Best Places to Live in Montenegro

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Construction and house prices show that most expats are drawn to the coastal areas of Montenegro. However, the capital Podgorica offers the cheapest cost of living, better options for renting all year round and an expat community that focuses on more than just beaching.

Especially if you are buying a house (or building a house) and are interested in its future resale value, the following three cities (especially its suburbs) are some of the best places to live in Montenegro.

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Living in Budva, Montenegro as an Expat

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Budva is a very old town on the coast of the Adriatic in Montenegro. It is famous as the tourist capital of Montenegro because it combines scenic sights in the old city and the development of resorts along the nearby beaches.

Arrivals, especially those looking for a quieter retirement on the sunny coast, tend to choose a suburb like Bečići or Sveti Stefan rather than live directly in Budva.

In any case, you will likely find things very crowded with visitors during July and August.

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Kotor for Expats 

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UNESCO has placed the ancient city of Kotor on its list of cities under its supervision and care, to attract tourists and keep the architecture relatively unchanged.

Tivat and Kotor are very popular with expats, especially those looking for luxury. Kotor Couture is quieter and has an authentic aesthetic - with fewer nightclubs, for example.

But its location inside the Gulf means that the climate in Kotor is drier and colder than most of Montenegro's coast in winter.

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Tivat as an Option for Expats Living in Montenegro

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Located on the east coast of Kotor's outer bay, Tivat is widely regarded as the most impressive part of Montenegro. It is relatively new compared to the nearby old towns.

Porto Montenegro is a luxury and luxury yacht marina and luxury resort complex along Tivat Beach. This luxurious Canadian billionaire project Frank Stronach started in 2007, with the support of LVMH President and Lord Rothschild.

In addition to a yacht base, this is also home to the second airport in Montenegro.

Tivat also has the most popular international school in Montenegro, Knightsbridge Schools International.

In other words, Tivat is a popular choice for expats who are keen to live in a more luxurious version of Montenegro - especially those able to finance such a lifestyle.

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Are There Many Brits Living in Montenegro?

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There is a long history of the British, other Europeans, Americans, and Canadians moving to Montenegro, either during the retirement period or part of the year.

Lord Byron is famous for saying: "At the birth of our planet, it is likely that the most beautiful encounter between land and sea was on the coast of Montenegro."

That was more than 200 years ago. Needless to say, Montenegro has enjoyed a strong appreciation of UK brands for many years.

Usually, the wealthy and wealthy Britons are planning to settle along the coast, especially around Kotor Bay and Budva.

These days, more Britons are also moving to Podgorica, the capital.

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Cost of Living in Montenegro

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Montenegro is generally considered one of the most affordable countries in Europe. You should expect your monthly costs as follows:

 

• If you choose to rent in Montenegro, these costs will vary greatly depending on where you find where and how many bedrooms there are. You will not find much for less than 250 euros per month and 600-700 euros per month. You will get two bedrooms in a modern and luxurious area of ​​the city.

• Billing costs usually range from 50 euros a month to 100 euros a month, depending on the features included and the size of your home.

• Public transportation costs are less than 20 euros per month, depending on the municipality.

• Entertainment, especially restaurant meals, varies greatly between the modern areas of the tourist areas of Kotor and Budva, and the rest of Montenegro.

• Expect to pay at least 10 euros in the end for a night out, and up to 50 euros with a special meal in a modern restaurant.

• The cost of private health care is about 300 euros a year, but many expats choose to pay on the go because a doctor's visit may cost 25 euros and most medicines can be obtained for less than 10 euros.

• Groceries are also very affordable in Montenegro, so that the budget is around 25 euros a week.

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Is It Possible to Retire to Montenegro?

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Even back in the days before independence from Serbia, in 2006, Montenegro had been a hot spot for retirees from all over Europe. Primarily, the attractive features that make Montenegro a good place to retire are:

• A low capital gains tax that is part of a generally favorable tax system.

• Competitively priced real estate (especially compared to nearby Croatia) in a generally rising market.

• Reciprocal agreements that allow retirees to keep some or all of their health and pension benefits from their home country.

• A very low cost of living compared to countries like Germany, France, Italy or the UK.

If you plan to retire to Montenegro, buying a home is probably the easiest route to a temporary residence permit.

The option of buying a Montenegrin passport through the citizenship-by-investment program is also open to high net worth retirees. Even if the passport isn’t what sells you on the CIP, the chance of avoiding taxes (especially if you’re an American) might.

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Crime: Is It Safe to Live in Montenegro?

 

Thanks to its low crime rate, it is safe to live in Montenegro. Violent crime, in particular, is relatively low compared to other countries, and the US State Department ranks Montenegro as a country-first level in the degree of safety scale.

Montenegro is generally considered a safe place for women.

Another rare occurrence, but it happens more often, same-sex couples may be harassed to show public affection in certain parts of Montenegro.

Organized crime and corruption are two different concerns, and their problems are usually of a high level and are unlikely to affect visitors and expats on a daily basis.

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Non-Crime Safety Concerns in Montenegro

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Driver training is mandatory in Montenegro, but road safety is sometimes a concern.

The Foreign Ministry says it has sometimes set up signs and cautioned that Montenegro usually passes risky situations regarding road safety.

The weather is very nice in Montenegro, even in the rainy winter. In mountainous areas, rocks and mudslides are somewhat common and floods can occur.

Montenegro faces moderate seismic and (minor) earthquakes, very common.

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Living in Montenegro: The Pros and Cons

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Like other countries, living in Montenegro comes with pros and cons. Consider each individual experience, and there are some sharp differences between the coastal region, the Podgorica capital, and the rest of Montenegro.

However, here are a few points that give you an idea of what living in Montenegro might be.

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Pro: Straightforward Access to Citizenship and Potential EU Membership

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The Montenegrin government laid a clear path to citizenship:

1. Meet the requirements to become a temporary resident.
2. Spend five years at this level.
3. Apply for permanent residence and spend five years as a permanent resident.
4. Apply for citizenship and passport from Montenegro.
A decade is of course a long period, the Citizenship by Investment program provides the opportunity to reduce this period significantly, for a large price - but the process is clearer and more certain than many other countries.

If you start a ten-year course to obtain citizenship, the chances are fairly good that Montenegro will have become a full member of the European Union when you get your passport.

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Pro: Low Taxes and Affordable Cost of Living

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Elsewhere in the world, can you pay a flat 9% tax on profits for a global lifestyle (in general)? This is the personal income tax rate and a deeper look at the tax system in Montenegro, and there are no hidden surprises in the form of capital gains, land transfer taxes, or real estate taxes.

In comparison to Croatia, similar properties are much cheaper and by a large margin in Montenegro. Home prices fell in 2018 due to lower Russian demand but they (in general) have increased steadily since the global financial crisis in 2008.

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Pro: The Pleasant Natural Surroundings

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Montenegro is known for its warm sunny climate. Take Kotor as an example:

August sees an average temperature rise of 79 degrees Fahrenheit, 10 hours of sunlight per day, and average sea temperatures at 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
In October, the air temperature drops from the low 1950s to the 1970s, and it may rain on 11 days of the month to keep the ocean at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the coldest and rainiest months, in January, Couture rarely drops below freezing, and may reach 4 inches of rain every month.
The natural geography of Montenegro is also a distinct commodity. This is especially true for expats who see their proximity between ocean beaches and picturesque mountains as sporting professionals.

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Con: The Language Barrier

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The local language in Montenegro is difficult to learn. Generally speaking, the language is constantly changing here.

As a prime example, even the alphabet is a matter of controversy. Some people of Montenegro prefer the Latin alphabet while others use Cyrillic.

English is somewhat common in bars, restaurants and hotels in tourist areas, but expats should learn to speak the local language. This is especially important for interacting with government officials and local merchants.

Of course, if you want to acquire Montenegro citizenship, you must learn enough language to pass the basic proficiency test.

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Con: Montenegro is a Small Country

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In Montenegro there are strategies in place to improve their healthcare system, but the taxpayer base and economy are limited and this means that they lag behind other European countries in terms of health insurance.

Statistics for individual doctors are a concern for some, and you may have to travel to Croatia, Serbia or any other country close to advanced hospital procedures.

Strategically, Montenegro is located between Russia on the one hand and the European Union and NATO allies on the other. Even if this conflict (which is now somewhat low) does not escalate into a security problem, it is clear that political climate change can affect real estate prices.

In other words, Montenegro is a "price trader" and the political conditions surrounding it somewhat determine its economic and strategic destiny.

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Con: A Short Track Record

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Montenegro declared its (peaceful) independence from Serbia just over a decade ago. Ten years earlier, she was involved in a war that changed life with the breakup of Yugoslavia.

There is a certain degree of uncertainty about how to see future governments regarding expatriates in Montenegro. As an example closely related to unpredictability in Montenegro, they are now in the third attempt in the citizenship program by investment, and this example has faced a difficult implementation period.

The ethnic disputes that remained two decades ago did not turn violent, but at times they stopped progressing when the factions differed.

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Is Montenegro a Good Place to Live?

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We looked at the advantages and disadvantages of living in Montenegro. The decision of certainty if Montenegro is a good place to live is a largely personal decision.

You might bump Montenegro to the top of your list if:

• You could retire in Montenegro and not miss the healthcare system at home.

• A low corporate and personal income tax rate is particularly attractive.

• The low cost of living in Montenegro, plus its proximity to more expensive cities in                                       Western Europe has won you over.