SerbiavsUnited States
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Serbia
54
GoScore
Budget/mo
$650
Salary/mo
$950
United States
43
GoScore
Budget/mo
$2,500
Salary/mo
$4,500
AI insights unavailable
Study Abroad GoScore Ranking
GoScore 0-100 · Weights: affordability, PR pathway, safety, career & quality of life
Key Comparison Metrics
Public university tuition / year
Monthly student budget
Part-time wage / hour
Student visa fee
Post-study work visa
IELTS band required
Safety index
Quick Verdict - 2026
Serbia wins for students (GoScore 54 vs 43). A 2-year master's costs $20,600 in Serbia - 83% less than United States, saving $99,400.
United States wins for working professionals (GoScore 61 vs 49). Professionals in United States retain $1,620/month after expenses - $1,668/month more than in Serbia.
Serbia is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 63 vs 58). PR takes ~5 years in Serbia vs ~8 years in United States.
Serbia vs United States: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Serbia - tuition ($5,000) plus living ($15,600) - is $20,600. In United States: $120,000 ($60,000 tuition + $60,000 living).Serbia is 83% cheaper, saving $99,400 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Serbia, 20 hrs/week at $4/hr earns $320/month - covering 80% of outside-city rent. In United States, the same hours earn $1,200/month - covering 75% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Serbia retains $0/month from $950. In United States: $1,620/month from $4,500. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $100,080. Tech salaries: $2,800/mo (Serbia) vs $10,000/mo (United States).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Serbia: PR pathway ~5 years. United States: ~8 years. Post-study work visas: 0 months (Serbia) and 12 months (United States). Student visa fee: $80 vs $510.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Serbia) and 6.5 (United States). Serbia has a lower threshold - beneficial for applicants close to their target band. Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 🇺🇸 United States |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 54 | 43 |
| Work GoScore | 49 | 61 |
| Settle GoScore | 63 | 58 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $2,500 | $30,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $650 | $2,500 |
| Avg net salary / month | $950 | $4,500 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $620/mo | $2,200/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 8 years |
| Safety index | 63 / 100 | 53 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Serbia & United States
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets - unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇷🇸 Serbia
- 1.
Belgrade's tech scene grew 25% in 2023 - Serbia now has the highest concentration of STEM graduates per capita in Southeast Europe.
Source: ICT Hub Serbia 2024
- 2.
Serbia allows digital nomad residency with low income requirements - popular for EU-adjacent living at Central Asian costs.
- 3.
Nikola Tesla was born in Serbia (then part of the Austrian Empire) - reflecting a long national tradition of engineering excellence.
- 4.
Serbia's flat 10% income tax rate is one of the lowest in Europe.
Source: Tax Administration Serbia 2024
🇺🇸 United States
- 1.
OPT (Optional Practical Training) allows STEM graduates to work in the US for up to 3 years after graduation without requiring an H-1B visa.
Source: USCIS 2023
- 2.
The US hosts 4.4 million Indian-origin immigrants - the second-largest source country of immigrants after Mexico.
Source: US Census Bureau 2023
- 3.
A STEM master's graduate in the US earns on average $95,000/year - roughly ₹79 lakh at 2026 exchange rates.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024
- 4.
US universities occupy 15 of the world's top 20 positions - including MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Caltech.
Source: QS 2025
- 5.
Indian professionals lead more Fortune 500 companies than any other non-American nationality - Alphabet, Microsoft, Adobe, IBM, and FedEx all have Indian-origin CEOs.
Popular Comparisons
Ready to take the next step?
You'll need IELTS to study in any of these countries. Take a free full-length mock test to know exactly where you stand.
Data Sources
Editorial
Compiled by mockDe Editorial Team
Verified by IELTS-certified advisors with study-abroad counselling experience.
Freshness
Data reflects 2026 benchmarks.
Last reviewed June 2026.
AI verdict cached permanently; regenerated on data change.
All figures in USD. AI insights by Gemini Pro. Values are indicative - verify official sources before making relocation decisions.