In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Serbia - any experiences?
Serbia is one of the cheapest European countries for travellers. Street food like burek is €1-2, and sit-down meals with meat and salad are €5-7. Restaurants in Belgrade with drinks cost €10-15. Public buses and trams are €0.80 per ride, and taxis within cities are €3-5. Tipping is 10%. Backpackers can live on €25-30 daily for meals, rides, and tips. Compared to Croatia or Hungary, Serbia feels incredibly affordable, especially for long-term travellers.
I was surprised how cheap Serbia was! Spent around €45/day and didn’t hold back too much. Lodging through Booking.com was under €20 most nights, and street food was top-notch for €2-€4. Took a couple of wine tours outside Novi Sad and still stayed under budget. If you’re not going clubbing every night or renting a car, you can get by comfortably on €40-€50/day, no problem.
Stayed in Dorćol (Belgrade) for a month and averaged around €55/day. That included Airbnb, groceries, co-working, occasional meals out, and weekend trips. Coffee shops were around €1.50 a cup, craft beers €3-€4, and monthly public transport was about €25. Even with occasional splurges, I found Serbia super affordable. For long stays, €50-€60/day gives you a good quality of life, especially with self-catering.
I planned on €60/day and it gave me plenty of room for cafés, museums, taxis, and mid-range guesthouses. Belgrade is a bit pricier than smaller towns, but still way cheaper than Western Europe. A decent meal with a drink was around €12-€15. Public transport tickets were under €1. I didn’t feel like I was watching every cent. For a comfortable solo trip, I’d say €50-€70/day is a good working number.