Serbia: cost of living

How fast are prices rising in Serbia?

Prices in Serbia rose 3.3% between December 2025 and September 2026, according to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS) consumer price index. In September alone they rose 0.2%, and they were 4.1% higher than in September 2025.

The index tracks a fixed basket of goods and services, weighted by how much households spend on each. The RZS release breaks the change down by group, such as food, housing and energy, and transport. The National Bank of Serbia expected annual inflation of around 4% from September 2026.

Official sources: RZS: consumer prices, September 2026 · NBS: monetary policy decision, 8 October 2026

What is the poverty rate in Serbia?

The at-risk-of-poverty rate in Serbia was 19.6% in 2025, according to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS) Survey on Income and Living Conditions. The at-risk-of-poverty-or-social-exclusion rate was 23.2%.

This is a relative measure: a person is at risk of poverty if their household income, adjusted for household size, is below 60% of the national median. It shows how many people have low incomes compared with others in Serbia, not absolute hardship. The wider measure also counts people facing severe material and social deprivation or living in households with very low work intensity.

Official sources: RZS: Survey on Income and Living Conditions, 2025

What is the poverty line in Serbia?

The at-risk-of-poverty threshold in Serbia was RSD 45,674 a month for a single person in 2025, and RSD 95,915 a month for a household of two adults and two children under 14, according to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS).

The threshold is set at 60% of median equivalised disposable income, from the Survey on Income and Living Conditions. Households with income below it are counted as at risk of poverty. The threshold for larger households is higher because of their greater needs, but rises less than in proportion to their size, as people share some costs.

Official sources: RZS: Survey on Income and Living Conditions, 2025

What is Serbia's inflation rate?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2025, is 3.9%. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 16.1%; its low point was 2016, at 1.1%. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 3.7%, and Serbia placed 19th highest of 48. Worldwide: 55th of 165.

How much do households in Serbia spend per person?

$5,827: that is household consumption per person in Serbia for 2025, according to the World Bank. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was $11,266, and Serbia placed 34th highest of 44. Of 124 countries with 2025 data, 51st highest.

What is the extreme poverty rate in Serbia?

1.1%: that is the share of people living on less than $3.00 a day in Serbia for 2023, according to the World Bank. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 8.9%; its low point was 2008, at 0.3%. It is 6th highest of 34 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 0.4%. Of 59 countries with 2023 data, 26th highest.

What is the poverty rate in Serbia?

The World Bank puts the share of people below the national poverty line in Serbia at 19.7% in 2023. Its high point since 2006 was 2014, at 26.7%; its low point was 2008, at 6.1%. Europe & Central Asia median: 19.1%; Serbia is 7th highest of 16. World rank, highest first: 22nd of 39.

What is income inequality in Serbia?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2023, is 32.8. Since 2005 it has ranged from 27.6 (2008) to 40.5 (2015). It is 15th highest of 34 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 31.5. Worldwide: 36th of 59.

How many people in Serbia face food insecurity?

According to the FAO, moderate or severe food insecurity in Serbia was 6.7% in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2015. It is 31st highest of 45 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 7.6%. World rank, highest first: 115th of 135.