Moving from Montenegro to Serbia: Personal Experience and Financial Calculations
A New Stage: The Decision to Move to Serbia
After a comprehensive overview of life in Montenegro, the time has come for a new stage—moving to Serbia. This decision does not diminish the positive attitude towards Montenegro, which remains a wonderful country to live in and has left no negative impressions.
The main reason for changing residence was a cold, pragmatic calculation. The idea to move arose spontaneously after watching a random video about the Serbian city of Zrenjanin, a place I hadn't even known existed until then. The decision was made over a single weekend.
The Financial Side: Calculations and Benefits
The key factor for the move was economics. In Montenegro, there were three years left until obtaining a permanent residence permit (PRP). During this time, significant expenses were anticipated, which were carefully calculated.
- Taxes
- Accountant fees
- Rent
The total expenses for this period were estimated at around €35,000–€40,000. It turned out that for the same amount of money, one could buy a house in Serbia, which became the decisive argument for the move. This approach not only saved on future expenses but also allowed for an investment in personal property.
Growing Pains in Montenegro: Bureaucracy and Prices
With the increasing flow of migrants, certain difficulties arose in Montenegro. Real estate prices, especially when dealing with Russian-speaking buyers, increased tenfold, making the purchase of a home almost unrealistic.
Bureaucratic procedures also became more complicated. For instance, renewing a residence permit ('boravak') required spending several hours in overnight queues. Infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, and clinics, became overloaded. Additionally, requirements for running a business were tightened, leading to an increased tax burden. All this created the impression that conditions for immigrants would continue to become more difficult.
Why Serbia and the City of Zrenjanin
Serbia caught my attention due to its legislation, which allows one to obtain a permanent residence permit, and eventually a passport, within three years. When choosing a specific place to live, popular options like Belgrade and Subotica were considered, but they didn't feel right.
The choice fell on Zrenjanin, a city unpopular among immigrants. This approach was similar to the previous experience of choosing the city of Bar in Montenegro, which also wasn't very popular. In the end, a house was purchased in Zrenjanin, and the process of settling in began.
Comparing Life in Two Countries: Initial Conclusions
| Aspect | Montenegro | Serbia (first impressions) |
|---|---|---|
| Bureaucracy | Relatively simple, but becoming more complex | More complex, a lot of paperwork (e.g., nostrification) |
| Real estate cost | Has significantly increased | Allows buying a house for an amount comparable to 3 years' rent in Montenegro |
| Education (IT) | Standard level | The level of IT education seems higher |
| Language | Easy to adapt to | Similar to Montenegrin, but there are differences in words and phrases |
Although similar languages are spoken in both countries, which facilitates communication, the differences in life turned out to be significant. The bureaucratic apparatus in Serbia appears to be more complex and requires more documents and verifications.
To better understand the differences between the countries, the following points can be highlighted:
In the future, I plan to share detailed experiences about dealing with government agencies, enrolling children in school, finding workers for repairs, and other practical aspects of life in Serbia.
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