🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,276 in Podgorica versus $1,304 in Perast.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,970 in Podgorica versus $1,977 in Perast.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,663 in Podgorica versus $2,649 in Perast.
🙂Living in Podgorica costs roughly 2% less than in Perast, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Podgorica5% lower, Perast3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Podgorica
Perast
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.96€8.64
$9.81€8.51
1.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.76€39.66
$45.69€39.60
0.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.13€7.92
$9.47€8.21
-3.59%
Cappuccino
$2.06€1.78
$2.05€1.78
0.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.03
$2.25€1.95
4.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.24
$1.43€1.24
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97€2.57
$2.91€2.52
2.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48€3.02
$3.38€2.93
2.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Podgorica
Perast
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.19
$1.31€1.13
4.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03€0.89
$1.03€0.89
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36€2.05
$1.77€1.53
33.33%
Eggs
$3.08€2.67
$3.14€2.72
-1.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.70€7.54
$8.70€7.54
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.93€6.87
$7.28€6.31
8.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82€10.24
$9.49€8.23
24.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50€1.30
$1.50€1.30
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.51
$1.76€1.52
-1.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67€1.45
$1.69€1.46
-1.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.13
$2.57€2.23
-4.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02€0.88
$0.95€0.83
7.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15€1.00
$1.15€1.00
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.95€1.69
$1.89€1.64
3.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81€0.70
$0.82€0.71
-1.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24€3.67
$4.10€3.55
3.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.12
$4.67€4.05
26.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08€0.94
$1.08€0.94
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.63
$1.86€1.61
1.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Podgorica
Perast
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03€0.89
$1.43€1.24
-27.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.10€29.56
$36.88€31.96
-7.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.66€0.57
$0.70€0.61
-5.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76€0.66
$0.70€0.61
8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.48€9.95
$11.36€9.85
1.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.51
$1.68€1.46
3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K€25.5K
$28.6K€24.8K
2.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K€28.3K
$29.2K€25.3K
11.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Podgorica
Perast
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114€98.5
$114€98.9
-0.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.38€15.93
$17.98€15.58
2.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.12€27.84
$32.08€27.80
0.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Podgorica
Perast
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.06€39.06
$44.70€38.74
0.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.84€11.99
$14.53€12.59
-4.75%
Cinema Ticket
$5.84€5.06
$3.41€2.96
71.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Podgorica
Perast
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283€245
$286€248
-1.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,472€6,476
$7,327€6,350
1.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Podgorica
Perast
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.0€72.0
$23.42€20.30
254.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.27€38.37
$38.37€33.25
15.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.6€82.0
$93.1€80.7
1.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113€98.0
$111€96.3
1.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Podgorica
Perast
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$634€549
$729€632
-13.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490€424
$539€467
-9.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,125€975
$1,259€1,091
-10.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$837€725
$924€801
-9.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,235€2,804
$3,753€3,253
-13.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,356€2,042
$2,522€2,186
-6.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Podgorica
Perast
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,162€1,007
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Perast: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $634 in Podgorica and $729 in Perast. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Podgorica vs $46.00 in Perast. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $213, with Perast 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 Perast: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Podgorica or Perast?
Podgorica wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Perast. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Podgorica the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Podgorica vs Perast?
You'd need roughly $1,914 in Podgorica and $1,956 in Perast to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Podgorica vs Perast?
Rent for a central apartment: $634 in Podgorica versus $729 in Perast. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Podgorica or Perast?
Shoppers in Perast pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Podgorica vs Perast?
Dining out is cheaper in Podgorica – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $46.00 in Perast. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Podgorica or Perast?
At $1,276 in Podgorica versus $1,304 in Perast, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Podgorica but tight or insufficient in Perast. The gap between the two cities makes Podgorica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Podgorica or Perast?
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.
How safe is Podgorica compared to Perast?
Safety-wise, Podgorica and Perast are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Podgorica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Perast. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.