Cost of Living Comparison Between Podgorica and Budva Cost of Living Comparison Between Podgorica and Budva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,301 per month in Podgorica vs $1,723 in Budva, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,000 per month in Podgorica vs $2,769 in Budva, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,698 per month in Podgorica vs $3,815 in Budva, rent included.

Podgorica is about 24% cheaper than Budva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Podgorica sits 3% below the global median, while Budva is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.79 €8.42

$16.52 €14.21

-40.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.06 €39.62

$65.8 €56.6

-30.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.14 €7.86

$11.51 €9.90

-20.59%

Cappuccino

$2.14 €1.84

$2.86 €2.46

-25.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 €1.96

$2.20 €1.89

3.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 €1.24

$1.43 €1.23

0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 €2.49

$3.44 €2.96

-15.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 €3.04

$3.80 €3.27

-7.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 €1.14

$1.37 €1.18

-3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 €0.89

$1.11 €0.95

-6.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 €1.98

$2.37 €2.04

-2.95%

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

$3.26 €2.81

-1.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 €7.37

$9.03 €7.77

-5.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.33 €7.17

$8.02 €6.90

3.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.99 €10.31

$11.86 €10.21

1.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

$1.30 €1.12

16.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 €1.50

$1.79 €1.54

-2.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 €1.38

$1.67 €1.44

-4.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 €2.21

$2.93 €2.52

-12.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 €0.83

$1.04 €0.89

-6.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 €0.99

$1.25 €1.08

-8.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 €1.59

$1.71 €1.47

8.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 €0.65

$1.18 €1.01

-36.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 €3.72

$4.48 €3.86

-3.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.85 €5.03

$6.56 €5.64

-10.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.28 €1.10

-15.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 €1.55

$1.72 €1.48

4.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 €0.91

$2.29 €1.97

-53.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 €29.69

$40.39 €34.75

-14.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 €0.61

$1.18 €1.01

-40.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 €0.61

$1.02 €0.88

-30.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.61 €9.99

$17.20 €14.80

-32.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 €1.45

$1.78 €1.53

-5.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.0K €24.9K

$29.8K €25.7K

-2.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.1K €28.5K

$26.2K €22.6K

26.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$113 €97.5

$159 €137

-28.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.33 €15.76

$18.52 €15.93

-1.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.40 €27.01

$33.49 €28.81

-6.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.82 €38.55

$60.2 €51.8

-25.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.73 €11.81

$23.86 €20.52

-42.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 €4.97

$5.68 €4.89

1.58%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$287 €247

$419 €361

-31.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,458 €6,416

$10.2K €8,803

-27.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 €72.2

$118 €101

-28.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.40 €39.06

$49.05 €42.19

-7.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 €80.4

$112 €96.1

-16.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 €97.5

$206 €177

-45.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 €538

$938 €807

-33.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 €417

$699 €601

-30.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,140 €981

$1,748 €1,503

-34.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$864 €743

$1,415 €1,217

-38.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,276 €2,818

$4,240 €3,648

-22.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,416 €2,078

$3,169 €2,726

-23.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,176 €1,011

$1,047 €900

12.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.73

5.93

-3.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Podgorica: June 2, 2026

Last update for Budva: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Podgorica versus $938 in Budva. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Podgorica, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Podgorica versus $66.0 in Budva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $238 – making Podgorica the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Podgorica vs Budva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,301 in Podgorica, $1,723 in Budva – roughly 32% apart. Budva costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,952 per month in Podgorica and $2,584 in Budva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Podgorica, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,301 in Podgorica and $1,723 in Budva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 17% less in Podgorica. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Podgorica, where all-in costs run around $1,301, than in Budva at $1,723. In Podgorica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budva it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Podgorica – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Podgorica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.