It’s no secret that Daria and I have been eyeing countries for a long time. Eastern Europe, in order to live there for some time or even emigrate. It is very convenient, since the flight to Moscow takes just a few hours, you can live here and there in Russia, in depending on the season and all sorts of things that come up. Exactly therefore, I am interested in similar comparisons from people (guest posts), who have been to Thailand and then moved somewhere still.
Let me remind you, we already have stories about Mexico here, ecoposelok in Latvia, Cambodia, Vietnam. And there is also some compilation. information about a residence permit in different countries with interesting comments at the end post.
The content of the article
- 1 What is the post
- 2 How we lived in Thailand and then ended up in Serbia
- 3 Thailand VS Serbia
- 3.1 Visa rules
- 3.2 Real estate prices and the rights it gives
- 3.3 Sea
- 3.4 Language
- 3.5 Climate
- 3.6 Attitude of the local
- 3.7 Product quality and selection
- 3.8 Prices
- 3.9 Medicine
- 3.10 Traveling opportunities
- 3.11 Remoteness from Russia
- 3.12 Cons of Serbia
- 4 Wintering VS relocation
Contents
What is the post about
This article is a comparison of life in Thailand and Serbia, because we managed to live a little there and there. Us – this is little Sophia, Oksana and Sergey. Those who are interested in this European country, I invite to my blog “Around the World Sofia”, let’s be friends in Facebook and Vkontakte not to get lost.
Last winter, we spent six months in Krabi, Thailand. And now I I am writing this article in Serbia in the city of Novi Sad. This comparison is not only two countries, but, as it turns out, two slightly different lifestyles, because in Thailand we rented a house, and in Serbia bought an apartment.
I will tell why we decided to move to Serbia, as well as I will try to compare the pros and cons of life in these countries. I’ll say right away that since Oleg’s blog on Thailand can find any I will give brief information about this country. More will be information on Serbia.
How we lived in Thailand and then ended up in Serbia
Last time in Thailand we lived in the winter of 2013-2014, having arrived here with three month old Sofia. Before that we traveled in Asia from 2009 years, interrupted only at the time of the appearance of the child.
The kid is a great opportunity to live, finally settled, we have long dreamed of renting a house in Thailand.
Our home in Thailand
We were very lucky and in the high season in the village of Ao Nang Gadn we found a beautiful house, despite the fact that almost a month before we unsuccessfully looking for something good. Three bedrooms, your garden in a couple of hundred, communal pool and gym, very beautiful and convenient settlement. We signed the contract for the house for a year and wanted the whole this year to spend here.
The pool of our village
In Thailand, it was very cool:
But we had the strong feeling that we were losing time because there are almost no hopes for settling here for many reasons, and in Russia we do not want to live for a long time, even only in summer.
Ao Nang Gadn – the truth is very beautiful here
In Thailand, you can buy a house, open a business, but there is a feeling that you will always be here on bird rights. Separate headache – visas, whatever one may say, you still get a farang tourist. Therefore, somewhere in March, we thought about moving to Europe and already in early April returned to Russia. There were several tasks: decide on a country, sell off property in Russia, get rid of from things, etc. Especially since in the spring there has been an increase in rates currencies.
There were several candidate countries: Italy, Slovenia and even Chile. AT Italy and Slovenia would need to open companies in Chile live on a visa rentier. You can also live in France on a rentier visa Greece, once such options, we also considered. In Montenegro and Cyprus is a very expensive property to buy, so these options disappeared immediately.
Almost all the options in Europe turned out very expensive, for except Serbia and Bulgaria. Chile is a different story altogether: you need to learn Spanish, fly far and expensive, and life there in general, in the end, it seems inconvenient and more expensive than in Europe.
We had the last option with Serbia, I accidentally found out that in this country you can get a residence permit by buying real estate, it was in September 2014, and we were here in just one and a half of the month.
We did not hesitate for a long time, didn’t go into the forums especially, just decided to go. In such a situation, both deficiency and excess information is only detrimental because you begin to succumb to someone else opinion, hesitate, and again the story goes no further. TO By the way, the situation when we also went to live for a long time, but we didn’t I liked it and we left, with us already was: in the Philippines.
In short, Serbia was perfect for us all. points and we decided to stay. We have already bought an apartment here and issued a residence permit. But then I will try to compare life in Thailand and Serbia, with pluses and minuses, which I managed to understand.
Thailand VS Serbia
Visa rules
Thailand: I think everyone knows about Thai visas. rules toughened up, although one-time and student visas can be obtained. For those over 50, can live on a pension visa, more Mile Card option (now there is even a light over 500 thousand baht for several years), but among my friends such card holders not.
Here a person writes about the experience of obtaining a residence permit in Thailand. By the cost is 400 thousand baht for 3 years. For me, it is a lot. And the process itself is not very simple.
Serbia: It is relatively easy to get a residence permit, permanent residence. Obtaining citizenship is a difficult and long process, but permanent residence after 5 years – already good.
It is clear that this relative ease, just because no one here gives nothing. To get a residence permit, you can buy a property or register a company. Marriage with a Serb or language courses – also an option, but more rare. Language courses for visas are expensive (somewhere from 500 euros for six months) and a visa is given only for a term learning.
With a residence permit in Serbia, for example, you can get a Schengen visa, and it means not to go to Russia for this, especially as visas are here getting kind of easier.
Belgrade, Parliament
It is also possible not to carry out emigration to Serbia, to live for some time for vizaranam, just like in Thailand. But since there is a smaller scale (from Novi Sad to the border with Bosnia, which visa-free for Russians, but, true, visa for Belarus, only 40 km), then it is more like an easy walk. In Thailand for we drove about 750 km –
Subotica
Still, considering the friendship of Serbia and Russia, for the Russians is established just an unprecedented benefit: the number of vizaran in a year is not limited to all others – only 90 days per semester. it established by bilateral international agreement, and they have priority over local laws.
But in fact, people usually still try to arrange a residence permit, because the lifetime of the vizaranam in the offset period for obtaining permanent residence is not is coming
Very elegant synagogue in Subotica
Property prices and the rights it gives
Thailand: You can still buy a small studio in Pattaya for 700-800 thousand baht (about 20 thousand euros). House can Buy for about 3 million baht. In Bangkok, housing costs from 70 thousand baht per meter, on the outskirts. Rental of houses: well, let’s say in average 15 thousand baht per month.
Home ownership is not a reason for obtaining tourist visas, residence permit and permanent residence.
Novi Sad Center
Serbia: Here is a decent studio of 28-30 meters in the city of Novi Sad will be worth 20 thousand euros (from 800 euros per 1 sq. m). In a small Subotica, right on the border with Hungary, the apartments are still cheaper. In Belgrade, the capital, on the contrary more expensive – even on the outskirts about 1300 euros per square meter.
As for houses, for 30 thousand euros you can buy a good one. Vikenditsu, something like a dacha, but with a large plot, the house can be decent in size but not warmed. From 50-60 cost good houses where you can live all year round. These are prices for houses in around Novi Sad.
If you go to the south, for Belgrade, then there is cheaper, but to settle there we did not want to. Nature is beautiful, but these areas were once conquered by the Turks, and the province of Vojvodina, where Novi Sad is located, This is the former Austria-Hungary. Both in architecture and in culture felt.
In general, real estate in Serbia is slightly more expensive than in Thailand. But it is also more capital than Thai, because the climate it is not tropical and there is a minus in winter. Serbia has a lot low-rise, low-rise housing, in contrast to the large the number of giant Thai condo that plus. But as for ordinary houses, then buying a house in Serbia – often buying a cat in bag, because all the houses here samostroy.
In Thailand, on the contrary, you can buy a house in the village with centralized building. We lived in this, we liked it. And with In terms of building standards, it’s better samostroya But unlike Thailand in Serbia, buying real estate, you can get a residence permit and permanent residence.
Coffee houses Subotica
On average, the quality of new housing in Serbia is very good. For example, we bought an apartment in the city of Novi Sad, 110 meters in brand new home from a very good developer, approximately 830 euro per meter, close to the city center. The apartment was excellent trim and all fixtures. Warranty on everything, including mixers, 2 of the year. Bamboo parquet, Velux skylights, elevators Schindler, granite floor in the entrance. All this cost us 830 euros per meter plus 5 thousand for an underground garage.
And closed courtyards, video surveillance, combination locks – here is the usual a business.
We look at the apartment, it is a two-story duplex
Small apartments are also good. 37 meters here is an apartment with a separate bedroom and a room with a kitchen area. Actually one bedroom.
Hotels in Palic resort, on the border in Hungary, once too part of Hungary
As for renting, a two-bedroom house can be rented in around 200 euros and for the same one-bedroom apartment plus about 100 euros for a communal, it is if for a long time. On short (for a month) a little more expensive.
For lovers of luxury, there are conditions too. There are and good sites in beautiful places, surrounded by mountains, near Fruschka mountain reserve, and beautiful, expensive houses.
Sea
Thailand: Well what can I say? The sea and the beaches here are beautiful. Let be and they are not the same everywhere.
Long Beach in Krabi
Serbia: Its sea, not here. But nearby there is a bunch to choose from. the seas: Adriatic, Mediterranean, Black; and resorts: Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Italy.
You can travel both by car and by plane, because Europe has many low-cost airlines, you can always plan trip under any action. For me, it’s better to go rest on the sea a week every two to three months, but do not interfere with rest with work, as often happens in Thailand, when you stop at sea ride in about a month.
In addition, we did not want to live permanently at sea in Europe: in the summer fussy because of crowds having a rest, and in the winter near the sea it is very damp. For example, in Montenegro, on the coast, everyone suffers in winter from the famous mold But there are places where you can swim in Serbia too – beaches on the Danube and lakes, water parks, hot springs, where equipped SPA and pools.
Lakes in Palich in October
What can I say, there are good pools 300 meters from of our house – a complex of as many as three, where the smallest – children’s, and large – Olympic, 50-meter. These are pools under open air and they work most of the year, about 9 months a year, so swimming there is as pleasant as in Thai
Tongue
Thailand: Thai language is very difficult for us, because the tone. One word uttered with different intonations can have several meanings.
Serbia: Serbian language is similar to Russian. I can not say that everything is immediately clear, but there are a lot of similar words, since languages kindred (“Hvala” – thank you, “we pray you” – I ask you, “Pekara” – bakery, etc.). Although not all the same, and with this you need to be be careful, “crucian” here grandmother.
Learning a language is easy. Sergey is now attending Serbian courses, total 2 hours a week. Progress was already after a month of classes. For half a year promise more or less fluent. Because of the language and because outwardly from the Serbs, we are not particularly different, then integrate in the end, it’s much easier here.
English can be used in both countries. Serbian pretty easily switch to English, many people know very well (for example, in our experience in pharmacies here they always speak good English).
Climate
Thailand: The climate is tropical. Hot, humid, green all year round. True, for young children too hot – due to the peculiarities heat exchange they overheat faster, and overheating and sunburn for kids is much more dangerous than for adults.
We could walk with Sofia either before 9am or after 5pm. The rest of the time we sat mostly at home, under the air conditioner, although outside the window was “summer”.
Serbia: The seasons are expressed here, which is more familiar than the Thai climate, but winter is mild, and in summer too hot, but still, I hope not so hot as in Thailand.
This year, the snow and low temperature (-10-15) were only a week In November, Sofia sometimes walked in a T-shirt, spring is here begins in the second half of February, and in March, they say, already summer.
Walking around Belgrade in November. Great climate and lucky with the weather
Rainy days are quite few (sunny days, as they say local, somewhere 320). I can say that this winter is absolutely not straining. Local children go without hats. And the summer goes on still most of the year.
Also in the country there are mountain resorts (Kopaonik, Divchibare), so in 4-5 hours you can easily get to the snow, if anyone get bored and take a ride. Ski resorts here are good for beginners, because the tracks are simple. And for difficult you can go to Alps, they are also nearby.
Local attitude
Thailand: Thais are very friendly, everyone knows. Although with a little Sofia, we suffered a little from excess attention. In stores her I often wanted to touch what I didn’t always like.
Serbia: Serbs are open, friendly and good with Russians. And they just love children. In regard to the child, rapture is here also express, but, let’s say, delicate.
Attitude to children is very reverent, even if it is unfamiliar child. On the playground, Sofia is sometimes on some descent. catches someone’s completely unfamiliar dad if he sees that I am not I have time to run. It horribly touches me every time. And me It is pleasant, that Sofia grows up in such atmosphere kind to itself relationship and mutual assistance.
And in Serbia, it seems, there are such opportunities for development for special children (relevant for Oleg and Darya).
Product quality and choice
Thailand: It was just paradise for us. Great amount fruits, vegetables and greens. Almost all of us bought in Tesco, something in Macro. 99% of what I needed for various complex recipes, I found.
Now I really miss many of the ingredients to which I had time to get used in Thailand – fresh shiitake and enoke mushrooms, black beans, coconut milk, etc.
Of the minuses – they say that there is a lot of chemistry in Thai vegetables and that rice GMO. And many more in Thailand suffer from the lack of kefirs, simpletons and the like, some of them even begin to dream about it.
Serbia: It is said that Serbian products are the best in Europe. Throughout Europe was not tested, but the products here are really very good. The country is agricultural, Serbia has no money for GMOs, and the demands are high here. Everything is very fresh and tasty.
Milk is the most real, from which sour cream and cottage cheese, sour milk, cheese, a huge number of varieties of different meat.In the usual large (non-premium) hypermarkets can buy fresh horse meat, frozen venison or boar meat. It’s me all to the question of diversity.
A huge selection of very good wines: French, Italian, Serbian, Montenegrin, etc. for a penny. What we like worth 4 euros, but there are 1.5.
Italian tomatoes and grapes are common delicious. In standard packages lies rokfor, as it should be from unpasteurized milk (I understand that for such recognition in Russia now you can get in the forehead). On sausage and sausages here is not feel free to write the percentage of meat content and its category. Most a large percentage of sausages that I saw – 92%, pork and hen.
And how do you jam, which is 75 percent made from selected drain and after opening the jar can be stored in the refrigerator no more of the week? In general, there are many perishable foods, which means more natural, with less preservatives. If a compare Serbian products with Thai, then I would say that their quality here is even higher than in Thailand, it is especially strong concerns fruits and vegetables, except tropical there is no fruit in Serbia.
For lovers of buckwheat, black bread and herring I will say that they there is, only the herring will have to salt themselves.
Street food in Serbia is also there, and I like it terribly. Generally here in terms of food is such an abundance that just the spirit captures. In the towns there is not a single quarter where there would be no your Pekara (small bakery) where you can buy fresh croissants, burka (such a layer cake with meat or cheese). Here freaky pleskavitsa (a huge bun with a huge chop and salad, McDonald’s is resting) and rakiya.
But products in Thailand and Serbia can at least be compared, in general and there and there, a lot of good, but I can’t even compare Serbian and Russian products – between them is infinity.
But a huge minus of Serbia: no durians.
Prices
Thailand: Bath pegged to the dollar. The dollar is now growing and against the ruble, and against the euro. If revenues are in rubles, then in Thailand is not easy now.
Here is the budget for our last winter: we had a pretty expensive house (28 thousand), although we rented it very cheaply – the same in our village usually cost 35, and those that are more – 45; car (12 thousand), because we did not want to carry a three-month Sofia on a motorbike. On all together, including products, visas, medicine, diapers, we spent about 75 thousand baht.
Until we came to Asia with a child, I thought that everything is very cheap here. But, as it turned out, unusual for Asian baby products are very expensive here. Take to example, the notorious highchair, in the Robinsons we saw for 4-6 thousand baht. Diapers and clothes are very cheap.
In Thailand, there are many opportunities for quite a budget life, but with the child wants a little different. And it turns out is not cheap.
Serbia: Serbian dinar pegged to the euro. And against the dollar The euro has been falling a lot lately. Although in relation to the euro ruble below the plinth. If the ruble exchange rate were the same, then it would be all very cheap. As well okay.
We buy more or less everything we want, but within reasonable limits. 
We spend about 100 euros for a meal a week, sometimes a little more, but less probably not.
In Serbia, expensive gasoline, but this is a common minus in Europe, probably it is even more expensive than Thai – the 95th liter is about 140 dinars (in euro 1.15). And quite high utility bills. I hope by in our big apartment in the winter we will be charged at 150 euros for All in the summer at 50. But here you need to pay for heating, which in Thailand is not. And the most expensive option – if the house is heated gas.
Electricity in Serbia is cheaper than in Thailand. In Thailand we have a kilowatt costs 5 baht, for a month it was sometimes 4-5 thousand baht due to air conditioners. In Serbia, a kilowatt costs 5 dinars a day and only 1 dinar (about 60 kopecks) at night (so the washers, dryers, dishwashers work here at night).
But still, by European standards, prices in Serbia are low. For example, I know that people moved here from Italy (husband is Italian, girl from Russia), including due to high prices and taxes in Italy (me called 900 euros – rent dvushki and 250 euros – communal).
The medicine
Both in Thailand and Serbia, we went so far only to the pediatrician.
Thailand: There are super modern hospitals, although very expensive, and there are small private rooms. On vaccinations and inspection pediatrician in Krabi we went to just that – a small private one.
On vaccination in Thailand
Serbia: This level of hospitals, as in Thailand, in Serbia, probably not, but there is Austria nearby with excellent medicine, on absolutely extreme case. State medicine, they say, here not very, although in my experience we have not yet come across it.
We have insurance, but we still take Sofia to the pediatrician in private office Small private clinic that belongs to one doctor, with 40 years of experience and an iron reputation. it much more comfortable and humane in relation to the child than polyclinic. For the price, it goes about the same as in private thai cabinets. 1000 dinar first admission (8 euro) and 300 dinar subsequent (less than 3 euros).
Travel opportunities
Thailand: Thanks to Air Asia and their promotions, you can easily and cheaply travel all over asia.
Serbia: Traveling around Europe is almost endless. Before Budapest from us 300 km, to Vienna 450, to Venice 750, to Milan 1150. To Bosnia 40. Croatia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece – all close by, since Serbia is conveniently located in the center of Europe. Everywhere can be reached by car, or fly, using any action loukosterov.
Fairy Budapest
By its location, Serbia gives odds to all of its Balkan neighbors. For example, from Montenegro and Bulgaria the same trips to the car will be more difficult – more, more expensive, through the mountains. And from Serbia you can really ride.
Remoteness from Russia
Thailand: There is virtually no options – the plane. Fly about 9 hours. Aviasales shows that tickets are now about 30 thousand (you can also check the price on Skyscanner.ru).
Serbia: There is a choice: fly by plane, take a ride train ride by car. If you fly, then compared to Thailand, not for long – 3 hours. And cheaper, at least times two.
In addition, near the big hub – Budapest, from where it flies woukair loukoster. I saw tickets for the promotion for 77 euros from Moscow and back, but without a share with this airline’s discount card, you can find tickets with a cost of less than 100 euros round trip.
The road by train to Budapest – 15 euros, you can by car, and then leave it at the cheap Wizzair airport parking lot. But only need a Schengen visa.
Cons of Serbia
If you really want to travel around Europe and at the same time get Permanent residence will have to find a compromise: you can be absent in Serbia only 2 months a year.
The state of the economy is not brilliant, as they say, but if look at the facts, the growth rate of the country in a year will take second place in the region after Montenegro, and that became for me surprise, overtakes both Croatia and Slovenia.
Due to the fact that the country is not rich, asphalt in places is not very buildings are not all repaired, but overall comfortable. In Russia, in some places such devastation that the Serbian in the background is just a kindergarten. So that also a minus is not critical. But compared to Thailand in cities much cleaner, bins and garbage cans are on the sidewalk, and rats here I have not seen even once.
The country is not in the EU and not in Schengen, so you need to get a Schengen visa With a residence permit, you can get it in Serbia. Inconvenient but not is critical.
Another noticeable negative – audibility in the apartments. Somewhere strong, somewhere hellish. But it is important to choose the right apartment, we prefer the last floors and corner apartments.
Graffiti on the walls of Serbian houses. Not beautiful. But we already stopped paying attention to them.
No Ikea. Build only in 2 years. In some things her very lacking, especially when you need to buy quickly and familiar, and, For example, there is no desire for a long time to explore the range of new stores. Here they carry from Hungary to order in the catalog for a mad commission in 40-50 percent to the price of the catalog. True, this includes the assembly, but for failure to build a discount does not give. For something small in Ikea, you can go by yourself. But how to bring a sofa?
Wintering VS relocation
It may seem that I am comparing two incomparable things: wintering and move. But in fact, everything is easier than it may seem. Now in such moving there is no drama, the work is still the same, remote, relatives and friends are still on Skype. Only the apartment moved with us and car and everything.
But life has become easier, no need to think about visas, departures from the country, let it go or not go back etc. And, given the current rate ruble, that we live in our apartment and use our machine, great easier life. No need to worry that if the ruble exchange rate still moves, it will become even more difficult. So simple rational decision.
If you take exactly monetary relations, then earn money for food and communal we can always, on travel too, because from here they cost us much cheaper.
And yet, anyway, life in Thailand was beautiful, but by lifestyle, mentality, habits and interests we are Europeans. Yes and here I am in some sense even safer to be at home, I know that no one crawls, we have this happened in Asia more than once and not It is necessary to hide the sugar in the refrigerator from the ants. Although we love Asia not ceased.
By and large, both countries are very good. And everyone has their own set of requirements. According to ours – Serbia is ideal for us now. immigration.
Life hacking 1 – how to buy a good insurance
Choosing insurance is now unrealistically difficult, therefore, to help everyone travelers, I make a rating. To do this, constantly monitor forums, I study insurance contracts and use insurance by myself.
Insurance Rating
Life hacking 2 – how to find a hotel 20% cheaper
First, choose a hotel on Booking. They have a good base offers, but the prices are NOT the best! The same hotel is often possible find 20% cheaper in other systems through the RoomGuru service.
Discount hotels
