Budva, Montenegro

Photo: Miomir Magdevski · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cost of Living in Budva, Montenegro

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Budva costs approximately $1,388 per month for one person including rent. That is 14% below the $1,620 global median across the 340 cities in the Voyica Cost of Living Index 2026. Against its own region, where the median is $1,849, Budva is cheaper than typical for Europe. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $825 per month, or $556 outside the centre. Housing therefore accounts for about 40% of a single person's total monthly cost here. A family of four should budget around $3,004 per month excluding rent. Day to day, an inexpensive restaurant meal runs about $14.72 and a monthly transit pass $41. For anyone weighing a longer stay, median internet speed is 94 Mbps and Budva scores 75/100 on safety (generally safe). Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood, and exchange rates; figures come from crowd-sourced price data last refreshed June 2026. See the full Cost of Living Index →

Budva is a city in Montenegro, where a single person can expect to spend about $1,388 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $825 per month, or $556 outside the centre. Internet is solid at around 94 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Budva scores 75/100 — generally safe for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 88°F and winter highs around 52°F, with roughly 244 sunny days a year.

Family friendlySafe tap water
Monthly Cost$1,388≈ $46/day
1BR Rent (Centre)$825
Internet94 Mbps
Safety75/100
Avg Temp70°F

Budva Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$14.72
Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$67.14
McDonald's Combo Meal$11.78
Cappuccino$3.24
Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$3.53
Bottled Water (Restaurant)$1.37

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$1.28
Bread (1 lb Loaf)$0.99
Eggs (12)$3.23
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$4.39
Apples (1 lb)$0.64
Bananas (1 lb)$0.84
Tomatoes (1 lb)$1.44
Potatoes (1 lb)$0.44
Water (1.5L Bottle)$1.20
Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$6.48
Cigarettes (Marlboro)$4.48

🚌 Transportation

One-Way Ticket$2.94
Monthly Transit Pass$41.22
Taxi Start$1.18
Taxi (1 Mile)$1.90
Gasoline (1 Liter)$1.74
VW Golf (New)$30,624.26

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$158.42
Mobile Phone Plan$17.41
Broadband Internet$33.64

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$61.25
Cinema Ticket$5.89
Preschool (Monthly)$422.06
Intl. Primary School (Annual)$10,247.35

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$110.42
Nike Running Shoes$97.17

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$824.50
Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$555.71
Rent 3BR (City Centre)$1,668.63
Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$1,272.08
Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$393.93
Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$292.71

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$1,048.55
Mortgage Interest Rate5.95%
Family of 4 (Monthly, excl. rent)$3,003.50
Single Person (Monthly, excl. rent)$832

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Budva

Internet94 Mbps
Safety75/100
Healthcare42/100
Public Transit15/100
Walkability65/100
Nightlife60/100
Food Scene50/100
Fine Dining0/100
Coffee Culture25/100
Air Quality88/100
Green Spaces40/100
Culture45/100
Beaches75/100
Hiking45/100
Surfing5/100
Coworking Spaces10
US Visa-Free90 days

How Budva Ranks Among 340 Cities

Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Budva ranks in the top 23% for air quality, but sits in the bottom 3% for food scene. It is cheaper than 58% of them.

MetricBudvaWorld rankRank in Europe
Monthly cost$1,388#143 of 340#12 of 91
Safety75/100#107 of 340#60 of 91
Healthcare42/100#308 of 340#91 of 91
Internet speed94 Mbps#238 of 340#72 of 91
Walkability65/100#123 of 340#74 of 91
Public transit15/100#278 of 340#90 of 91
Food scene50/100#331 of 340#90 of 91
Air quality88/100#76 of 340#37 of 91

Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.

Cheaper Alternatives to Budva

Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Budva.

Budva FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Budva?

A single person should budget around $1,388 per month in Budva, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs. A family of four typically needs about $3,004 per month excluding rent.

How much is rent in Budva?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Budva averages $825 per month, dropping to about $556 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $1,669.

Is Budva safe?

Budva scores 75/100 on safety, which is generally safe. Tourist safety is rated 72/100.

How fast is the internet in Budva?

Median download speeds in Budva are around 94 Mbps — solid for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 10 coworking spaces in the city.

Does Montenegro offer a digital nomad visa?

Montenegro does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders can usually stay 90 days visa-free.

What is the weather like in Budva?

Budva sees summer highs around 88°F and winter highs near 52°F, with about 244 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 90 days.

Budva in our travel guides

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