Money & Payments in Belgrade (2026)

Good to know

Good to Know

Serbians rely on cash more than other countries in Western Europe, using the Serbian dinar as their main payment method.
Euros are not accepted for daily transactions in shops, restaurants, or cafes; you need to use Serbian dinars (RSD).
Always choose 'Charge in RSD' at ATMs to avoid dynamic currency conversion markups.
If the bill is 780 dinars you'd generally give 850 or 900, unless you had an issue with service; paying 800 would probably be seen as a simple courtesy and not actual tipping.
Local banks are open from 08.30 AM to 17.00 PM from Monday to Friday; on Sundays, only duty banks and post offices are open.

Tipping

Taxis: It is not customary to tip taxi drivers, but you may want to tell them to keep the change from your fare.
Hotels: For hotel staff in Serbia, a tip of 1-2 units of local currency per bag for porters and a few units for housekeeping is customary, but not obligatory.
General Rule: While tipping is not mandatory in Serbia, it tends to be appreciated in appropriate settings.
Payment Method: You cannot tip by card, only by cash.

Restaurants

Standard
Guidance
Tip 10% in restaurants and more if service has been exceptional, or if you've eaten in a high-class restaurant.
Amount Range
RSD 500
Note
5–10% typical for dinner; round up for smaller bills

Card Acceptance

Overview: VISA and Mastercard are widely accepted in Serbia, particularly in tourist-centric businesses.
Where Cards Work: Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, shops, and gas stations. Contactless payments and digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Revolut) are especially common in Belgrade and bigger cities.
Where Cash Needed: Taxis typically require cash payment, unless you order it through a taxi application on your phone. Nikola Tesla museum is cash only (800 dinars). You'll likely need cash if you're shopping at smaller vendors or markets.

Accepted Cards

Visa & Visa Electron
Acceptance
widely accepted
Mastercard & Maestro
Acceptance
widely accepted
American Express
Acceptance
some ATMs accept
UnionPay
Acceptance
select ATM networks

ATM Fees

Dcc Warning: Some ATMs ask whether to accept or decline conversion (known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in RSD). If you accept, the ATM converts your money at the ATM's set exchange rate and you pay an extra fee; if you decline, the ATM will convert at the exchange rate of the bank/card logo. To avoid extra fees, select 'Decline/Without' Conversion or 'Charge in RSD'.
Bank ATM Fees: Others charge between RSD 400 and RSD 600 per transaction (Serbian Dinar), with the most common being RSD 500.
Fee Free Options: Halkbank ATM did not charge a fee for withdrawals; Halkbank is the only bank left in Serbia that does not charge a fee for withdrawals.

ATM Access

Hours: ATMs usually operate 24/7.
Availability: ATMs are available throughout the city and the vicinity of venues, allowing visitors to withdraw dinars using major credit or debit cards.
Language Support: ATMs primarily present Serbian as the main language and many also offer an option for English.
Withdrawal Limit: ATMs in Serbia have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of RSD 100,000.
Withdrawal Currency: ATMs in Serbia dispense cash only in the local currency, Serbian Dinar (RSD).

Currency Info

Official Currency: In Belgrade, the official currency is the Serbian Dinar (RSD).
Denomination Note: The Serbian Dinar RSD comes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 dinars, each a different color.

Banking

Remote Opening: Most banks allow account opening by Power of Attorney, though major EU-parent banks may require an in-person KYC visit for new clients.
Currency Support: You can have an account both for the local currency, the Serbian dinar, and foreign currencies as well.
Sepa Integration: Serbia officially joined SEPA in May 2025 and banks reached full operational readiness in May 2026. Euro transfers to and from SEPA countries now process in one business day at domestic-equivalent fees.
Deposit Insurance: The Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) insures deposits up to €50,000 per depositor per bank, consistent with EU deposit guarantee standards.
Non Resident Status: Foreign citizens in the first year of their stay in the Republic of Serbia are considered non-residents from the perspective of the Law on Foreign Exchange Operations, while foreign citizens who, on the basis of a residence permit or work visa, stay in the Republic of Serbia for more than one year, acquire the status of residents.
In Person Requirement: Some banks offer partial online application, but most require in-person verification due to legal identification rules. For now, plan to visit a branch to finalize your account.
Account Opening Timeline: For individuals with complete documentation, the procedure takes one to three business days. For legal entities, KYC review can take several weeks.
Monthly Maintenance Fees: Many banks in Serbia charge monthly maintenance fees ranging from дин.2 to дин.15. Some offer free accounts if you maintain a minimum balance or receive a regular salary.
Account Opening Foreigners: The process is relatively straightforward—as long as you bring the right documents and choose the right bank.

Recommended Banks

Raiffeisen Bank Serbia — Austrian-headquartered, with a comprehensive product range. Known for reliable mobile banking and strong customer service. Accepts non-resident clients and is consistently ranked among the top choices for foreigners relocating to Belgrade.
UniCredit Bank Serbia — Member of the Italian UniCredit Group. Strong in corporate banking and personal banking, with fast account-opening processing for non-residents. A preferred choice for business owners and freelancers operating across EU markets.

Required Documents

Passport or national ID (for EU citizens)
White card (proof of residence registration with the police)
Residence permit (temporary or permanent)
Proof of address (rental contract or utility bill)
Tax Identification Number (JMBG or PIB) – if you're working or running a business

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Belgrade

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.

Money & Payments in Belgrade