Renting a home - the first step for anyone moving to Serbia. Below are real price benchmarks, where to look for listings, and what to pay attention to in the contract.
How Much Rent Costs (benchmarks for 2026)
Prices depend on the city, neighborhood, and condition of the apartment. Approximate ranges for a furnished apartment per month:
- Belgrade: studio/one-room - 350-600 €, two-room - 500-900 € (central areas and new builds are pricier).
- Novi Sad: one-room - 300-500 €, two-room - 400-700 €.
- Niš, Kragujevac, Subotica: noticeably cheaper - one-room often 200-350 €.
Utility payments (struja, voda, infostan/grejanje) are usually paid separately; in winter, with central heating, they can rise sharply. Current calculations by city are available in the cost of living section.
Where to Look
- Owner and agency listings - in our Housing section with filters by city, neighborhood, price, and number of rooms.
- Telegram chats of Russian-speaking communities.
- Local real-estate portals.
Some listings go through an agency (agenciju) - the commission is usually equal to one month's rent. With the owner (vlasnik) there is no commission.
Deposit and Contract
- Standard deposit - one month's rent (sometimes two) + payment of the first month.
- The rental contract (ugovor o zakupu) is best concluded in writing; it will be needed for address registration and residence permit renewal.
- A registered contract + address registration are required for the "white card" - see White Card.
What to Check
- Type of heating (central, gas, electric, TA-stoves) - the main factor for winter bills.
- What is included in the price: furniture, appliances, internet.
- Presence of air conditioning - summers in Serbia can be hot.
- Proximity to transport and shops.
Important: without a written contract you cannot obtain the "white card" and process the residence permit.
In Short
Renting an apartment in Serbia is doable within a couple of weeks: set your budget and neighborhood, select options in our housing catalog, clarify the heating type and deposit terms, and sign a written contract. This is also the basis for address registration and obtaining a boravak.