Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Montenegro Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Montenegro

Name: Montenegro
Address: ME

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,626 per month in United States vs $1,322 in Montenegro, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $2,056 in Montenegro, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,033 per month in United States vs $2,789 in Montenegro, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 99% higher than in Montenegro on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 90% above the global median, while Montenegro is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in United States ($986–$5,298) than in Montenegro ($1,034–$1,728), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$11.76 €10.11

68.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$52.2 €44.86

51.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$10.99 €9.45

10.92%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$2.58 €2.22

116.67%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.42 €2.08

14.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.59 €1.36

37.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.23 €2.78

81.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$3.46 €2.98

131.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.33 €1.14

-19.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.01 €0.87

264.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$2.16 €1.86

115.74%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$3.29 €2.83

27.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$8.98 €7.72

42.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$7.78 €6.69

59.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$12.38 €10.64

36.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$1.42 €1.22

268.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.82 €1.56

-8.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.72 €1.48

151.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.68 €2.30

85.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.01 €0.87

179.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.15 €0.99

170.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.57 €1.35

39.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.85 €0.73

165.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$4.38 €3.77

136.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$5.85 €5.03

153.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.19 €1.02

75.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.75 €1.51

108.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.77 €1.52

34.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$35.25 €30.31

82.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.13 €0.98

213.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.17 €1.01

58.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$12.71 €10.93

138.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.82 €1.56

-45.05%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$31.9K €27.4K

11.34%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.5K €23.6K

-5.83%

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

$222 $222

$126 €108

76.51%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$17.24 €14.82

254.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$33.62 €28.91

122.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$45.23 €38.89

-1.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$14.09 €12.12

58.62%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$5.78 €4.97

160.03%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$360 €309

297.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$9,138 €7,857

183.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$84.5 €72.7

-36.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$41.68 €35.84

4.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$99.9 €85.9

-8.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$120 €103

-5.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$660 €567

147.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$495 €426

168.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$1,230 €1,057

111.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$952 €819

131.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$3,351 €2,881

-0.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$2,379 €2,045

11.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$1,039 €893

314.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

5.44

14.15%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Montenegro: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,604 in United States vs $651 in Montenegro. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,360 in Columbia, TN and $665 in Podgorica.

Average salary: $4,526 in United States vs $934 in Montenegro. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 146% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 79% more in United States.

Public transport is 37% more expensive in Montenegro.

Salaries are 385% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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

United States vs Montenegro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montenegro is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 128% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Montenegro, contributing to the overall 128% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Montenegro, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Montenegro is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.