Montenegro is considered to be the most expensive destination for living in the region, excluding Slovenia and Croatia, so a family of four in Podgorica needs EUR 1,825 per month, or EUR 521 per member, not counting the cost of renting an apartment, according to data from the Numbeo website.
Food prices in the capital have risen in the last year, so it is necessary to pay around 80 cents for a loaf of bread, up to 1.55 euros for a liter of milk, up to three euros for a shell of eggs, and up to nine euros for a kilogram of cheese. When it comes to meat, it is necessary to allocate between eight euros for a kilogram of chicken and 13 euros for a kilogram of beef.
– Compared to world capitals, the cost of living in Podgorica is 60% lower than in New York, 63% lower than London, 57% lower than Paris, and 53% lower than Tokyo.
It is necessary to allocate up to 2.4 euros for a kilogram of tomatoes, up to two euros for a kilogram of onions, and up to one euro for a kilogram of potatoes. When it comes to fruit, you should pay up to 1.8 euros for a kilogram of apples, up to 1.9 euros for a kilogram of bananas, and up to two euros for a kilogram of oranges.
When it comes to going out, for coffee in Podgorica you need to spend up to two euros, for carbonated juice up to 2.5 euros, and for beer, depending on the producer, from 1.5 to 3.5 euros. For a meal in a restaurant for two people, according to Numbe, it is necessary to allocate up to 40 euros, while a meal for one person in a fast food kiosk costs up to five euros. The costs of a kindergarten in Podgorica, depending on whether it is state or private, range from 40 to 150 euros. An average family of four spends 108 euros per month on bills, and renting an apartment costs between 450 and 900 euros, depending on the size and location, while a square meter for purchase costs up to 2,200 euros.
When these data are compared with Budva or Tivat (the only Montenegrin cities whose data are fully available on this site), life in Podgorica is significantly cheaper than on the coast.
Prices in Podgorica, including rent, are lower by a fifth, while only the costs of renting an apartment in the capital are lower by over 50% than in Budva. The cost of going out to a restaurant in Podgorica is 23% lower.
Food prices in the store are five percent higher than in Podgorica. The costs required for a family of four in Budva are 1,904 euros, or 543 euros per person. The average salary in the capital of tourism is 556 euros. If the citizens of Podgorica could spend 2,185 euros per month, their standard would be equivalent to the cost of the citizens of Budva in the amount of 2,800 euros.
When it comes to Tivat, the average salary in that city is EUR 687.50, and a family of four would need about EUR 2,085 per month, or about EUR 595 per person. Compared to Podgorica, prices in that city are 18 percent higher, including rental properties. Renting an apartment in Tivat is 40% more expensive than in Podgorica, prices in restaurants are higher by as much as 32%, and prices in shops are only 2.3% higher. On average, the people of Tiv allocate 128 EUR for the costs of monthly bills.
If the standard of Podgorica was 2,188 euros, in Tivat, 2,700 euros would be needed for the same expenses.
Calculating all these costs, Podgorica is 17.7% cheaper than Belgrade, including rent. When it comes to renting real estate in the capital of Serbia, it is necessary to allocate 42% more money than in Podgorica, while going out to a restaurant in Belgrade is about 20% more expensive. Food prices in stores are almost identical, i.e. the difference is only 0.4%. A family of four in Belgrade needs EUR 1,953, or EUR 565.8 per member.
Podgorica is more expensive to live in than Sarajevo, including all living expenses, by 6.5%, and only the rent in Podgorica is 35% more expensive. Prices in restaurants in Podgorica are higher by 8.7%, and prices in stores by 5.2%. Compared to world capitals, the cost of living in Podgorica is 60% lower than in New York, 63% lower than London, 57% lower than Paris, and 53% lower than Tokyo.
Budva is more expensive than Belgrade
Comparative data for Belgrade and Budva show that the cost of living in those two cities is almost identical. Food and rent prices in Budva are five percent higher, while prices in restaurants are three percent higher. Food prices in stores are higher in Belgrade by about five percent. Renting a one-room apartment, on average, in Belgrade is more expensive by only 37 euros (655 versus 618 euros). A three-room apartment in Budva, on average, costs EUR 1,500 per month, while in Belgrade it costs EUR 1,156. A square meter apartment for sale in Budva costs up to EUR 3,425, while in Belgrade it costs up to EUR 3,167. Renting an apartment in Belgrade is 1.5% cheaper than in Tivat, while restaurants and food are 13.9 and 1.9% cheaper, respectively. A square meter in a new building in Tivat is lower by around 600 euros.
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