Setting up utilities in Belgrade is usually straightforward, especially in a rented flat where the landlord already has accounts. This guide explains who provides what, how bills are usually handled and what to check before you sign a lease. Provider names, tariffs and procedures change, so confirm details with your landlord or the provider.
Who Provides What
- Water and sewer: supplied by the city utility, Beogradski vodovod i kanalizacija (BVK). Charges are usually based on metered use or, in some buildings, on the number of residents.
- Electricity: the national supplier is Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), and the household market is regulated. Bills depend on consumption and tariff.
- Heating: many buildings in central areas are on district heating (Beogradske elektrane), billed by floor area or by meter. Others use gas, electric heaters or stoves. See our winter heating guide.
- Waste collection and building fees: usually billed separately or through the building, plus any maintenance fee for the building’s common areas.
- Internet, TV and mobile: from private telecom providers. See our internet providers guide.
Tap Water
Belgrade’s tap water is generally considered drinkable, and many residents drink it daily. Some people prefer bottled or filtered water for taste, and water in older buildings can be affected by old pipes. See our guide to whether tap water is safe to drink.
Renting: Who Pays and How
In most rentals, utility accounts stay in the landlord’s name and you pay your share either as a fixed monthly amount or by reimbursing the bills. Ask these questions before signing:
- Which utilities are included in the rent, and which are billed on top?
- Is heating metered, or charged by floor area?
- Can you see the last 12 months of bills, including winter?
- Are building maintenance fees and any debts on the flat the landlord’s responsibility?
- Do you need to read meters at move-in and move-out? Take photos of each meter on the day you move in.
Paying Bills
Bills are commonly paid through a Serbian bank account, at a bank, post office or payment point, or through banking apps by scanning the payment slip’s QR code. Pay by the due date to avoid interest charges. If you are not yet set up with a local bank account, your landlord can often pay on your behalf and you reimburse them. See our banking guide.
Budgeting for Utilities
Monthly costs depend mostly on the size of the flat, the heating type and the season. Winter heating is the biggest variable, and summer air conditioning can raise electricity bills. We do not give fixed figures here because tariffs change, so ask for recent bills or check the providers’ current price lists. For wider budgeting, see our cost of living guide.
Outages and Problems
For outages or leaks, contact the relevant provider using the number or app on your bill, or ask your landlord or building manager (upravnik) first. Keep your account or customer number handy. In an emergency, such as a gas smell or fire, call 112.
I’m Nevena, a writer and Belgrade native who now splits my time between Serbia and the UK. I’ve been living between two countries for 8 years, which means I understand Belgrade from both sides: as someone who grew up here, and as someone who had to rediscover it through expat eyes.
That dual perspective shapes everything I write. I cover expat life in Belgrade in depth, the things no guidebook tells you, like how to navigate the healthcare system, where to find reliable childcare, what property buying actually involves for foreigners, and how much things really cost when you live here rather than just visiting. I’ve done most of this myself, which means my guides are based on real experience, not research from a distance.
I also write about Serbia and the wider Balkans as a travel destination, a region that still surprises people with how much it offers. I’ve taken 35+ solo trips across Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia and Romania, and I speak Serbian, English and conversational Romanian.
Belgrade is one of Europe’s most underrated cities, and I’ve made it my mission to change that, one honest, practical guide at a time.