Belgrade - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Housing is located in several areas: Banovo Brdo, a community of town houses and single family homes near the international school; Dedinje, usually apartments (some are quite large) walking distance to the Embassy; and "downtown," which could mean one of several neighborhoods closer to the city center. Downtown housing is generally all apartments. Commutes from Banovo Brdo can be up to 30 minutes, Dedinje is usually a twenty minute walk, and commutes from downtown are usually around twenty minutes or so, depending on traffic (which can be tricky). We live in a downtown apartment and love the location as we are close to restaurants, cafes, bars, and an excellent green market. Each area has its pluses and minuses. Most families seem to be in Banovo Brdo or Dedinje. Downtown apartments seem mostly to be assigned to singles or couples without children. - Oct 2024
Housing is in three main areas but could be scattered over the city. Families with children are typically all housed in one area. Housing was large, modern, and not lacking in any way. Commuting time was under 30 minutes even in heavy traffic. - Sep 2019
Row house in Senjak, to be close to the international school(s). - Jan 2019
Row house, a bit away from the center but closer to the schools. We lived in Senjak. Most expatriates live in Senjak or Dedinje, as these areas are closer to the international schools. - Dec 2018
There are three main areas in which people live: in the city, in apartments near the US Embassy, and in houses in a diplomatic enclave. You can walk to work from the apartments and houses near the embassy. For those in the city and the diplomatic enclave, the commute time is about 20 minutes. Downtown housing is large, and all apartments have balconies (although some are better than others). The vast majority have parking in the building. Apartments have European-style appliances, and the houses have American-style. The downtown housing is all in great areas spread throughout the city. The closest embassy neighbor was a five-minute walk. - Sep 2015
Our house was lovely. Best house in our expat experience. Right by the forest. With that said, you can chose to be in an apartment downtown, or in a house in the suburbs, or an apartment within walking distance from the US Embassy. Each comes with pluses and minuses. Typical commute time is 20-30 minutes. - Aug 2015
USG housing includes: Banovo Brdo -- 3-4 bedroom single-family houses and townhomes in a residential neighborhood with a large concentration of USG families. All have yards, but the yards are often dirt-pits that won't grow grass and are hilly or oddly-shaped. 15-20 minutes driving from the Embassy and school. There is public transportation but it requires changing buses and takes a while. Senjak/Dedinje - single-family homes, townhomes, and some apartments. Further from other embassy families but mostly within walking distance to the embassy and pool. 5 minutes driving to the embassy and school. Downtown - 2-3 bedroom apartments, some large, some smaller, scattered throughout downtown. Most have balconies. All have parking but the spaces can be tight and are not always in the building. 15-20 minutes driving to the embassy and school. More public transportation options. Generally the choice of singles and families without children, but some families with children also opt for downtown apartments. - Aug 2015
City Center: Mostly made up of apartments in mid-rise buildings, the city center is a great place to be if you want to be near the restaurant/cafe/nightlife scene. Dedinje/Senjak: These upscale neighborhoods are good for being close to the Embassy. Housing consists of apartments and houses, and most of them are very quiet. My commute to the Embassy from Dedinje is 20 minutes by foot or less than 5 minutes by car. It takes about 10 minutes by car to get downtown. Banovo Brdo: This neighborhood is popular with families with kids as it has a suburban American feel and most houses have fenced-in yards. Housing is a mix of standalone houses, duplexes, and triplexes. Commute is about 15 minutes to the Embassy, 15 minutes to downtown. - Aug 2014
For the mission, singles and couples without kids opt for apartments in the city or near the Embassy most often. Families frequently opt for houses in a suburb of Belgrade that is around a fifteen minute drive to the city center and to the Embassy or they opt for housing near the embassy. We live in the former, which has more mission families living close to each other and we love it. Housing ranges from duplexes, triplexes, and standalone houses and they are very nice and spacious. They usually have a one car garage, a good amount of storage space, and fenced in yards. We are also just a few minutes walk to an awesome awesome giant park filled with walking paths, a track, basketball court, restaurants etc). - Aug 2013
Most expat families folks live either in a nice suburb about twenty minutes by car from the embassy or closer to downtown if they are here without no kids. Very nice housing in general. - Apr 2012
A variety, including apartments downtown, houses on the outskirts of the city, and houses in the suburbs that are popular with families. - Nov 2011
There are 3 areas that people live in: Downtown, Senjak area and Banovo Brdo (BBLand).Downtown is mostly singles/couples in nice apartments. Senjak is the area between Downtown and BBLand. It is a spread-out area with mixed types/quality of homes. A few Couples/Families live here. BBland is a neighborhood that most families and some couples live in. There are stand alone houses, duplexes, triplexes and really large triplexes. They are all big and are built of brick and cement, so that you don't have to worry about hearing your neighbor's conversations. Most have medium to large yards. I lived in BB Land. It was 4 miles from Downtown (Embassy) and was a great situation for my children. It was nice for them to have friends to play with in the neighborhood. It was easy for me (spouse) to make friends and easily get together with others. I would say that it was 65% American. You can walk to the stores: grocery, bakery, McDonald's, Movie Theater, and public transportation. There are running trails though the forested area. The neighborhood is set up on the hill, so the pollution isn't as bad as in other areas. Also down the hill is the largest recreation area: Ada Lake. - Jul 2011
Cheap housing blocks exist in New Belgrade across the river from downtown. Senjak has most of the upscale neighborhood apartments and homes as well as the nicer schools. Banovo Brdo is the embassy community housing with very nice houses. - Nov 2010
Mainly apartments. Some diplos live in the fancy suburb of Dedinje in villas, but you need to be an ambassador or similar to afford that. I had a great apartment in the heart of town. - Jun 2010
