🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,300 in Podgorica versus $1,306 in Kolasin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Podgorica versus $1,942 in Kolasin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,710 in Podgorica versus $2,577 in Kolasin.
🙂Monthly costs are close between Podgorica and Kolasin; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Podgorica3% lower, Kolasin3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Podgorica
Kolasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.76€8.33
$5.71€4.87
70.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.48€38.79
$29.36€25.04
54.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28€7.92
$9.62€8.20
-3.53%
Cappuccino
$2.12€1.81
$1.49€1.27
42.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.01
$1.87€1.59
25.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.18
$1.19€1.02
16.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96€2.52
$2.93€2.50
1.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48€2.97
$2.87€2.45
21.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Podgorica
Kolasin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.16
$1.39€1.18
-2.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03€0.88
$1.13€0.97
-8.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37€2.02
$1.84€1.57
28.80%
Eggs
$3.23€2.76
$3.60€3.07
-10.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.74€7.45
$13.08€11.15
-33.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.05€6.87
$7.27€6.20
10.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.17€10.39
$9.50€8.10
28.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53€1.31
$2.16€1.84
-29.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81€1.55
$2.33€1.98
-22.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67€1.42
$1.86€1.58
-10.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49€2.13
$3.51€3.00
-29.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96€0.82
$1.82€1.55
-47.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11€0.95
$1.13€0.96
-1.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91€1.63
$1.95€1.67
-2.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.49€1.28
-46.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14€3.53
$3.93€3.35
5.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.97€5.10
$4.62€3.94
29.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.93
$1.58€1.35
-31.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.55
$2.13€1.82
-15.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Podgorica
Kolasin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05€0.90
$1.46€1.25
-28.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.74€29.63
$37.59€32.06
-7.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67€0.57
$1.13€0.96
-40.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70€0.60
$1.01€0.86
-30.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.76€10.03
$11.64€9.93
1.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.49
$1.76€1.50
-0.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K€24.6K
$29.8K€25.4K
-3.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K€28.2K
$28.8K€24.6K
14.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Podgorica
Kolasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113€96.8
$91.1€77.7
24.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.45€15.74
$17.55€14.97
5.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.49€27.71
$28.55€24.35
13.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Podgorica
Kolasin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.66€38.09
$44.49€37.95
0.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.77€11.74
$14.52€12.38
-5.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96€5.09
$3.45€2.95
72.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Podgorica
Kolasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$289€247
$291€248
-0.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,340€6,261
$7,359€6,277
-0.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Podgorica
Kolasin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.6€70.4
$22.71€19.37
263.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.63€38.07
$38.10€32.50
17.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.7€79.9
$120€102
-21.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112€95.6
$128€109
-12.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Podgorica
Kolasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$630€538
$708€604
-11.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490€418
$531€453
-7.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,159€989
$1,270€1,083
-8.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$864€737
$916€781
-5.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,087€2,634
$3,818€3,256
-19.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,282€1,946
$2,584€2,204
-11.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Podgorica
Kolasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,170€998
$921€786
27.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.73
5.38
6.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Podgorica: April 19, 2026
Last update for Kolasin: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $630 in Podgorica and $708 in Kolasin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Podgorica pays 27% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $45 in Podgorica vs $29 in Kolasin. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $256, with Podgorica cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kolasin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Podgorica and Kolasin?
Podgorica and Kolasin differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,300 vs $1,306 including rent). Podgorica is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Podgorica or Kolasin?
Podgorica pays 27% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Podgorica and Kolasin?
Rent for a central apartment: $630 in Podgorica versus $708 in Kolasin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Podgorica or Kolasin?
All in, you'll spend $1,300 per month in Podgorica versus $1,306 in Kolasin – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Podgorica and Kolasin?
A monthly transit pass in Podgorica runs roughly 8% less than in Kolasin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,300 in Podgorica versus $1,306 in Kolasin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Podgorica but tight or insufficient in Kolasin. The gap between the two cities makes Podgorica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Podgorica and Kolasin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Podgorica or Kolasin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Podgorica and Kolasin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Podgorica or Kolasin?
Expats usually find Podgorica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Kolasin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.