Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Serbia Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Serbia Property Pack
Yes, foreigners can legally rent out residential property in Serbia in 2026, though you will need to navigate a few country-specific rules around ownership reciprocity and tax compliance.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about rental yields, tenant demand, short-term versus long-term strategies, and the real costs of being a landlord in Serbia.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest regulations, market data, and practical insights for foreign property investors in Serbia.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Serbia.
Insights
- Belgrade landlords typically see gross rental yields between 3.5% and 6.5% in 2026, but the sweet spot for yield hunters is often in neighborhoods like Zvezdara and Vozdovac rather than prime Vracar.
- Short-term rentals in Belgrade average around 50% to 55% occupancy, which translates to roughly 15 to 17 booked nights per month before you factor in seasonality swings.
- Most rents in Serbia are quoted and negotiated in euros even though the official currency is the Serbian dinar, so your actual returns depend heavily on how you structure rent collection.
- Serbia does not impose strict annual night caps on Airbnb-style rentals like some Western European cities, but registration through the eTurista system is mandatory and enforcement is tightening.
- A realistic net yield for long-term rentals in Serbia lands around 3% to 5% once you account for vacancy, management fees, maintenance, and tax compliance costs.
- Furnished apartments in Belgrade and Novi Sad rent noticeably faster because they attract expats, students, and young professionals who want a move-in-ready setup.
- Building maintenance fees in Serbian apartments typically run between 0.50 and 1.50 euros per square meter per month, which adds up quickly for larger units.
- The reciprocity rule is the main hurdle for foreign buyers in Serbia, meaning your ability to purchase depends on whether Serbians can buy property in your home country.
- Belgrade Waterfront commands the highest rents in Serbia, but compressed yields there mean investors chasing cash flow often do better in less premium neighborhoods.
Can I legally rent out a property in Serbia as a foreigner right now?
Can a foreigner own-and-rent a residential property in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, foreigners can generally own residential property in Serbia and legally rent it out, provided they meet the reciprocity requirements that govern foreign property ownership.
The most common ownership structure for foreigners in Serbia is direct personal ownership, though some investors use a locally registered company if their home country lacks a reciprocity agreement with Serbia.
The single biggest restriction foreigners face is the reciprocity rule, which means your right to buy depends on whether Serbian citizens can purchase property in your home country, and this is something your lawyer or notary must verify before you commit to any purchase.
If you're not a local, you might want to read our guide to foreign property ownership in Serbia.
Do I need residency to rent out in Serbia right now?
No, you do not need to be a Serbian resident to rent out your property, but you must still comply with tax obligations on Serbia-sourced rental income even as a non-resident.
In practice, you need to be identifiable to the Serbian Tax Administration to report rental income correctly, and most foreign landlords work with a local accountant to handle registration and annual filings.
While there is no strict legal requirement to have a Serbian bank account, having a local euro or dinar account makes collecting rent, paying building fees, and managing repairs far more practical.
Managing a rental property in Serbia remotely is absolutely feasible if you hire a reliable local property manager who can handle tenant communication, maintenance, and guest registration for short-term rentals.
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What rental strategy makes the most money in Serbia in 2026?
Is long-term renting more profitable than short-term in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, short-term rentals can generate higher gross revenue in Serbia's major cities, but long-term renting delivers more predictable income with significantly less operational work.
A well-managed short-term rental in central Belgrade might gross 8,000 to 12,000 euros per year more than a comparable long-term rental, but after accounting for higher management fees, cleaning costs, and vacancy, the net difference often shrinks to 2,000 to 4,000 euros annually.
Properties in tourist-heavy areas like Belgrade's Stari Grad or near business hubs in Novi Beograd tend to favor short-term renting financially, while apartments in residential neighborhoods perform better as stable long-term rentals.
What's the average gross rental yield in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average gross rental yield for residential property in Serbia sits around 5.5%, though this varies significantly depending on location and property type.
The realistic gross yield range across Serbia spans from about 3.5% in Belgrade's premium neighborhoods to 7.5% in regional cities like Nis and Kragujevac where purchase prices remain lower.
Studios and smaller one-bedroom apartments typically achieve the highest gross yields in Serbia because their lower purchase prices relative to rental income create a more favorable ratio than larger family units.
By the way, we have much more granular data about rental yields in our property pack about Serbia.
What's the realistic net rental yield after costs in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average net rental yield for long-term rentals in Serbia falls between 3% and 5%, with a practical planning midpoint around 4% for most investors.
The realistic net yield range that Serbian landlords actually experience spans from about 2.5% in high-cost prime Belgrade locations to around 5.5% in well-chosen regional city properties with lower overheads.
The three main cost categories that drag gross yield down to net yield in Serbia are property management fees (typically 8% to 12% for long-term), the country's relatively high heating costs during winter months, and mandatory tax compliance on rental income which many foreign landlords underestimate.
You might want to check our latest analysis about gross and net rental yields in Serbia.
What monthly rent can I get in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, typical monthly rents in Belgrade range from 300 to 550 euros (350 to 640 USD) for a studio, 450 to 800 euros (525 to 930 USD) for a one-bedroom, and 650 to 1,200 euros (760 to 1,400 USD) for a two-bedroom apartment.
A decent entry-level studio in Belgrade rents for around 300 to 400 euros per month (350 to 465 USD), while in Novi Sad you can find studios starting at 250 to 350 euros (290 to 410 USD).
A typical mid-range one-bedroom apartment in Belgrade commands 500 to 650 euros monthly (580 to 760 USD), with Novi Sad one-bedrooms running slightly cheaper at 400 to 550 euros (465 to 640 USD).
A standard two-bedroom apartment in a good Belgrade neighborhood rents for 750 to 1,000 euros per month (875 to 1,165 USD), while regional cities like Nis offer two-bedrooms for 400 to 600 euros (465 to 700 USD).
If you want to know more about this topic, you can read our guide about rents and rental incomes in Serbia.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Serbia versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What are the real numbers I should budget for renting out in Serbia in 2026?
What's the total "all-in" monthly cost to hold a rental in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the total monthly cost to hold and maintain a typical rental apartment in Serbia runs between 80 and 200 euros (95 to 235 USD), excluding mortgage payments but including building fees, insurance, and a repairs reserve.
The realistic cost range spans from about 50 euros monthly for a small, well-maintained apartment in a regional city to 300 euros or more for a larger Belgrade unit with higher building fees and active management.
In Serbia specifically, the building maintenance fee (often called "infostan" in Belgrade) tends to be the largest single holding cost, running 0.50 to 1.50 euros per square meter monthly, which means a 60-square-meter apartment might cost 30 to 90 euros just in building charges.
You want to go into more details? Check our list of property taxes and fees you have to pay when buying a property in Serbia.
What's the typical vacancy rate in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the typical vacancy rate for long-term rentals in Serbia's major cities hovers around 8% to 10%, which translates to roughly one month of vacancy per year for most landlords.
Serbian landlords should realistically budget for one to one-and-a-half months of vacancy annually because lease cycles in Serbia commonly run 6 to 12 months, and tenant turnover between leases rarely happens instantly.
The main factor driving vacancy differences across Serbian neighborhoods is proximity to employment centers and universities, with areas near Belgrade's business districts and major faculties enjoying faster tenant replacement than peripheral residential zones.
Late summer, particularly August and September, typically sees the highest tenant turnover in Serbia because this period aligns with the start of the academic year, job relocations, and the end of summer holiday leases.
We have a whole part covering the best rental strategies in our pack about buying a property in Serbia.
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Where do rentals perform best in Serbia in 2026?
Which neighborhoods have the highest long-term demand in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the three neighborhoods with the highest overall long-term rental demand in Serbia are Vracar, Novi Beograd, and Stari Grad in Belgrade, all of which benefit from central locations, good transport links, and diverse tenant pools.
Families in Serbia gravitate toward Novi Beograd for its spacious apartments and proximity to schools, as well as quieter parts of Vozdovac and Zemun where green spaces and a community feel make long-term living more attractive.
Students drive strong rental demand in Vracar due to its proximity to multiple university faculties, along with parts of Palilula and Zvezdara that offer more affordable options within commuting distance of Belgrade's educational institutions.
Expats and international professionals concentrate in Vracar, Stari Grad, and the Belgrade Waterfront area, where modern amenities, walkability, and proximity to corporate offices justify the premium rents these tenants are willing to pay.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current best areas to invest in property in Serbia.
Which neighborhoods have the best yield in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the three neighborhoods offering the best rental yields in Serbia are Zvezdara, Vozdovac, and parts of Palilula in Belgrade, where purchase prices remain moderate while rental demand stays solid.
These top-yielding Belgrade neighborhoods typically deliver gross rental yields between 5% and 7%, compared to the 3.5% to 4.5% you might see in premium areas like Vracar or Belgrade Waterfront.
The main characteristic allowing these neighborhoods to outperform on yield is their position in the "good but not premium" tier, where property prices have not yet caught up to the rental rates that steady tenant demand supports.
We cover a lot of neighborhoods and provide a lot of updated data in our pack about real estate in Serbia.
Where do tenants pay the highest rents in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the three neighborhoods where tenants pay the highest rents in Serbia are Belgrade Waterfront, Stari Grad, and central Vracar, all commanding premium prices due to their location, building quality, and lifestyle appeal.
A standard one-bedroom apartment in these premium Belgrade neighborhoods typically rents for 700 to 1,000 euros per month (815 to 1,165 USD), while two-bedrooms can reach 1,200 to 1,800 euros (1,400 to 2,100 USD).
What makes these neighborhoods command the highest rents is not just centrality but the combination of renovated or new building stock, walkable access to restaurants and cultural venues, and the prestige factor that attracts premium tenants.
The typical tenant profile in Serbia's highest-rent neighborhoods includes corporate executives on relocation packages, diplomats, senior professionals at international companies, and wealthy locals who prioritize convenience and building quality over value.
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Serbia. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
What do tenants actually want in Serbia in 2026?
What features increase rent the most in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the three property features that increase monthly rent the most in Serbia are a modern, clearly explained heating system with predictable costs, a dedicated parking space in areas where street parking is difficult, and high-speed internet infrastructure that supports remote work.
A dedicated parking spot in central Belgrade neighborhoods like Vracar or Stari Grad can add 50 to 100 euros to your monthly rent, representing a premium of roughly 10% to 15% over comparable units without parking.
One commonly overrated feature in Serbia is luxury kitchen finishes, as tenants appreciate functional kitchens but rarely pay significantly more for high-end appliances or premium countertops compared to clean, modern mid-range options.
An affordable upgrade with strong returns in Serbia is installing air conditioning units with heating capability, which tenants value highly because it provides cooling in summer and supplements often-unreliable central heating in winter.
Do furnished rentals rent faster in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, furnished apartments in Serbia's major cities typically rent 2 to 4 weeks faster than unfurnished units because the tenant pool of expats, students, and young professionals prefers move-in-ready options.
Furnished apartments in Belgrade and Novi Sad command a rent premium of roughly 10% to 20% over unfurnished equivalents, though this premium only holds if the furniture is coherent, functional, and reasonably modern rather than a mismatched collection of old pieces.
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How regulated is long-term renting in Serbia right now?
Can I freely set rent prices in Serbia right now?
Serbia does not operate rent control for typical private residential leases, meaning landlords have full freedom to set initial rent prices at whatever level the market will bear.
Rent increases during an existing tenancy are also generally unregulated in Serbia, though practically speaking, increases must be agreed with the tenant or specified in the lease contract, and dramatic mid-lease hikes will simply cause tenants to leave.
What's the standard lease length in Serbia right now?
The most common lease length for residential rentals in Serbia is 12 months, though 6-month leases are also widely used, especially for tenants who want flexibility or landlords testing new tenant relationships.
Security deposits in Serbia are typically negotiated at 1 to 2 months' rent, which works out to roughly 450 to 1,600 euros (525 to 1,865 USD) for a standard Belgrade one-bedroom, with no hard statutory cap limiting what landlords can request.
Serbian law does not impose strict timelines for returning security deposits, so the return terms are generally whatever the lease contract specifies, and landlords commonly deduct for damages or unpaid bills before refunding the balance.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Serbia compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
How does short-term renting really work in Serbia in 2026?
Is Airbnb legal in Serbia right now?
Yes, Airbnb-style short-term rentals are legal in Serbia in early 2026, but operating one requires treating it as a regulated hospitality activity rather than an informal side income.
To operate legally, you must register your accommodation and use the eTurista system to report guest stays, which is Serbia's official digital platform for tourism accommodation registration and guest reporting.
Serbia does not impose strict annual night limits like some Western European cities, so there is no cap preventing you from renting your property year-round as a short-term rental.
The most common consequence of operating without proper registration in Serbia is administrative penalties and potential removal from booking platforms, as the government is increasingly coordinating with platforms like Booking.com to verify that listed properties have valid registration numbers.
By the way, we also have a blog article detailing whether owning an Airbnb rental is profitable in Serbia.
What's the average short-term occupancy in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average annual occupancy rate for short-term rentals in Belgrade sits around 50% to 55%, which translates to roughly 15 to 17 booked nights per month before seasonal adjustments.
The realistic occupancy range for Serbian short-term rentals spans from about 35% in smaller regional cities with limited tourism to 60% or higher for well-positioned, professionally managed properties in central Belgrade.
The highest occupancy months in Serbia are typically May through September, when warm weather, outdoor events, and summer tourism drive strong demand across Belgrade and other Serbian destinations.
The lowest occupancy months are generally January through March, when cold weather, fewer tourists, and post-holiday slowdowns mean short-term rental owners should budget for significantly reduced bookings.
Finally, please note that you can find much more granular data about this topic in our property pack about Serbia.
What's the average nightly rate in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average nightly rate for short-term rentals in Belgrade ranges from 55 to 85 euros (65 to 100 USD) for a typical well-positioned entire-place listing.
The realistic nightly rate range across Serbia spans from about 35 euros (40 USD) for basic listings in regional cities to 120 euros or more (140 USD) for premium properties in Belgrade's best locations.
The typical difference between peak season (summer) and off-season (winter) rates in Serbia is around 15 to 30 euros per night (18 to 35 USD), with many hosts adjusting prices dynamically to maintain occupancy during slower months.
Is short-term rental supply saturated in Serbia in 2026?
As of early 2026, Belgrade is the closest thing to a saturated short-term rental market in Serbia, with significant competition among roughly 7,000 to 8,000 active listings, though strong tourism demand still supports viable returns for quality properties.
The number of active short-term rental listings in Belgrade has been growing steadily, but this growth is now meeting increased regulatory attention, which may slow new supply as compliance requirements become harder to ignore.
The most oversaturated neighborhoods for short-term rentals in Serbia are Belgrade's Stari Grad and Republic Square area, where high listing density means intense price competition and lower occupancy for average-quality units.
Neighborhoods with room for new short-term rental supply include parts of Novi Beograd near business centers, Zemun with its distinct character, and regional cities like Novi Sad and Nis where tourist interest is growing but professional STR supply remains limited.
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What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Serbia, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why It's Authoritative | How We Used It |
|---|---|---|
| Republic Geodetic Authority (RGZ) | Serbia's official authority that publishes market reports using the national real estate price register. | We used RGZ as the official anchor for how Serbia tracks property prices and transactions. We grounded our yield and rent discussions in how the state measures the housing market. |
| Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS) | Serbia's national statistics agency and the top official source for economic data. | We used SORS as the authoritative baseline for Serbia-wide economic and tourism statistics. We cross-checked other sources against SORS data where possible. |
| PwC Tax Summaries | A top-tier professional firm providing structured, regularly reviewed country tax summaries. | We used PwC to confirm how Serbia treats resident versus non-resident rental income taxation. We cross-checked this with other professional sources to avoid single-source reliance. |
| City Expert | A major Serbian real estate platform publishing locally specific market data. | We used City Expert to estimate realistic rent bands and monthly cost patterns that landlords budget for. We adjusted their data to early 2026 using official price trend indicators. |
| Global Property Guide | A recognized international property research publisher with transparent yield methodology. | We used their yield ranges as benchmarks for gross yield expectations in Serbia. We then converted those into net yield estimates by applying Serbia-typical costs. |
| AirDNA | A widely used short-term rental analytics provider based on live listing performance data. | We used AirDNA to estimate occupancy and average daily rates in Belgrade as Serbia's main STR market. We applied conservative ranges to account for smaller cities and seasonality. |
| eUprava (eTurista) | Official Serbian government portal describing the eTurista guest registration system. | We used it to explain what you must do to operate short-term rentals legally in Serbia. We treated it as the official system of record for STR compliance requirements. |
| National Bank of Serbia (NBS) | Serbia's central bank, the gold standard for exchange rates and currency references. | We used NBS to ground currency assumptions common in Serbian rentals and listings. We kept euro-to-dinar conversions consistent for early 2026 throughout the article. |
| Eurofast Serbia Tax Card 2025 | A consolidated professional tax card explicitly stating common withholding treatments. | We used it as a second professional cross-check on how lease payments to non-residents can be taxed. We treated it as a confirmation layer alongside PwC guidance. |
| Danos Group Serbia Market Report | A recognized regional real estate consultancy publishing research-style market reports. | We used it as a professional cross-check on the broader market narrative and demand drivers. We treated it as supporting context rather than the main dataset. |
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Serbia. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.