Travel Prices in Montenegro
Even well-traveled people would be hard-pressed to show you where Montenegro is on a map or explain why you should visit. Most people over 30 probably remember the Bosnian conflict and that this was one of the countries involved in the break-up of Yugoslavia. It’s got adventure activities and mountains in the west though, some coastal areas and the medieval UNESCO World Heritage city of Kotor to the east. It’ s bordered by much more expensive Croatia to the north and similarly priced Albania to the south. Travel prices in Montenegro are quite attractive throughout the country.
Montenegro has a very different feel than the countries around it though, mostly due to the people themselves and their close ties to Moscow. They’re more like Russians than Europeans, thanks in part to a shared religion, shared alphabet, and visa-free entry for that country’s citizens. Russians are the main investors in the country and make up a large percentage of the summer vacationers. They and the locals share a few key traits, especially when it comes to gruff unfriendliness and questionable fashion sense. Unlike the Bosnians or Albanians, the vast majority also seem to be significantly overweight (which doesn’t stop 100% of the women from wearing a bikini at the beach…)
Perhaps that last trait comes from the local food, which is filling and served in large portions. The beer and wine are also a bargain. There’s a limited amount of food here you won’t find elsewhere though: expect some Turkish and Hungarian influences, plus a lot of pasta, sandwiches, and seafood. You’ll have to go upscale to find much refinement. The best meal is often the breakfast buffet at your hotel, so if it’s included, load up.
Come for the history, come for the Adriatic Sea, or come for the adventure. On that last note, the best site I’ve found for the whole regions is BalkanVibe, which lets you zero in on fun tours.
Food & Drink Prices in Montenegro
I’m putting this first because it’s the best deal among the things you’ll spend money on. Even in the seaside tourist places, it’s easy to find a filling meal for under €5 and groceries are very cheap across the board. That photo above is what I got for €2 in a supermarket: a bottle of wine and a loaf of whole wheat bread (the loaf was twice that big.) The photo after the list below you might be able to see the price: meat-stuffed burek and a yogurt for €1.30. Keep in mind too that when you get away from the tourist areas, prices plummet even more for eating out. You’ll be able to stuff yourself and keep the local wine flowing for prices on par with Southeast Asia.
Carrots, squash, cucumbers, potatoes, onions, seasonal fruit: €0.5 per kilo or less
Large package of cookies: €0.40 – €1
Drinkable bottle of wine: €1.50 – €7
Local beer in store 0.5 liter: €0.60 – €0.9
Local beer in a bar 0.5 liter: €1.5 – €2.5
Glass of wine in a restaurant: €1.25 – €4
Shot of brandy (plum, grape, or cherry): €0.30 – €0.75
Liter of milk: €0.65 – €1.25
Kilo of flour or sugar – €0.40 – €0.85
Coffee in a cafe: €0.50 – €1.5
Scoop of gelato: €0.50 – €1
Chocolate bar: €0.20 – €0.75
Basic restaurant meal: €3 – €6 (Goulash, personal pizza, pasta dish, or kebabs)
Lodging Prices in Montenegro
Overall, lodging is reasonable here, but during summer the coastal spots fill up with domestic travelers, Russians, and occasional Europeans bringing a whole family. The sweet spot for lodging in Montenegro is cheap guesthouse apartments where you get a private room with a bath and maybe a kitchenette. I got a place for €14 in Ulcinj, with a small kitchen and a nice balcony with a view.
The most choices, however, are in the mid-range area of €30 – 100, so if you search on Trivago that’s where you’ll see the most for the popular coastal spots. If you sort by price though and don’t mind a “serviced apartment” instead of a hotel with lots of facilities, you can usually find something between €18 and €30 double. In Herceg Novi alone there are 550 places to stay listed on Trivago, probably another 100 or more that just have a sign up out front. Here’s where my bike tour group stayed there, Hotel Xanadu listed on Booking.com for US$86 per night:
As with food, when you get into the interior, travel prices in Montenegro drop quite a bit. In Niksik the top-rated hotel (4 stars) goes for less than €50 per night double, with free breakfast. There are several under €15.
In tourist parts of Montenegro, traveling alone is going to cost you. Hostel dorm beds in Kotor or Herceg Novi cost as much as a guesthouse room, so if you can travel with someone else, your lodging costs will likely drop by half. In other areas you can expect to pay €10 – €15 for a dorm bed, which is more bearable.
Getting Around in Montenegro
There are train lines here and there in the Balkans, but not in Montenegro. Which means unless you rent a car, you’re going to be taking a bus from point to point. The good news is, they’re usually nice between the main routes and are not very expensive. Very few routes are more than 100 kilometers. Bus companies may charge up to one euro per bag for luggage, so be prepared with some change after buying your ticket.
The best buses look like the one below inside and are air conditioned. Why is that one so empty? I was the last one on the bus for the last stretch to Ulcinj—a private ride! (Imagine that happening anywhere in Asia.) For schedules, the best site I found was BalkanAviator.
Kotor to Podgorica bus: €5 – 7
Kotor to Ulsinj bus: €4 – 7
Ulcinj to Tirana, Albania bus: €11
Bay of Kotor ferry: €1
Car rental: can easily be €40 – 60 for a small manual car
Bike rental: €10 a day, less for multiple days.
Taxi: usually €1 to start and then €0.60 – 0.80 per km
Other Travel Prices in Montenegro
Hop-on, Hop-off Boat Tour in Bay of Kotor – €15
Round-trip boat excursion from Kotor: €2 – €6
Sim card with data: €3 – 6
Museum admissions: €2 – 6
First-run movie ticket: €4
Gas/petrol – on par with Europe, twice as much as the USA
As in much of Europe, you’re limited to a 90-day stay unless you obtain a visa extension, which could grant you up to 180 days in a one-year period.
Since 2015 though, Montenegro has allowed you to buy into temporary residency if you a) buy property here and b) have the equivalent of 10 euros a day for a year in a bank account. Plus the usual “no criminal record” stipulation. So I didn’t feature this country in A Better Life for Half the Price, but it definitely qualifies if you’re willing to invest in real estate. Although prices are a tad lower in Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Albania, this is certainly one of the cheapest places to live in Europe.
As a person passing through, travel prices in Montenegro are some of the best you will find as well.
And if you’re American you can live very cheaply in Albania and take very quick trips into next door Montenegro. The Balkan countries are small enough that if you can stay long term in one of them it opens up numerous possibilities, including popular tourist destinations Greece and Italy.
Also there’s a train that runs from Bar, Montenegro to Belgrade, Serbia. Supposed to be amazing scenery.
Very Heavy food, i may not able to eat full. But other things are really good.
Thanks for share :)
Very useful information.. Montenegro is very good place to visit in low budget… Good job..
Very useful info about prices in Montenegro, thank you
Enjoyed learning about Montenegro-thank you. But I am so interested in living in Croatia. Is it really a lot more expensive (NOT including Dubrovnik)?
Croatia is more than double the price of Bosnia, Montenegro, or Albania, for nearly anything you would spend money on. It seems crazy for countries so close together, but the massive difference in tourism numbers means that Croatians are a lot wealthier.
Hi Tim,
I was just there and can confirm most of the prices. I was actually there 8 years ago, but backpacking and hitchhiking and camping. It was an amazing experience back then, and a completely different and enjoyable experience this time (traveling as a digital nomad, having my own apartment, staying in just one place).
Las time I saw everything, from Ada Bojana down south (long stretch of sand), to the more historic north, Kotor and Herceg Novi. From that trip, I can recommend Sveti Stefan. Lovely pebbled beaches, not too many people, good camping area.
This time I wanted something chill. Most towns are packed with tourists in the summer, and, as any cost where there’s Russian capital, resort buildings are quite ugly. So I went for a “village looking” town. I stayed in a place called Buljarica, right before Petrovac, and can highly recommend it. Of course there’s people in the summer, but the beach is very long and you can find your own quiet spot. The town feels like a mountain village, as it is right by the mountains. The water is very clean and clear. Gorgeous.
And it’s pretty close to Podgorica for flights and Bar for the ferry to Italy and the train to Belgrade (which I HIGHLY recommend, you can read all about it on seat61).
If anyone needs more info, just ask.
Sounds like you found a great spot. I definitely want to go back and explore more. Thanks for the info.
Great article, I am in the early stages to start planning a trip that way. When would you say is the warmest time of the year to visit? And does the water get warm enough to swim in?
Summer is the warmest, for the air and the water. I’d imagine you can swim through September at least.
Hi Tim,
Absolutely loved reading all the great and useful info provided so Thanks! Like many others I too am hunting out likely places to move to now I have retired and want to experience 4 seasons in a year (only get 2 where I live, summer and winter – both at extremes!).
My question is about buying property in Montenegro – I assume the main city would be more expensive so what would be not too far from the city but have good transport access? Also average price range? Lastly, given its location and proximity, to Albania and other (pre) Yugoslavic countries, what is the local language, do they speak English and is there an ex-pats cohort locally?
Any tips greatly appreciated and have a stunning day.
Regards
Denise
Oz
Denise, these questions can better be answered by local resources–and traveling there before deciding where to live–than by me. But no, English is the 3rd language there for many people and the alphabet is Cyrillic.
Hi Tim,
What are the pitfalls of traveling to Albania from Montenegro? I keep hearing tourist trips are all bus and no out and about. Can you get to the major towns easily in a hire car from Montenegro?
From what I saw and experienced, it’s mostly minivans going between the two countries, and not very organized. You may not be allowed to take a rental car across the border per their contract terms–which is not unusual outside the EU. So to rent in ALbania, you get to Albania first. I’d contact a couple agencies and see.
Thank you for the updates! Planning for a solo visit to Montenegro next year.
Hence your updates are very useful in planning! Thanks again!
Wish I could have spent some time in the interior. I’ll have to go back. Have fun!
Thank you for the post and I find it useful for my future trip to the region. However, I did not understand why it was necessary to make some stereotypical comments about Russians or Montenegrians. I am sorry to hear that you saw some “questionably fashioned” and unfrendly people but it was just your experience. Also, what purpose does it serve to mention that the place is mostly visited by Russians and not Europeans? How do you define “Europeans”? Can you really say that travellers from Cyprus have similar traits from Norway? You seem to be a well-traveled and smart person. Just be aware that people should be judged by their personal behaviors and not their ethnicity. I am an American citizen if that matters.
Sorry if it bothered you. It was something I heard everyone commenting on while I was there. I’d rather talk about the reality of a place and risk offending a few readers than to always be chipper and surface-level like Travel + Leisure. There’s a VERY different vibe in Montenegro along the coast than there is in neighboring countries because of the type of tourists who come there. Glossing over that would not be fair to the readers who expect more from me.
Good read that Tim also I prefer to hear all about the vibes as well which quite make the visit more interesting as well as making you aware of the area, wish i had read something like that before I went to Bulgaria for the first time 20 odd years since would have prepared me better and I may well have enjoyed it more.
We love traveling in the spring more off season where it earn but not hot when would you suggest ? And if we want to see other places what would you suggest ? We’ve already been all over Italy
I didn’t spend enough time there to provide comprehensive advice. Spring for a guidebook and you’ll get dozens of great ideas.
Great post it’s very helpful for traveller.
Very useful information Tim Leffel. I didn’t visit Montenegro but your article attracting me to this destination. Good job, well said.