Investment property in Serbia: what to buy and what it costs
Typical apartments for rental income and relocation with the average market price for their district, yields, buying costs and residence.
In 2026 a square metre of housing costs on average about $3,700 (3,300 euros) in Belgrade, about $2,800 in Novi Sad and about $2,100 in Nis, according to the Republic Geodetic Authority. An apartment to rent out starts from $130,000, and your own home that you live in gives a residence permit with no minimum amount.
Below are six typical apartments with the market price for their district, the price per square metre by district and city, rental yields, costs on top of the price and how the purchase relates to residence. A manager finds real apartments for your budget.
The market in brief
Prices and rules checked on 18 October 2026.
What properties investors buy in Serbia
These are not listings but typical properties: the price is the market average for this type in this district, and a manager finds real options with the seller's price.
A small apartment in a new neighbourhood for long-term rent
The left bank of the Sava: business centres, shopping malls, wide boulevards and new residential blocks by the river. Small apartments here are rented by office workers and foreigners who have moved to Belgrade.
An apartment in an old building in the city centre
The most densely populated district of the capital: the Church of Saint Sava, parks, cafes and restaurants, 15-20 minutes on foot to the pedestrian centre. Apartments in pre-war buildings with high ceilings are valued by tenants and buyers alike.
An apartment in a new building by the river
The district between the centre and the Sava: embassies, the large Topcider park and new buildings on the waterfront. A square metre in new buildings here is among the most expensive in Belgrade, and the price already includes 10% VAT.
A family apartment in the old town on the Danube
A former separate town that became part of Belgrade: the Danube waterfront with fish restaurants, a market and the tower on Gardos hill. A square metre here is cheaper than the Belgrade average, and Novi Beograd is 10 minutes away.
An apartment in the country's second city
A university city on the Danube 40 minutes from Belgrade by high-speed train: the Petrovaradin fortress, a pedestrian centre and a summer music festival. Apartments in the centre and near the university are rented by students and IT workers.
An apartment with the lowest entry price in a large city
Serbia's third city in the south of the country: a fortress, a pedestrian street in the centre and an airport with low-cost flights to Europe. A square metre here is almost half the price of Belgrade.
The card price is the median contract price per square metre from the Republic Geodetic Authority report for the second quarter of 2026, multiplied by a typical floor area. Dollars at the exchange rate of 18 October 2026.
How much a square metre costs in Belgrade and other cities of Serbia in 2026
Belgrade is much more expensive than the rest of the country: a square metre in its 10 urban municipalities costs about $3,700, while in Nis and Kragujevac it is half that. Within Belgrade a square metre in Savski Venac costs almost one and a half times more than in Zemun.
| Place | Price per m², median | 50 m² apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Belgrade, Savski Venac, new buildings | ~$5,500 (4,900 euros) | ~$280,000 |
| Belgrade, Savski Venac | ~$4,700 (4,200 euros) | ~$240,000 |
| Belgrade, Stari Grad | ~$4,600 (4,100 euros) | ~$230,000 |
| Belgrade, Vracar | ~$4,000 (3,600 euros) | ~$200,000 |
| Belgrade, Novi Beograd | ~$4,000 (3,500 euros) | ~$200,000 |
| Belgrade, 10 urban municipalities | ~$3,700 (3,300 euros) | ~$190,000 |
| Belgrade, Zvezdara | ~$3,600 (3,200 euros) | ~$180,000 |
| Belgrade, Vozdovac | ~$3,300 (3,000 euros) | ~$170,000 |
| Belgrade, Cukarica | ~$3,300 (2,900 euros) | ~$170,000 |
| Belgrade, Zemun | ~$3,200 (2,900 euros) | ~$160,000 |
| Novi Sad | ~$2,800 (2,500 euros) | ~$140,000 |
| Nis | ~$2,100 (1,800 euros) | ~$110,000 |
| Kragujevac | ~$1,800 (1,600 euros) | ~$89,000 |
| Subotica | ~$1,600 (1,500 euros) | ~$80,000 |
Data for 2026: median contract prices from the Republic Geodetic Authority report for the second quarter of 2026 (published in August); dollars at the exchange rate of 18 October 2026.
What yield renting out gives
The gross yield from long-term rent in Belgrade is about 6.4% a year before tax. Taxes on rent and ownership in Serbia are moderate, but letting requires renovation, furniture and managing tenants: buying is not for those who expect income without management.
| Tax | Rate |
|---|---|
| Tax on rental income | 20% after a 25% standard deduction, effectively 15% of the rent |
| Property tax | up to 0.4% a year of the municipal valuation (property up to 85,000 euros, ~$96,000) |
| Tax on sale | 15% of the capital gain |
Data for 2026: the yield is the Belgrade average; countries are compared in the rental yield table.
Property tax is calculated on the municipal valuation, not on the purchase price. Rates and examples are on the page taxes in Serbia.
What costs to add to the property price
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer tax (resale) | 2.5% of the price; by law paid by the seller, in practice usually by the buyer |
| VAT on a new build | 10%, already in the price |
| Notary | per the notary chamber tariff, depends on the price |
| Property tax | up to 0.4% a year of the municipal valuation |
| Tax on sale | 15% of the capital gain |
Data for 2026. Agent and translation fees depend on the deal; a manager calculates the total for a specific apartment.
In Serbia the apartment is checked in the cadastre before the deposit
Mistakes cost more than the tax: an apartment with an illegal layout change or debts, a building without an occupancy permit, and a deposit paid without a cadastre check stays with the seller. Murblz support removes these risks: we find a property for the budget and goal, check the title and the developer, prepare the contract for the notary and arrange the residence permit.
The cost of support depends on the purchase budget and the goal - income, relocation or residence; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Does buying give a residence permit
Yes, with no minimum amount. The Law on Foreigners names ownership of housing as grounds for temporary residence: a house or apartment in Serbia owned by the foreigner and lived in by them qualifies. The permit is issued for up to 3 years and renewed for the same term while the grounds remain.
An apartment let to tenants does not qualify for this permit, nor does a plot without a house. Foreigners buy on the basis of reciprocity with their country, and agricultural land cannot be bought. Other grounds are on the page Serbia residence permit: all routes.
How we find a property
- Budget and goal: rental income, a home for relocation and residence, or both. The manager clarifies the city, district and how you will pay.
- A selection of real properties: apartments with the seller's price, floor area, layout and a yield calculation.
- Checks: title and debts in the cadastre, the building's occupancy permit, whether any layout changes are legal.
- A remote deal by power of attorney: tax number, account at a bank in Serbia, the contract at a notary and registration in the cadastre.
The manager sends the selection to the chat, with sellers' prices on the date of the selection.
Options in other countries
Investment property in other countries:
- Investment property in Turkey: what to buy and what it costs
- Investment property in the UAE: what to buy in Dubai and what it costs
More on buying in this country:
- Buying property in Serbia: rules, taxes and the deal
- How to buy an apartment in Serbia
- Mortgage for foreigners in Serbia
- Serbia residence permit: all routes
- Taxes in Serbia
All countries and budgets compared - on the page Investment property abroad.
FAQ
How much does an apartment in Serbia cost in 2026?
Can foreigners buy property in Serbia?
What rental yield does an apartment in Serbia give?
Does buying an apartment give a residence permit in Serbia?
What are the costs of buying an apartment in Serbia?
What is the property tax in Serbia?
Where is the cheapest place to buy an apartment in Serbia?
Can you buy an apartment in Serbia remotely?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we shortlist properties for your goal, run legal checks and support the deal through to registration. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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