 2.8M RSD | 4.7M RSD | 18M RSD |
2-bedroom apartment
| $43,000 | $130,000 | $260,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 14,000 RSD | 18,000 RSD | 23,000 RSD |
Double Bed
| 9,400 RSD | 14,000 RSD | 18,000 RSD |
Single Bed
| 8,300 RSD | 11,000 RSD | 14,000 RSD |
Living Room
| 16,000 RSD | 20,000 RSD | 70,000 RSD |
Dining Table
| 7,000 RSD | 9,400 RSD | 18,000 RSD |
Sofa or Couch
| 9,400 RSD | 13,000 RSD | 28,000 RSD |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 9,400 RSD | 14,000 RSD | 28,000 RSD |
Fridge or Freezer
| 8,300 RSD | 13,000 RSD | 18,000 RSD |
Washing Machine
| 11,000 RSD | 16,000 RSD | 28,000 RSD |
Stove or Cooker
| 10,000 RSD | 13,000 RSD | 18,000 RSD |
Mobile Phone
| 12,000 RSD | 14,000 RSD | 20,000 RSD |
Laptop or Computer
| 13,000 RSD | 16,000 RSD | 28,000 RSD |
How do students spend their money in Serbia?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost19%
19% of total expenses on average (14% to 25%)
| LOW | $23 2,500 RSD |
| AVERAGE | $150 16,000 RSD |
| HIGH | $1,000 110,000 RSD |
| Per Month |
Students in Serbia typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 16,000 RSD with expenditure ranging from 2,500 RSD to 110,000 RSD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $3.9 420 RSD |
| AVERAGE | $25 2,700 RSD |
| HIGH | $170 18,000 RSD |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Serbia ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 2,700 RSD with 420 RSD and 18,000 RSD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $6.7 730 RSD |
| AVERAGE | $44 4,800 RSD |
| HIGH | $300 32,000 RSD |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 730 RSD to 32,000 RSD in a month on commuting with 4,800 RSD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $19 2,100 RSD |
| AVERAGE | $130 14,000 RSD |
| HIGH | $840 91,000 RSD |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Serbia is 14,000 RSD. The cost of groceries can range between 2,100 RSD to 91,000 RSD. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $5.8 620 RSD |
| AVERAGE | $38 4,100 RSD |
| HIGH | $250 27,000 RSD |
| Per Month |
Students in Serbia allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 620 RSD to 27,000 RSD with 4,100 RSD being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $4.8 520 RSD |
| AVERAGE | $32 3,400 RSD |
| HIGH | $210 23,000 RSD |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 520 RSD to 23,000 RSD with 3,400 RSD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $18 2,000 RSD |
| AVERAGE | $120 13,000 RSD |
| HIGH | $800 87,000 RSD |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 13,000 RSD per month with 2,000 RSD being the minimum spent amount and 87,000 RSD being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $14 1,600 RSD |
| AVERAGE | $95 10,000 RSD |
| HIGH | $630 68,000 RSD |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Serbia
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Serbia?
Around 63% of surveyed students think that living in Serbia is affordable with proper budgeting while 37% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Serbia
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options58%
Few low-cost options42%
Based on the survey, 58% of the students living in Serbia have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 42% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Serbia whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes60%
No40%
Based on the survey, 40% of the students living in Serbia said that they don't have an emergency fund while 60% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Serbia
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy58%
We asked student guardians and parents in Serbia whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 42% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 58% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of Serbia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 40% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 60% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance40%
Easily manages finances60%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Serbia
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Serbia
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 12,000 RSD | 18,000 RSD | 47,000 RSD |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 18,000 RSD | 28,000 RSD | 70,000 RSD |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 23,000 RSD | 35,000 RSD | 94,000 RSD |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 28,000 RSD | 47,000 RSD | 130,000 RSD |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 56,000 RSD | 140,000 RSD | 280,000 RSD |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 47,000 RSD | 70,000 RSD | 200,000 RSD |
House monthly rent cost
| 56,000 RSD | 140,000 RSD | 280,000 RSD |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 70,000 RSD | 180,000 RSD | 280,000 RSD |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Serbia ranges between 12,000 RSD and 47,000 RSD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 18,000 RSD to 70,000 RSD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 23,000 RSD and 94,000 RSD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 28,000 RSD to 130,000 RSD. The average rent of a townhouse in Serbia is around 70,000 RSD while house rental costs can be as high as 140,000 RSD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 70,000 RSD to 280,000 RSD per month.
Apartment and house prices in Serbia
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
1-bedroom apartment price
| 2.8M RSD | 4.7M RSD | 18M RSD |
2-bedroom apartment price
| $43,000 | $130,000 | $260,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| $140,000 | $220,000 | $650,000 |
Townhouse price
House price
| 23M RSD | 140M RSD | 200M RSD |
Villa price
| 28M RSD | 160M RSD | 230M RSD |
The average price of a studio apartment in Serbia can range from 2.3M RSD to 7M RSD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 2.8M RSD to 18M RSD. A villa can cost you 160M RSD on average with prices ranging from 28M RSD to 230M RSD.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Serbia will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 34 | x97 monthly income | 198 |
Property prices in Serbia can be x97 to x198 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x97 multiples of the average monthly salary in Serbia.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Serbia is around 30%. This means that people pay 30% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 40% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
28% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 210 RSD | 2,700 RSD | 27,000 RSD |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Serbia
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Serbia
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 420 RSD | 2,700 RSD | 18,000 RSD |
Internet and cable cost
| 700 RSD | 1,400 RSD | 1,900 RSD |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 560 RSD | 940 RSD | 2,800 RSD |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 2,700 RSD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 700 RSD to 1,900 RSD with 1,400 RSD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 940 RSD but can range between 560 RSD and 2,800 RSD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Serbia is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Serbia
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Serbia
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Serbia is approximatly 280 RSD with meal cost ranging from 140 RSD to 470 RSD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
| 470 RSD | 700 RSD | 1,400 RSD |
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 470 RSD and 1,400 RSD with 700 RSD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Serbia.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 940 RSD | 1,400 RSD | 5,600 RSD |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 940 RSD to 5,600 RSD with the average cost being 1,400 RSD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Serbia.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Serbia is around 190 RSD. Price ranges between 120 RSD and 280 RSD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Serbia is 110 RSD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 140 RSD and the minimum being 94 RSD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 94 RSD on average with 70 RSD and 140 RSD being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Serbia is between 160 RSD and 290 RSD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 210 RSD.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 280 RSD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Serbia costs around 100 RSD on average with prices rangeing between 76 RSD and 150 RSD depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 28 RSD to 70 RSD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 66 RSD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Serbia is around 27%. This means that students spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 2,100 RSD to 91,000 RSD with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
