What I Don’t Like About Serbia (And Why I Still Live Here Anyway)

As someone born and raised in Canada, I often get two responses when people hear I moved to Serbia:

1. 
   

   "Wow, that’s amazing—you must be living the dream!"

   
   


2. 
   

   "Why would you leave Canada?! Serbia is so bad!"
   
   

   
   

Neither of those responses reflects reality. Many Serbs mistakenly believe that foreigners arrive with bags of money and life is easy. What they don’t see is the hard work behind the scenes, especially when running a business like Relocation Serbia. In truth, it’s more demanding than a 9–5 job—and we do it because we believe in what we offer.

There’s a saying: “Entrepreneurs would rather work 80 hours for themselves than 40 hours for someone else.” That holds true here in Serbia.

Our relocation team works late nights, weekends, and holidays. My wife runs an online education business, often staying up until midnight due to time zone differences. Having a business in Serbia means navigating laws, client emergencies, and relentless schedules.

So no, we’re not retired YouTubers sipping rakija all day. We’re building something—just like our clients are.

One of the most difficult cultural dynamics I’ve encountered is the deeply ingrained victimhood mindset. If you speak about opportunity, success, or solutions, some people respond with:


"You don’t understand—it’s impossible here."

And yet I see people driving luxury cars, owning large homes, and enjoying decent lives—contradicting the narrative of total hardship. Is Serbia perfect? No. But neither is Canada, the U.S., or any “legacy brand” country. I’ve seen tent cities in North America and working-class people drowning in debt.

The truth is: life is hard everywhere. It’s what you make of it that counts.

The real estate market in Serbia is, frankly, a mess.

Many real estate agents don’t understand customer service. Listings lack details. Photos are poorly taken. Prices aren’t listed. Negotiations feel like wild guesses. This is why Relocation Serbia is launching our own real estate branch—to give our clients a Western-level experience.

We believe buyers deserve clarity, transparency, and professionalism—especially when making a major investment in a new country.

We live in a digital world—but much of Serbia hasn’t caught up.

Most local businesses—whether bakeries, auto shops, or consultants—have zero online presence. No website. No booking system. No customer funnel. In 2025, that’s a huge missed opportunity.

If your business isn’t online, it might as well not exist.

At Relocation Serbia, we push digital literacy not just for visibility—but because it's the gateway to global income. A young entrepreneur here can earn U.S. dollars from a Novi Sad apartment with just a laptop and Wi-Fi.

This won’t surprise anyone: bureaucracy in Serbia is exhausting.

Slow responses, inconsistent paperwork, lack of accountability—it’s all part of the experience. Unfortunately, poor customer service extends beyond government offices into many businesses.

But instead of complaining, we’ve built Relocation Serbia to solve that problem. Our concierge support ensures clients aren’t left to fend for themselves. We act as your advocate and local expert—so you don’t waste time chasing stamps and signatures.

Despite all of this, I love living in Serbia. Why?

Because the younger generation is waking up. They’re learning how to build businesses, leverage technology, and challenge outdated thinking. They’re creating value in Serbia—not just escaping to Canada or Germany for a “better life.”

And that’s where the real opportunity lies: helping build the Serbia of the future.

Serbia isn’t perfect—but no country is. What matters is knowing what you’re walking into and having the right support system behind you.

👉 Book your consultation now with our legal and relocation team to find the best solution for your citizenship and residency goals.